Through an editorial call for civility in local politics—and in conjunction with a recent social media post—the editor of the Greene County record, Pat Fitzgerald, clearly exposes the provenance of his animus.

Fitzgerald’s grammatically challenged editorial subtly defending embattled County Administrator, John Barkley, and inept Board of Supervisors’ Chair, David Cox, perpetuates a dishonest narrative of Greene County citizens:

Greene County Administrator John Barkley’s presentations have elicited foul-language outbursts from citizens who’d like to see him gone. Even Chairman Cox has had his manhood challenged from the floor during a meeting.

It was outbursts such as those which were a direct result of the chairman’s decision to remove the Matters from the Public item from the agenda on July 28, and then try to impose draconian rules against all speech at the Board of Supervisors meetings.

Editor Fitzgerald goes on to characterize those speaking out at Greene County public meetings as being disrespectful and uncontrollably crude:

The Board of Supervisors saw the errors of its way, and has tried to make it right. It’s now time for residents to respect the board’s decisions — as well as those who choose to attend the Board of Supervisors meetings for one reason or another.

Respect goes both ways. No, we’re not asking those with concerns to sit in silence. We just ask that they channel their frustrations in ways that don’t make the rest of the audience feel like they’re amidst a high school locker room.

What Fitzgerald omits in his reporting is that most of the heated criticism leveled at the Greene County Board of Supervisors has come from women—strong women who despise corruption in government.

Concurrently, Fitzgerald has posted on Facebook a misogynistic invective against Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who was jailed for six days after refusing a court order to violate her Christian faith. Of Davis, Fitzgerald opines:

That bitch needs to do her job and STFU—or resign.

In the use of such language toward a benign religious conscientious objector, the previous undercurrent of Pat Fitzgerald’s enmity toward women is laid bare. And while Mr. Fitzgerald admonishes the women of Greene County for so-called “locker” talk at public meetings, he’s directing far worse toward Kim Davis, and is doing so in public forum that extends far beyond the boundaries of Greene County, Virginia.

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Rob Schilling is founder of the multi-award-winning Schilling Show Blog and News, proprietor of Schilling Show Media; host of both the Schilling Show Unleashed Podcast and WINA's The Schilling Show heard weekdays at noon; husband; father; worship leader, Christian recording artist and Community Watchdog.

8 COMMENTS

  1. The expression of a strong opinion should include respect for one's self and others, particularly in a public forum. Pat's comments about a lack of civility at a particular BOS meeting in Greene had nothing to do with gender issues. Shame on you, Mr. Schilling.

  2. My, Pat Fitzgerald, editor of the Greene County Record, publicly displays an appauling lack of respect towards women!! Misogynist – indeed. And profanity – usually always the mark of a weak intellect.

    What a disgrace Mr. Fitzgerald is to both journalism and Greene County, VA.

    My opinion of the Daily Progress continues to decline, due to their continued affiliation with the Greene County Record.

  3. So because most critics of the Board of Supervisors have been women, and Fitzgerald attacked one single woman with a term even many women use on each other, that means he’s engaging in a war on women?? Unbelievable.

    I guess that when Sarah Palin called a bunch of politicians she doesn’t like the
    “Corrupt Bastards Club,” she was waging a sexist war on men, right? I challenge even one person here to explain the difference.

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