The Editor Of Asheboro's Own Version Of Pravda Speaks: Will The REAL Bully Please Stand Up?

I've taken some irate phone calls this morning about an "Editorial" (I use the term loosely) in the Courier Tribune by Ray Criscoe that would give Pravda a run for its money.

Ray addresses the Courier's online comment policies.  My name is not mentioned, but it's clear who is in his bulls-eye.

Once again, it's no one that deserves to be.  Ray is nothing if not consistent.

I've told people I'm actually delighted.  And that's because I'm quite certain anyone reading the paper today is asking themselves, what or who is Ray talking about?  They're going to look into it and ask questions - because that's what Americans do. 

And in my book, in terms of exposure of the very ugly things Randolph Hospital did to me . . . amoral, unethical, illegal things that Ray and his "team" have NEVER wanted to tell the ordinary plebes of Asheboro about (it ain't just some of our politicos that need to be shown the door next Tuesday), that's a TOUCHDOWN!!!

Alas, like an update on Randolph County Manager, Dick Wells' plans to live up to our nickname of "Trashboro", and turn northern Randolph County into Greensboro's local garbage dump (many folks missed JD Walker's now-buried story back in September - a story which, predictably, was a little lax on the details provided by yesterday's front-page declaration-of-salvation in the Greensboro N&R), I cannot pull up the text of Ray's editorial online.  But as soon as I have it in hand there will be a word-for-word response on this blog.

Dr. Mary Johnson has been telling the truth from DAY ONE, Mr. Criscoe.  You and your ex-publisher (that would be David Renfro) just didn't want the good people of Asheboro (people you thought were easy to control and manipulate) to know what was going on right under their noses. 

It was all about protecting "the right people".  Meanwhile, our town went on life support. 

And now we're well on our way to being a regional trash-dump.

You're a pathetic excuse for a journalist, Ray, and you've been in the business of shielding liars for too long (choosing instead to slurp down ordurbs and hobnob with your major advertisers) . 

You don't return e-mails.  You don't return phone calls.  You don't print (or heavily edit) Letters-To-The-Editor.  Your reporters put down their pens, walk out of meetings and ignore/marginalize/minimize if something happens that you don't want to report.  When ordinary folk ask you to cover their event, you don't show up - and mumble lame excuses when challenged.  You for damned sure don't investigate anything - vapid, inane, cheer-leading press releases are your stock and trade. 

You've even declined to sell ads for this blog (so the offer you made in your Editorial today was just a WHOPPER).   

I was also banned at the Courier for eleven years.  My comments NEVER went up until Diane Winnemuller came to town.

You put up an Editorial and make it clear you'd delete any rebuttal.  But you're all about "Free Speech".  It's abject hypocrisy. 

So I'm asking.  How can you have the foggiest idea what the truth is - much less tell it to someone else?

Videos don't lie, Ray (the spread looked delicious).  As for "potential libel", I'm fairly-well educated in that (something else you/your publisher couldn't report with an even-hand).  And tape recordings of City Council members at public meetings don't lie.  The black and white of SWORN DEPOSITIONS do not lie.  IRS 990's do not lie.

Where the HELL has your newspaper been except lapping up the leavings of "right people"? 

"Free Speech"?  Honestly, who are you trying to kid?  And who is the REAL "bully" here?

Dr. Mary is DONE.

Your problem now is that, so are a lot of other people . . . people you've ignored, dissed or kept in the dark . . . FOR YEARS.

Like I said, I will address Ray's "Editorial", point-by-point, as soon as I get the text . . . since, in addressing the online behavior of his readers (and as of right now), "Free Speech" Criscoe has not had THE GUTS to put it online.

Sunday Afternoon Update:

I now have the print-text of the Editorial-in-question, and will post something shortly that specifically addresses Criscoe's treatsie point-by-point.

I also have a letter from Pat & Mike Bradshaw's attorney . . . addressed to Ray Criscoe in 2007 (that's three years ago if anyone is counting) . . . which BEAUTIFULLY tackles the issues that Mary Anderson spun-like-a-barn-spider in her story last Sunday - including the little matter of Courier reporter, Chip Womick, being hired to do the Council's bidding (something that no one on the Council can apparently remember now).

In terms of "proof", I'm sure the Chipper did not keep VISA receipts, but do I BELIEVE what I'm posting because I've heard the tapes (and still have a certified CD copy in my possession).  Moreover, the Council Member doing the talking sure sounds a whole lot like Asheboro Mayor, David Smith (you see, I've attended Council meetings where other Courier reporters put down their pen, and am quite familiar with the sound of his voice). 

So GOOD LUCK with any "potential libel" claims sticking Ray.  You're talking to a woman who has already done that dance-with-the-Randolph Stars and (although you didn't want to report it on your front page) sent Randolph Hospital packing a long time ago . . . 

. . . never mind that Bob Morrison & Steven Eblin still swindled her.  And, as PERJURY, CONTEMPT and FRAUD saved them from paying out a crapload in civil damages, the high-minded "honorables" sitting on the Hospital Board think that's a job well done! 

Playing the Feds/taxpaer for the fool, and firing a doctor for saving a baby's life, and LYING to her patients about what happened, and suing her for telling the truth, and lying repeatedly under Oath to minimize the value of her life & work when you were finally dragged into a Courtroom under Garland Yate's dubious jurisdiction, IS ALL IN A DAY'S WORK for this crowd of winking & nodding mill-town posers.

You simply cannot argue with tape recordings (even if they are from 2006) . . . or sworn depositions (from 1999 & 2000). 

But if you're Ray Criscoe, champion of free speech-as-they-practice-it-in-Communist-countries and practiced-butt-kisser of "the right people, you can IGNORE the truth right under your stuck-up nose.  You can not-say-a-word or investigate a thing, and keep right on scarfing down the pricey ordurbs. 

And from your bully pulpit, you can call anyone who calls you on it a "bully".

The Courier Tribune is a MASTER of the lie of omission.  And it's far past the time that stopped.