Porky's Got a Point

There were two writings in da rcent local Snoozepaper that made great points. Before they are discussed, let it be known Snoozer editor Greg "Bozo" Bean & daTruthSquad don't always see eye to eye. As a matter of fact, it was Bean who wrote of your's truly, "I wouldn't mind seeing da Truth Squad drive off a nice, steep cliff. Given the opportunity, I might even give him (or her, or them) a little push."

But what Bean-O did recently write about life in Manalapan's political landscape would scare up a "For Sale" sign on a home faster than you can say "Porky Pig."

And, by da way, you didn't see daTruthSquad call a legal eagle calling a lawyer about what da Bean-counter said about your's truly. He has Freedom of Speech, so if he wants daTruthSquad to drive off a cliff, or even if he wants to push daTruthSquad off that cliff, it's his right to talk about it. However, daTruthSquad will be a bit more careful when standing close to one.

"About the only place in the county with a tougher crowd would have been Manalapan, which he wisely avoided. In Manalapan, local politics is so nasty that those involved are rumored to eat their own young, and the crowd that turns up at Township Committee meetings isn't significantly more civilized. If Corzine held a town meeting there all that would be left of himat the end would be a pile of bones and gristle."

DaTruth is, Bean-O is right about this.

Case in point, a fellow named "Porky" who is a former Manalapan mayor back in da days of "Star Wars" and Ronald Reagan's first term. Recently, a story penned by none other than Back Page Barratta described how George Spodak "lobbied" to have da "library built on Symmes Drive" in Manalapan, and how he "signed da deed," and how his accomplishments include "da Manalapan road department," and "da construction of da Municipal Building."

There are other things that were said, but that's for another daTruthSquad.

However, da former supreme leader of Manalapan also said this, "Spodak contends that if the defamation of individuals on the Internet is allowed to continue it will discourage people from entering public service for fear of becoming the target of anonymous attackers. It is the threat to that legacy that led Spodak to hire an attorney in order to pursue legal redress against anonymous Internet attackers who have accused him of committing crimes while in office and other contemptible acts. He said he has directed attorney XXXXX XXXXXX to pursue whatever legal avenues may be available in an effort to identify the person or persons he maintains have defamed and/or libeled him.

Senor Spodak said, "if defamation of individuals on the Internet is allowed to continue it will discourage people from entering public service for fear of becoming the target of anonymous attackers."

However, daTruthSquad feels Spodak didn't take that statement far enough.

Recently at a Township Committee meeting, an unknown individual walked up to da podium and asked about da ongoing "Township of Manalapan vs Da Mosked Man" trial of da century about a town suing a public servant, as well as if da Mosked Man, a public servant attended a Republican celebration. Finally, this unnamed individual focused his attention on Committeeman Anthony Gennaro, a public servant who has proven throughout his term in office he may have more integrity than anyone serving that post since 8-track tapes were popular. The unnamed person said, "I heard Mr. Gennaro is not running for office. Thank you for your 2 years of service, and thank you for not running. Again, thank you for not running."

That was in the opinion of many an unwarranted, unnecessary, unneeded, and unprofessional slam against an upstanding public servant.

So, here you have an unknown individual who's name escapes daTruthSquad, who verbally questioned the ethics of one public servant for who may or may not have been invited or just showed up at her party, and attacked the integrity of another public servant who decided, because of attacks like this did not want to run again for office.

DaTruthSquad believes whomever that person was, they should seriously heed da words of Mr. Spodak. Maybe former mayor Spodak should seek that person out and speak to that person who questioned the integrity of Deputy Mayor Cohen and in a needless and shameful way made an underhanded remark to Commiteeman Gennaro. This is EXACTLY why people are hesitant to be a public servant.

DaTruth is, you can blame anonymous people on da Internet for many things, but scaring off potential volunteers or public servants isn't one of them.

Or, maybe a finger should be pointed at da Queen mayor?

In January, da Queen Mayor told da Asbury Park Press that she hoped blogs and internet forums are did not keep people from getting involved in local politics and volunteerism.

"This behavior keeps talented and qualified people who would otherwise be willing to serve as elected officials (feeling) compelled to stay on the sidelines for fear of attack with fabricated and severely distorted information," Roth said. "We are proud that rather than stooping to this level, our committee has shown the courage, strength and leadership to cast aside or stand up to these bullies and seek common ground with those who are generally considered to be the opposition."

Do those words sound familiar? Blaming the Internet? Blaming "cyber bullies?"

You know, it can be said that "I think by repeating their slanderous and demeaning accusations someone in our town may start to believe them." Now where did daTruthSquad read that before?

Da problem isn't necessary folks who post messages on Internet forums. A bigger problem is allowing unnamed people to make accusations without evidence in public at Township Committee meetings taped and shown on TV.

Where was da Queen when this unnamed individual went up and criticized both Deputy Mayor Cohen and Committeeman Gennaro?

She was sitting right there next to them. So was former mayor, "defendant," and alleged Manalapan resident Andy Boy.

DaTruth is, when this unnamed individual went after Cohen & Gennaro, the person did so in complete violation of da Queen Mayor's edict as stated in da Asbury Park Press! Even worse, this very same individual was granted a "special session" to comment on individuals - a special session granted by da Queen Mayor. It's like da child who learns to hate because hate is in da home. How can da leaders of da Township Committee expect people to act in a civilized manner when they themselves allow these actions to happen?

It's easy to give a "sound bite" as presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says. What's hard is to do what is right and actually back up those words with actions. Freedom of Speech allows us all to say what is on our minds. However, when we say to da Asbury Park Press, "our committee has shown the courage, strength and leadership to cast aside or stand up to these bullies," you need to back up those words with deeds. Apparently, da Queen Mayor forgot what she said last month.

Hopefully, reminding her of her own quote will help make future Manalapan Township committee meetings more civilized -- and daTruthSquad calls on Snoozer editor Greg "Bozo" Bean to join daTruthSquad in just that - demanding no more hate-speech and vicious comments directed toward our elected officials and especially our volunteers at these meetings presided over by da Queen. Mayor Roth said it - now she needs to back up her own words with deeds!

Of course, da Queen could claim these folks, like that unnamed person has First Amendment rights -- da same rights she and former mayor, "Defendant," and allaged Manalapan resident Andy Boy tried to take away from daTruthSquad last year.

Yes, there is a lot of sniping on da Internet, which if daTruthSquad remembers it was former Vice President Al Gore, a registered Democrat like Roth, who claimed to have invented it. It's easy to blame anonymous posters on da Internet for all da ills of da world. However, da problem begins at home, and "home" is da Manalapan Township Committee meetings. Fix da problems in your own house before you take on da world.

And that's daTruth.