'Un-American' if Finegan says so

There I was minding my own business when a shot zinged across the bow.

It happened during Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. Commissioner Jeff Kinnard had just made a convincing plea to ditch the “American Freedom Canal” proclamation so we can think this through some.
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I sat in my regular seat, back row on the aisle, typing notes. Kinnard finished and Commissioner Diana Finegan spoke up. 

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And this is what she said:

“I see you’ve pandered to a very small crowd and the first text I got — and I was shocked there would be an issue — was that probably the most un-American person that I know that likes to blog about things that’s where I feel like that comes from.” (Here's the video, conversation starts around the 34:20 mark.)

Ignore the commissioner's run-on sentence and see what’s in the middle there.
“...the most un-American person that I know that likes to blog about things…”

By golly, she’s talking about me.

Within a few minutes, someone watching online emailed: “Did she just call you un-American?”

Welp, I guess we need to go there.

First off, it was clear Finegan wanted to ram this proclamation through to rename the Cross Florida Barge Canal in Citrus County to “American Freedom Canal.” She could not understand why anyone was opposed. Think of all the veterans we’re honoring. That’s the basic argument.

But then she went where, frankly, it’s not safe for a political adolescent to wander.

“Un-American.”

Got it: My opinion is American only if it agrees with hers. Dare to question the legitimacy of an idea that drops out of the sky, and I’m labeled a traitor.

And in doing so, Commissioner Finegan has labeled you all traitors as well.

Let’s go back a week. Just Wright Citrus posted a blog that announced the county administrator’s mysterious plans to rename the barge canal this American Freedom thing. It clearly was meant to piggyback on President Trump’s Gulf of America.

One thing we’ve seen around here, thank goodness, is the very strong effort to separate national politics from local stuff. We can’t shut off the noise, but we don’t have to get sucked into it either.

It’s not that Citrus Countians want to be left alone, it’s just that we chart our own course. The very idea that our political leaders would make decisions to puff themselves up before the governor or congressman is preposterous. Yet, we know it happens; with some commissioners, it seems to drive their existence.

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one with that barge canal opinion. I’ve seen well over 100 comments on social media, at Just Wright Citrus and elsewhere, this past week and NOT A SINGLE ONE in favor of renaming the canal. Not one! 

Most comments called into question the County Commission’s priorities. They wondered why the county administrator has time to dally in obscure proclamations when we have mountains to climb.

Prior to today, I wrote three blogs on the subject and two Florida Politics stories. All the blogs generated what I consider a decent amount of conversation. There clearly was plenty of interest in whatever the county was cooking up at the barge canal.

So, all we wanted was to talk about it. You know, get some varied opinions, maybe an idea or two the county folks hadn’t thought of. Come up with a plan for the waterway that will be a true community endeavor.

Commissioner Finegan, however, doesn’t see progress in that approach. She sees it as un-American. She can point the finger at me but make no mistake. The commissioner is referring to anyone with an opposing view. 

Well, good luck walking that back. Stuff stays with people, you know. 

I’m pleased that commissioners removed this proclamation from the table. Maybe something decent will come from all of this.

But going for the jugular was the wrong move that will come back to bite Commissioner Finegan time and again. She alienated two fellow commissioners (Holly Davis, the daughter of a Navy fighter pilot, was especially incensed), told an entire community their opinions are worthless unless they align with hers, and called a Citrus County blogger “the most un-American person that I know.”

And for this, we pay her?

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