I debated back and forth with myself about whether to even acknowledge Mr. Rocha’s wordy, but well written, response to my letter (and two other writers) to the editor two weeks ago. (For those of you who did not see it, most likely because it was too long and candidates are not allowed editorials during election season, you can read it at the Little Compton Republican Town Committee website. He actually paid for an advertisement to show where his response was to be found!)

I have to admit, I burst out laughing with the first line/title of the article: Democrat Playbook Chapter 1: Instill fear and worry into the voting public by creating a reality that simply doesn’t exist.

For anyone who hasn’t been under a rock during this election season, you must know that this is precisely the Republican tactic in their desperate attempts to try and get their way and win their elections. It is called disinformation and it was a tactic used by Hitler to gain supporters — it goes beyond misinformation as the dispersed information is intentionally incorrect to gain power and influence. Mr. Trump started this trend back in 2015 and the lies have gotten so out of hand, it literally has become a way of life for these people. The irony, of course, is the extremism of the Christian Nationalists who support this behavior. Honestly, “What would Jesus do?” if he were alive today and witnessed the behavior of his constituency in his name?

Anyway, I digress. The truly sad part is how naïve the Republicans of our small community think that most of us are. There is no way that the Democrats had anything to do with a prolonged presentation of someone representing the Moms For Liberty. Look at their platform and goals — do any of them seem to be part of a democratic agenda? We are pro-choice, anti book banning, pro LGBTQX, etc. The question to ask is, how on earth did they find our little town? And, more importantly, how did our school become part of a Federal lawsuit involving Title IX? Seriously, Mr. Rocha, do you really think that the people of Little Compton are so uninformed and naïve to think that the Democrats had anything to do with it? Especially since it is well-known throughout town that a member of the Republican Town Committee questioned the school committee and administration about our title IX in November of 2023. And, she was present again at the meeting when the M4L speaker presented to the school committee with the same recommendations she had brought to the committee in November.   

You underestimate the members of our community’s intelligence and common sense. Methinks thou dost protest too much!

Bonnie Phinney
Little Compton