Do you remember Charlie Smithgall's last quote in the Intell newspaper account? He said he wasn't going to "fight" it out in the newspapers. By the next morning, the Smithgalls had concocted lies and distortions for the Lancaster New Era reporter. Apparently, the best way to fight the truth of your wife's out-of-control behavior is by spinning lies to the establishment paper, Lancaster New Era.

Want proof of the Smithgall's lies? Please observe; when there are dozens and dozens of witnesses - Mrs. Smithgall says "I don't remember what I said. I was so angry" However, when there are NO witnesses, her memory improves so that the minutia is down pat: "I laid it in the V of his coat…etc". The whole affair might be amusing if Mrs. Smithgall wasn't accused of spewing out such violent speech.

Next, various defenders of the indefensible actions of Mrs. Smithgall claim that "no one has a right to go after the wife of a politician", and "she wasn't elected to city hall" . They are wrong, wrong and wrong. Debbie Smithgall went to the Lancaster County Republican Convention as an ELECTED committee person. She went to a POLITICAL EVENT as an ELECTED POLITICAL representative. She did not go as the WIFE of the Mayor. When you go to a POLITICAL event, any reasonable person should expect POLITICAL speech-even speech you don't like. If she can't stand politics - she should avoid POLITICAL office and EVENTS. (Editor's note: While I attended the meeting, my very non-political wife was home!)

Did you also notice that NO ONE HAS DENIED that she threatened a man's life?! That's because there are dozens of witness to the threat. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, Debbie was so out of control that she DEMANDED that Charlie take her home. It was while leaving that the twin-cannon-mouth Smithgalls confronted the unknowing Bernie Schriver in the parking lot.. (Schriver was not aware of Smithgall's death threat until much later.)

Furthermore, did anyone see Mrs. Smithgall after the meeting? NO! She left shortly after the beginning of the meeting because she couldn't control her mouth - more proof that the Smithgalls are full of lies. For years, other Lancaster City Republicans have jokingly pronounced the Mayor's first name as Char LIE because of his honor's propensity for untruths!

And now Charlie is spinning out of control in order to save face. Nothing like maligning someone else to make yourself and/or your wife look good! The tradition of handing out political literature is OLDER than this country! Schriver, along with other concerned citizens (this editor included) regularly hand out literature in order to try to stem the tide of propaganda from Lancaster's county-wide print-news monopoly - LNP. An arm is extended and literature is offered - they can take it or walk past. What benefit would it be to force it on someone? If they are so closed minded that they won't even read a piece of paper - one could not FORCE that idea into someone's head!

Charlie feels so threatened by being exposed that he is trying to discredit Schriver and 5thEstate.com's editor, Ron Harper, Jr. Recently the mayor suggested to city council President, Steve Diamantoni, that he prepare for "violence" from this pair of good government advocates. That Charlie would slander two upright citizens to attempt to cover for his wife's own violent speech is beyond credulity. It is a fact that Harper is the father of 5 children and a Lancaster Bible College graduate, while Schriver is a former McCaskey teacher, former East Hempfield GOP committeeman (the post now held by District Attorney Don Totaro) and currently an educational/public affairs consultant. It is the Smithgalls who use violent speech, and Mrs. Smithgall who physically assaulted Schriver. If there is any concern about violence it comes from the Smithgall quarter NOT the good government advocates!

Oh, and as to the statement, "I'm going kill you if you say 'first flush'!" Charlie Smithgall said that twice in a "jokingly" manner at a city council meeting several weeks ago! One can only hope that Charlie isn't going to "pack" his.32 caliber handgun to the next city council, meeting or hope that he will at least put a gun lock on when his wife is by his side. Putting locks on their mouths might not be a bad idea, either!

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