I think a story that symbolizes the CAGOP political landscape and the current circumstances has its’ genesis over a decade ago. Do note, since many that read this blog completely miss the point of my posts I am disclaiming that this is my story related to Harmeet Dhillon and is not Harmeet’s opinion.
It was 2012 and a retired State Senator Jim Brulte was in the throws of running for Chair of the CAGOP. What was not known is who else was going to run with him to fill the other elected board positions.
Rodney’s crew, baby
Someone I had a very low opinion of at the time (and it has gotten worse since then) was the “Conservative” in the race for CAGOP Vice Chair. I was not kindly disposed to Harmeet Dhillon at the time either, because as recently in 2010 she was a recipient of proxies in the infamous “know your proxy” era.
That whole dustup was a consultant-driven effort to shred the CAGOP platform under the unraveling tenure of Tom Del Baccardi. In retrospect, I believe the donors / Kevin McCarthy / Tom Ross et. al. saw the weakness of Del Becarro (and conflated it to include the Conservatives that helped elect Del Baccardi), and thought this was a great time to strike and remove the pesky social issues from the CAGOP Platform. You can read a summary here. The specific link to Harmeet is in this post.
It is from this paradigm that I decided to call Harmeet at the request of some mutual friends to see if I could reconcile supporting her versus Rodney Stanhope.
When I spoke to Harmeet, I was struck by a few things. #1 she had the instincts of conservatives despite living in the bay area liberal ecosphere. #2 despite at the time, being one of the top 5 agents of the opposition to anything CAGOP establishment, I was not met with the suspicion and disdain I typically had to work through when talking to an establishment aligned player. (Remember, this was 15 years ago) #3 as most that read this blog know, my big personal issues are the GAG issues. Guns, Abortion and Gays. We agreed on 2 of the three issues. (I was a grassroots leader in California’s Prop 8 movement)
Overlay this with some leaders within CRA using the CRA’s email system to attack Harmeet and the burgeoning Tea Party piling on with theirs. At the time, was the sitting SGT at Arms of CRA. I realized quickly that somehow, I was going to have to run a drill to stop an endorsement of Rodney Stanhope.
To my horror, I realized after beginning to investigate Rodney Stanhope, I realized he had tax liens, bounced checks, civil harassment lawsuits, back child support to more than one woman (keep in mind this was 15 years ago) and then allegations of methamphetamine and heavy alcohol use. He raged on anyone that suggested he was strung out on narcotics at the time. He also had a criminal conviction for domestic battery at the time. (Note on the links – content warning)
But what the hell were conservative leaders doing supporting that guy? Because he wasn’t the establishment? Once I made peace with being able to support Harmeet, my horrifying discoveries about Stanhope (who I believe has 9 children by 8 women at that time – no idea if there have been more in the ensuing 15 years) began piling up. I tried in vain to make people understand what a disaster Stanhope was (and still is), but many ignored or attacked me for doing so.
At the CAGOP convention, Stanhope got 227 votes somehow and when the convention was done, he raged on me in his social media. I wish I could find the screenshots, as that is a trophy for the ages – but was also a harbinger of what the opposition to the establishment GOP was to become. I penned a post excoriating conservative leaders back in 2013 over the Stanhope Drill.
No one knew at the time that Harmeet would emerge as a national conservative political figure. What I did know was that she was a strong leader, talented and would present the GOP in a very positive way. I was willing to set aside my misgivings about some of what I believed to be moderate views because of the overall package. This was one of the first times in my political development when I was able to subordinate ideology first thinking and look at the total package.
Ultimately, one of the major reasons I was expelled from CRA 2 years later, was that I was “too liberal” for CRA. I read the manifesto that was written against me the other day and 10 years later, especially in light of the reconciliation with several of the players involved, it is amazing and resembles the same talking points used today against anyone deemed impure.
I am thrilled for Harmeet that she is playing a major role in the Trump admin. I am also thrilled that I got to play a role in helping launch her. All the way back in 2013, I was able to lead a drill to block a CRA endorsement of Rodney Stanhope. When I started, it was not clear if we could get to 1/3 to block it.
Stanhope? His life is a case study in addiction. The civil complaints, midsemeanors and child support judgements I wrote about in 2013 gave way to bigger and better things:
Note the pattern of violence and drugs. To think, people in the Sacramento Republican Assembly were trying to explain and run cover for this guy. I told everyone I could to get away and trying to help the guy would only make him worse. I was also attacked and accused of lying about Stanhope’s life and pattern. It is a good thing I haven’t spent 15 years holding my breath waiting for any of those folks to admit the amazing blunder.
Over the last few years, I have popped up to update the Rodney Stanhope Saga. 2014 edition, then 2015 edition and 2019 edition. (FYI Placer friends, Stanhope worked for Beth Gaines at one point) So consider this the 2025 update as I am amazed the guy is still alive at this point.
As Rodney’s rap sheet grows, it serves as a reminder to me of the consequences of undisciplined and undiscerning leadership. When juxtaposed with Harmeet Dhillon, the contrast is so stark that it will be impossible for anyone that was there at the time to forget… except for the 227 people that voted for Stanhope (many of whom are still at it today).
My decision to put myself at risk and support (and ultimately go to war on behalf of) Harmeet Dhillon was one of the best decisions I have ever made in politics. It should also serve as a warning especially in light of the current CAGOP landscape.
To be continued…
