Backpeddling at its best....

I am always amused at how slander, when asserted by people with a political agenda, converts into begrudging truth when the persons delivering the message are pushed for proof. Such is definitely true about the "information" that the CARES group et. al. have been spewing for years.

But let's take a look at some specific cases....

Original message - Tre Kennedy swore up and down that his business (a law firm) was a totally separate entity and had nothing to do with his personal choices and actions relative to the recall effort.

New message - Well.... the law office address being used as the address for the PAC was just an oversight.

Original message - Mr. Wineteer and Mr. Alexander had illegal "meetings" that violated public meetings laws.

New message - Well... maybe they didn't violate law, but it really makes us mad that they talk about issues that we don't like.

Original message - Mr. Wineteer and Mr. Alexander violated board policies.

New message - Well... maybe they didn't violate the policies, but they violated the "spirit" of the policies.

Original message - Mr. Wineteer and Mr. Alexander diverted funds from our kids to go to the charter school.

New message - Well... it is too bad that the charter school has had to give up their high school and has lost enrollment and millions of dollars due to the contract that the board majority worked out with them at no additional cost to the district.

Inflammatory language is used when people want to make a point.

People have used it at times when they feel passionate about the issues.

However, it is only acceptable as a debate tool if everyone has the opportunity to debate the issues from their perspective without fear of retaliation and attack.

When a small group uses not only inflammatory language, but also lies and negative innuendo, to manipulate a town's political and social well-being without allowing for a fair debate, it is unethical, pure and simple.