The rumor mill is still in full force on the website devoted to destroying Lathrop's mayor, Kristy Sayles. The personal attacks and pure vitriol from those posting on the message boards there is pretty frightening. It's especially chilling to see the posts from so-called Christians condemning her morals and telling her to repent and ask God for forgiveness for her sins. They even quote scripture. I guess they've forgotten the part of the Bible that says "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." One particularly nasty poster, who claims to go to the same church as the mayor, called her a filthy name in Spanish in one of his posts.She's been accused of bigamy, of having children fathered by men she wasn't married to at the time, of taking thousands of dollars from somewhere and doing something with it (doing what is not exactly clear...but who cares about facts when we have so many good rumors). She's accused of using aliases for criminal purposes, and of lying about her age and education and income. We see documents and bits of documents taken out of context, mixed in with accusations and speculations. The condemnation is fueled by the self-righteousness of the "webmaster" and others in the holier-than-thou atmosphere that pervades the site, whipping themselves into a frenzy over the "immoralities" of the mayor.
I'm not here to defend Mayor Sayles. I don't live in Lathrop and can't vote in their elections. What bothers me is the trend throughout our country towards dirty, nasty politics in name of "truth" when often what is put out there is a vile perversion of someone's idea of the truth. Intelligent, thinking citizens will look past the mud and arrows and discern for themselves what to accept and what to reject and take into account where the information is coming from. The ignorant villagers will light their torches and call for burning the witch based on rumors and innuendo spread on a viral website.
I've suggested that the candidates on the Lathrop ballot come out and disassociate themselves from the opposition website. Only one candidate actually said she had nothing to do with it and that's Rosalinda Valencia, candidate for city council. However, though she claimed she's not involved with it, she regularly posts and contributes to the website. According to a trusted source who attended Tuesday's Lathrop city council meeting, Mrs. Valencia "disgraced" herself by making public comments at the meeting about the "blog" and calling for Mayor Sayles to step down.
Who else is posting on the opposition website? John Rock, candidate for mayor, has made several posts under his real name. Laura Thimler posts under her own name and some of the nastiest and juiciest gossip has come directly from her. I think Thimler is a former Lathrop city clerk (but don't hold me to that) and was a candidate in 2002 for MUSD trustee. "Dan," another regular poster to the website, doesn't give his last name but appears to be former Lathrop city council candidate and current Planning Commissioner Dan MacNeilage. In the end, the smear campaign being waged by Mayor Sayles' enemies may backfire. Word on the street is that even people who don't particularly like her or support her, feel sorry for her because of the website. I think most people can relate to their personal lives being turned inside out and published on the Internet and their disgust with the website is stronger than their feelings about the mayor. Not everyone is an "ignorant villager" and many will see the website, and those participating in it, for what it is.
True I did ask Mrs. Sayles to step down as Mayor but not because I want a certain other person up there I said it because I worry that she needs to put her family first because I am concerned about her children’s peace of mind let alone their safety and yes Mr. Joe I did talk to her prior to the last concil meeting to let her know where I stood and to tell her that if I asked her publically to step down that it might make it less embaressing for her to step down to care for her family so yes we did talk about this before hand it is not my fault she keeps on changing her mind or saying one thing and do another I have no controll over this woman it seems she like the spot light more than she does those she claims to loves and those who try to help give her an out. There I said it I did the cristain thing as you like to put it she took another route now the rest is up to her and if you recall I menetioned the night of the meeting That as I looked her staight in the eyes I asked her if she rembers our phone conversation and she did agree that night that we did speak on the phone when she nodded her head if you do not beilive me get the video of the meeting so there she had her out but decided at some point not to take it for waht ever reason. not my problem anymore it’s hers. I hoping to help not only her with an out but to also help the city as I do not think she has what it takes to run Lathrop and she know how I feel like I said we did speak on the phone about all of this. aks her.
ReplyDeleteRosalinda
Thank you for your comments.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, the article was not written by "Mr. Joe" but by "Jackie," one of the contributors to this blog.
ReplyDeleteyour welcome like. I said I will always tell you the truth. sadly I tried to help Kristy leave office with what is still left of her dignaty that she has very little of these days, but she chose to continue with her games and stories. I know about Kristy then most people do because I was one of the first to see through her lies. funny thing is I liked her when I first met her before she started lying to everyone. Unlike most of those on the other blog I tell Kristy what I think to her face and hope that people would give me the same respect if they have anything they want to say to me. Her husband does have a pretty good sized temper I've seen it first hand, and that scares me for those kids. I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it to be true. I truly fear for her children and that means a lot coming from me. I also spoke to Dolores before this whole web site was brought to light and told her about the rumors I heard about cover ups by her I asked her to her face I didn't just run to a web site and post things that I do not even have proof of. Why do some people take the web site route first? rather than go to the source to ask if it is true ask the person. Dolores asured me that everything that was being said was not true and i believe her unless there is some sort of leagl proof to the contrary. I take people at their word until proof is brought forward and kristy lied to me several times and that makes me sad because if she would have told me the truth from day one and lay it all on the table at the very least I would still have some sort of respect for her but she always chooses to take the lying route. she has to live with herself when her children ask why she allowed this to happen. It's all in her hands now. I pray that some day she will realize what the cost of her actions was she should have thought about the kids before telling lies and allowing all this to happen to them but sad thing is no matter how many times I tell her she still doesn't get it.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Rosalinda