COMMENTARY
MILT THOMAS
I was surprised to see Charlie Wilson’s latest personal attack on Inside Vero publisher Mark Schumann posted on his Facebook page, not because it was crude and immature, but because he is now a candidate for public office. Personal attacks are sadly commonplace these days between candidates for public office, but unusual when a candidate attacks a reporter.
I have worked with Mark Schumann for more than 20 years and know him as a passionate defender of our community with an investigative journalist’s instincts to uncover all the facts behind a story and behind the motivations of people we have elected to public office. Journalism is in his DNA and he is especially tough on politicians because they are supposed to serve all the people of our community.
But isn’t that what the First Amendment’s freedom of the press is all about? At this very moment there are journalists around the world languishing in prison because they wrote about issues unpopular with government officials. In Egypt alone, three reporters are in prison for eight years because they dared to interview opposition politicians. That can’t happen here because we have laws that are sacrosanct to our way of life.
In Charlie Wilson’s world, the only point of view that should be allowed is his. If you dare to disagree with him, he tries to discredit you. He seems particularly incensed with Mark Schumann and Inside Vero. He probably wishes we lived in one of those above-mentioned countries where silencing reporters is the path to maintaining power.
But Charlie has no power. He desperately wants to have it as is evidenced by the number of elected offices he has campaigned for and lost, the one exception being his well-known month as a City Councilman.
When Wilson says Mark is a fraud who has failed at everything he has ever done, he says it without the slightest hint of irony. The intensity of his immature rants against Mark through emails, Facebook posts and weekly anti-Mark diatribes on WTTB as the appropriately named professor of political baloney, and his attempt to convince the Taxpayer’s Association to form a committee to discredit Inside Vero, all lead to one conclusion – Mark and Inside Vero have exposed his true nature and he doesn’t want to hear it.
Wilson is a pure political animal, only serving himself or supporting what he feels will benefit him. But he is good for journalism, the gift that keeps on giving. His frequent appearances at public forums, guest editorials, and general craving for publicity provide humor to our readers. But his personal attacks and name-calling aimed at the one media outlet that exposes his true nature, only evoke pity.
At some level he must understand his impact is that of a side show barker. Proof of that might lie in suddenly wanting to be known as “Charles” rather than “Charlie.” But sorry, Charlie, you are still not Starkist material.
Indian River Guardian 
Charlie Wilson is the local equivalent of Sarah Palin. Both fear that they will evaporate into thin air if the media spotlight does not shine on them. An addiction to public attention is what they crave and it is irrelevant if that attention is favorable or negative.
As President Truman is alleged to have said, “I don’t care what they say about me as long as they spell my name right.”
Milt,
When you say that Wilson only serves himself and says things that only will benefit him you have said a mouthful – and yes, he is the gift that keeps on giving.
His personal attacks and name-calling are aimed at Mark Schumann and InsideVero today but I remember how hard he and Gary Wheeler went after me a while back on his now defunct blog.
Since the blog is no longer up and running (to the best of my knowledge) he has now taken to Facebook to vent about Schumann. And, I might add, he does this because he is running out of venues to vent. He is now only left with the Pee Pee Jay in the way of guest columns and the Lemmonator who will stick up for him so that is probably why he has taken to his Schumann rants on Facebook.
Basically on Facebook, talking about Mark Schumann being arrested is like talking about the time Peter O’Bryan was arrested as a youth for peeing in the shrubbery at a drunken brawl frat party. LOL
Speaking about arrests, maybe he should concentrate on his son’s recent re-arrest and possible rehabilitation rather than Mark Schumann’s youthful past. Just saying.
And, as Charlie speaks on Facebook about Mark Schumann’s failures I really had to scratch my head. From my viewpoint, Schumann has had more successes in one day than what Charlie Wilson has had in a life time. Just saying.
Mark Schumann is one of my local heroes. Charlie Wilson is not.
Wilson’s rage aimed at Mark Schumann is caused by Mark’s exposing the real facts when Wilson does what he does best ,that is ,when he concocts stories, comes up with false numbers or just outright falsehoods. Just check the transcripts from the trial that had Charlie removed from the council. Mark ,as a good reporter should, lets the public know the truth . You can’t rely on the PJ or 32963 for honest, non biased reporting, but you can believe what you read in Mark’s insidevero.com.
Now that you have brought up the subject of the most recent arrest of Charlie’s son, I will tell you that I wrote Charlie last night reminding him that, despite the urgings of some, I have refrained from reporting on that sad story. Completely misunderstanding the meaning of “extortion,” Wilson accused me of just that, and has gone so far as to say so on his Facebook page.
Below is his latest post, typos and all. It would seem that, in addition to too much “Lemmonaide,” Charlie is ingesting way too much of something else. His appearance, behavior and personality all appear to be taking a turn for the worse. And this man would have the people of Vero Beach elect him to serve as “Mayor.” Charlie, I believe, is a sick man. He has become a sad, even pathetic figure.
More nonsense from these pretend reporters. It is easier for them to smear and insult than to report.
So far today Mark Schumann has insulted Russ Lemmon, threatened me if I wrote about Mark Schumanns checkers past. Insulted two other friends of mine and posted a completely unfounded absolutely inaccurate story. He always starts with an insult and always covers his evil dark heart bu pretending to ask a question to avoid legal responsibility. He now sits late at night alone in the dark contemplating his next obsessive attack. He is looking more like Alfred E Neumann and sounding like Gollum whispering “my precious” So I will use his way of making a statement.
“Is mark Schumann going insane or has he always been that way”?
all of the above rantings, of course, are coming from the same man who once said, “If you can’t discredit the message, discredit the messenger.”
Charlie certainly didn’t share with his Facebook “friends” that he receiving the following message from me this morning:
Charlie,
As you may know, some time ago we announced a candidate forum to be held the evening of October 7 at the Heritage Center. Regardless of what has transpired between us, I will extend to you the same courtesies and respect all the other candidates will receive that evening. I hope you will join us for that forum. The voters deserve to hear from all candidates.
Mark Schumann