A recent tweet by a Buncombe County Republican Party official — allegedly in a playful reference to The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County as the “League of Women Vipers” — has resulted in the enrollment of at least three new members who joined because they objected to what they see as mean-spiritedness of the BCGOP.

At least that is the assessment of Karen Oeschlaeger, president of the local league chapter, who spoke to the Daily Planet in a May 2 interview about the tweet and her and the league’s relationship with local Republicans.

“So I’d like to thank the Buncombe County Republican Party for the publicity rush,” she said. “Thank you for the new members.”

On a more serious note, Oeschlaeger said of the “Vipers” tweet controversy, “Well, you know, it’s not really our top priority... We have the (upcoming) annual meeting” occupying most of the organization’s attention at the moment.

“I just want to know who sent the tweet. I’d like to sit down with them and have a good conversation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nathan West, BCGOP communications director, confirmed to the Daily Planet April 6 at the party’s Lincoln-Reagan gala that he was the one who sent it out with the intent of being humorous.

Oeschlaeger noted, “I had a good conversation with Nathan West.” She said he agreed at their meeting that “we’d always had a positive, respectful, professional interractions” between the league and the BCGOP.

“I never heard back from Henry Mitchell, the (BCGOP) chair.” She said Mitchell stopped returning her phone calls after she asked him about his comment about the league never being friendly” to the BCGOP.

For her part, she said the latest tweet making fun of the league is not the first by the BCGOP. She said there have been several derogatory tweets from the party over the last six months.

“The league has a lot of issue positions. We get it from both sides. Democrats sometimes are not happy with us. 

Regarding accusations that all — or most of — the league members are Democrats, Oeschlaeger said, “I can you I don’t know the party affiliations” of most of her members. “We have registered Republicans. We certainly have registered Democrats. I’m unaffiliated.” She added that the league is open to all genders and political affiliations.

With a laugh, she said in the recent local election forums hosted by the league, “They (the BCGOP members) are the ones coming to our events.”

Oeschlaeger said he aspiration with the league is to be fair to all sides. “The league is about open, civil dialogue,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Mitchell, the BCGOP chairman, released the following statement:

 “In the past, the League of Women Voters had never been to friendly to the GOP or local  Republican  candidates. Seems like we where always set up and ambushed at the public forums. 

“Their forums have never been well-attended by the right or the GOP.

“However This seems to be changing under the leadership of the new director Karen Oeschlaeger.

“Karen has made a real effort to reach out recently to the BCGOP and they did a MUCH better job at the forums that where held during this past election season.We actually felt the forums where conducted in a more fair and equal format.” 

Mitchell noted that West, the BCGOP communications director, had a meeting set up with Oeschlaeger recently “to discuss how the BCGOP can work closer with the LWV. 

“I would like to suggest that during the planning process of the public forums they include a few of our Republican  ladies from the exec board or the Republican women’s clubs, to get our input with the forums. 

“We would appreciate the oppounity to be included in the planning of the public forums and in return encourage the BGOP to attend and support the forums. 

“Change is good and the new LWV leadership seems to be making that changes in a positive way,” Mitchell said.