The distasteful tactics

On a recent Alaska chess cruise I had the great pleasure of meeting both GM Polgar and FM Truong. I was most impressed with their passion for chess. On Friday June 1, I received a rather odd orange and black postcard in the mail from Bill Goichberg that was quite derogatory toward GM Polgar's and FM Truong's campaigns for the USCF Executive Board, claiming that the 2 were running "negative" campaigns.

Several thoughts come to mind. For one, I'm not positive, but isn't it a bit negative to say that others are negative? For another, who is paying for these postcards - mailed at the "presorted first class mail" rate! More to the point, why is someone going to such great expense to attack 2 accomplished candidates and relegate them to the "Other Candidates" section of the postcard, as if to trivialize them? And when speaking to fellow chess players, isn't it customary to refer to players by their earned titles?

Then too, who gave my USCF membership name and address for use in a direct mail campaign, and do all candidates for office have access to this list? Did all USCF members receive this same postcard? Forgetting (if one can) the direct attack on 2 fine candidates, something suspicious is afoot. Even a class B player like me can see one move deep!

Posted by Jeff Leach, Frederick MD USA
Saturday, June 02, 2007 2:27:00 AM

Here are some of sample posts by the supporters of candidates endorsed by Mr. Goichberg. It is important for everyone to see what I have to deal with and why the USCF desparately needs changes. There are 30-40 derogatory posts similar to this every single day!

If I was Bill Goichberg, I would ban Susan Polgar from the USCF. We don't need a woman in charge. It would be a tragedy if she and her team win. What does she know about chess politics? Nothing. How can she make deals with people who have been in the system for decades? Does she want to change things because it's 2007? There's nothing wrong with the USCF. Bill Goichberg, Sam Sloan, Joe Channing, Don Schultz, Randy Hough and Beatriz Marinello are great board members. I don't want to see any foreigner running this federation. This is my country. I'm proud to serve my country and send those immigrants back to where they came from. The USCF needs people like Stephen Jones, Joe Lux, Don Schultz, Mike Goodall, Sam Sloan and Jim Berry. They're born and raise in the USA and they know how things work.

Friday, June 01, 2007 3:52:00 PM

Reelect Don Schultz, Sam Sloan along with Joe Lux and Stephen Jones! We don't need any foreigner running the USCF. They should go back to to where they came from. The USCF was fine before she got here and it will be fine after. No changes are needed.

Friday, June 01, 2007 1:36:00 PM

Go back to where you came from. Leave this board and the USCF alone. We don't need a Hungarian running the show.

Friday, June 01, 2007 1:40:00 PM