Jeers for the “Tilghman Times”

This morning I read with amusement the “Jeers” section of the “Tilghman Times” editorial page.

They attacked some of our local bloggers, possibly including me, with this little ditty:

Jeers to mean-spirited bloggers who spread
half-truths and innuendo about local institutions, public officials and
private citizens. Here’s a novel thought: Check out the facts before
you spew your vitriol. Better yet, get involved in an effort to improve
the community.

Which blogs? Mean-spirited to you translates into anyone who dares to criticize Barrie Tilghman and her “council leadership”. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, blogs are like op-ed pages. We try very hard here to cite our sources and when we post opinion use words such as “believe” or “in my opinion”.  I’ve criticized some of our local blogs when they went after an institution without justification.  At least I was specific when I did and didn’t use vague terminology like “mean-spirited”.

What amuses me the most about this is the blatant hypocrisy of the editors. This paper ran a series of front page editorials (portrayed as news) that should have been collectively titled “Let’s Attack Debbie”. What’s worse is that this supposed news organization lied when they claimed that Mrs. Campbell gave releases and position papers to the blogs rather than to her fellow council members or the “legitimate press”. I know for a fact that the papers printed in some of our local blogs were handed, by Mrs. Campbell, to a “Tilghman Times” reporter. As to her not giving information to her colleagues, that too is a lie. Mrs. Campbell has repeatedly asked that certain issues be put on a work session agenda and Mike Dunn has denied her repeatedly. First by claiming that an e-mail request was no longer a valid method, then simply ignoring her requests when Mrs. Campbell diligently followed Der Dunn’s ridiculous and arbitrary rules.

This leads to another source of amusement.

Jeers to various Salisbury City Council members for allowing personalities and personal grudges to get in the way of civil discourse and respectful, productive operations.

Which members? Mike Dunn and Lynn Cathcart are the two nasty members of the Salisbury Council. They treat their constituents with complete and utter contempt. They never hesitate to attack Mrs. Campbell (in Mrs. Cathcart’s “defense” she has only gotten real nasty during the last six months or so). Why? It seems that Mrs. Campbell is the only member who is really interested in discussing issues that will have a positive impact on the community. The “council leadership” (all members sans Mrs. Campbell) seem to be far more interested in handing out tax dollars to friends and developers than correcting problems.

Of course the “Tilghman Times” wouldn’t dare directly criticize loyal members of the Tilghman Reichstag. It seems that the backlash over their recent propoganda spree on behalf of the Mayor is forcing certain members of the paper’s staff to walk a thin line. Here’s a novel concept. Try reporting the news rather than the party line. Your advertisers won’t care and your readers will appreciate it. You might even pick up a few of the subscribers you’ve lost.

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