When I asked a few weeks back “who leaked the email“ I was referring to the email from Rich Girard to Rachel Phelan. We know who leaked the letter from her lawyer. That was David Scannell. But what about the email. The one that set up the political theater during a public session where they tried to smear and broadside Republican Board of School Committee member Rich Girard.
What if it was Rachel’s parents who “shared” it? But just for political purposes.
Related: Embattled Manchester Democrat David Scannell Should Step Down
They are a family of Manchester Democrats. Rachel Phelan is an 18-year old registered Democrat. Rachel’s mother, Jeanne Phelan, is a teacher in Manchester, at Weston Elementary. Also a registered Democrat. Her father, Kevin, is a huge Joyce Craig supporter. Yuge!
Jeanne could have advised her daughter on the now infamous “editorial” printed at ManchesterInk Link and in the School paper. The one about teachers contracts and raises and the negotiations. The article that prompted Mr. Girard – who chairs the contract negotiating committee – to provide documentation contradicting what Rachel assumed was the truth.
Rachel is an editor at the school paper.
Ms. Mayor, I have a favor to ask…
Imagine her parent’s reaction when they discovered that the media narrative foundation they had laid using their own adult daughter had been questioned? With documentation. By the chair of the negotiating committee. (It’s a trap!?)
Who can imagine the wheels turning? The email goes out to the necessary parties. Another Manchester teacher volunteers to stand up in public session to start the broadside. And all the Democrats are in on it. Including the Mayor. They are all in on it.
Maybe it started with the Mayor?
But It doesn’t quite go to plan. Mr. Girard’s use of the SAU 37 email system was above board. His communication was limited to the issue Rachel (an 18-year old voter and constituent) brought up in her article.
The points he refutes are confirmed with public documents from the negotiating committee. Mr. Girard defends himself. Mr. Girard uses his blog and TV show to challenge and refute every accusation.
Hire a Lawyer, That’ll Fix it!
So a lawyer is retained by the parents for their adult daughter who proceeds to threatens the district and Mr. Girard’s first amendment rights. Shut down the opposing narrative. Smear the messenger. That was the letter, leaked by David Scannell. His effort to rekindle a fire under Mr. Girard’s feet.
Make that a backfire.
By leaking the letter to the press, David Scannell does the very thing that the Democrat cabal hoped to pin on Girard. The so-called matter of privacy. The leak keeps Rachel’s name in the press. The very thing her lawyer was (supposedly) trying to stop. Forces rise to question her lawyer trying to silence protected First Amendment speech.
I Have you now! What!?
And all of it began when someone saw the email, not as a serious effort to engage in open debate about Rachels points (contract negotiations) but as an opportunity to smear a Manchester Republican political opponent.
My evidence is circumstantial. But if Rachel didn’t share the email with Manchester Democrats in a position to stage the political theater who did? Someone did.
Whether I am correct or not, the orchestrated argument that student privacy is the issue still sits in a tattered ruin. You don’t leak your daughter’s (or someone else’s daughter’s email) to stage a public political smear if privacy is of any concern. It never was. This was always about the potential damage it might do to a prominent and vocal opponent of the Democrat vision for Manchester and it’s school system.
Someone with experience who could potentially challenge Mayor Craig for the office.
We should add Manchester Democrats Kevin and Jeanne Phalen to the political hit squad. Just in case they used their daughter to play in the fetid pool of Manchester Politics.
