National Gun Rights Group Sets Up Political Base in Worcester

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Paige Pihl Buckley, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

October 19 event in Worcester sponsored by National Association for Gun Rights

The National Association for Gun Rights and the Foundation for Conservative Leadership are co-sponsoring a political leadership school to be held at the Liberty Clubhouse on the 4th floor of the historic Osgood Bradley Building in Worcester on October 19.

According to its Eventbrite page, the full-day school aims to educate conservative activists on “how to be effective in politics” by teaching them “the real nature of politics – why just ‘educating’ people alone won’t result in change, the biggest lie in politics – and how the political class uses your convictions against you, how to effectively work at the Capitol – getting a bill sponsor and a roll call vote despite leadership, and how to build a group – putting pressure on legislators.”

Bradford Wyatt, owner of the Liberty Clubhouse, said, “It’s geared toward conservative activists who have already been involved in the community.”

He said that he plans on being at the training and hopes to learn more about how politics work.

About the Clubhouse

Wyatt said he founded the Liberty Clubhouse after having to close his business, which his father had owned for forty years, because of high taxes and over regulation. Wyatt maintained ownership of the Osgood Bradley Building, from which the business had been run, and opened the Clubhouse on its fourth floor as a venue for groups actively involved in grassroots organizing.

“I’m thinking of attending the event,” said Rob Eno of the Red Mass Group. “Gabriel’s flip flop on the issue got me thinking I should publicize it. I think learning how to affect change is a valuable, and important thing that all citizens should learn.”

Eno was referring to former Republican Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez’s changing position on an assault weapons ban. He previously opposed the ban, but in a recent Boston Globe op-ed announced the he now supports it.

Event Garnering Interest

Ken Mandile, head of the Worcester Tea Party, said that although his organization was not involved in planning the Political Leadership School, they were actively promoting it to their members.

“We’ve already sent out an email about it,” Mandile said. “Any kind of training on activism we find beneficial because, in our case particularly, many of our members have never been involved in politics, so it’s good to hear from professionals.”

Upcoming training to be held at Liberty Clubhouse

John Weston, host of the local radio show Conservatively Speaking on WCRN, said he had heard of the event, but had not yet decided whether he would attend.

Mike Rothfeld, president of SABER Communications, Inc., a well known conservative political consulting and grassroots-organizing firm, is listed on the Foundation for Conservative Leadership’s website as the school’s instructor.

According to SABER’s website, “As a long-time lecturer for Morton Blackwell’s Leadership Institute at its Direct Mail School, Campaign Leadership School and Legislative Project Management School, Mr. Rothfeld is recognized as one of the few conservative experts in both the financial and political aspects of campaigns and mass-based, grassroots politics.”

A representative at SABER said it was policy not to talk to the media. Both SABER Communications, Inc. and the Foundation for Conservative Leadership are listed at the same address and phone number in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The National Association for Gun Rights did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The school, which runs from 9am to 5pm, costs $35, or $20 with a valid student ID, and includes lunch. Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite.