The controversy surrounding a comment by Los Alamitos City Councilman, Dean Grose who recently won reelection to the city council from which he resigned in 2008 amid another controversial commentary on President Barack Obama continues to grow. Discussion regarding Grose’s comment on gun control and the Obama administration continued as some supporters of the controversial council member posted comments and opinions on the News Enterprise news site, newsenterprise.net, supporting Grose’s right to advocate for the second amendment.
But some elected officials and community leaders backed away from Grose as some supporters of his campaign declined to comment on the situation.
The comment appeared on Republican Tea Party Activist and Irvine Finance Commissioner Allan Bartlett’s Facebook page where Grose confirmed commenting on a post regarding gun control.
Cypress Mayor Pro Tem and contributor to Grose’s campaign, Leroy Mills declined to weigh in on the opnion, saying that he had no comment on anything Dean chooses to say on Facebook.
The comment Grose has acknowledged removing read, “Uniting America against Obama’s regieme (sic) one AK47 at a time!”
Grose sent an e-mail to the News Enterprise in which he explained that the post was not intended as a remark against the President or his administration. “My posting on a friend’s Facebook page was not advocating anything regarding our President, rather I was merely articulating my support for our Second Amendment rights in light of the national discussion on the issue,” Grose explained. Grose, who acknowledged leaving the comment on Barlett’s post said there had been little response to his comment, but that he removed it because he thought the remark could be taken out of context when asked why he decided to delete his opinion.
Upon learning of Grose’s comment, Los Alamitos Mayor Warren Kusumoto issued this statement. “It is unfortunate that Council Member Grose posted his comment on a Facebook page. I don’t know what was in his heart or mind when he posted it, but it reflects negatively on the City, the residents, and the city staff; and doesn’t represent our community’s values and patriotism. While I fully support and will defend an individual’s First Amendment right to free speech, I cannot support or condone statements that are perceived as contrary to my allegiance to our Country and President. I hope that Council Member Grose will continually be mindful that as an elected official, he represents our city in everything that he does and everything that he says. Council Member Grose has experienced more adversity on his journey to redemption, and I view this as a minor misstep that I hope won’t be repeated.”
While some local leaders have declined to comment, other public officials and Republican party representatives weighed in on the issue. When contacted by the News Enterprise, Allan Bartlett, the Irvine Finance Commission who made the original post on social media noting the larger than usual turnout for a recent gun show in Costa Mesa tried distancing himself from Grose’s comment. “I don’t really want to comment”, Bartlett said. “I don’t know what his motives are or whatever. I know he is controversial with that cartoon in 2008 which was inappropriate. He’s a big boy and he knows what he’s doing I hope.”
But Deborah Pauly, First Vice Chair for the Republican Party of Orange County was more direct with her assessment of this latest controversy involving the Los Alamitos councilmember. “It’s not an out of control statement at all”, Pauly declared. “Clearly, it’s just a comment on the recent gun control debate.”
When asked about Grose’s characterization of the current administration as a “regime”, Pauly agreed with Grose noting, “the way they (the Obama administration) is governing is like a regime.” Pauly went on to applaud Grose’s opinion, saying it takes courage to make such an opinion these days.
“It’s the left who terrorizes the Republicans to where they are fearful to voice their opinion. They instill so much fear from making any comment. It’s so un-American, I don’t know where to start.”