Being an experienced educator (14 years classroom as well as four years administration), I’ve learned to quickly spot school-yard bullies.

The Opinion Page piece “How We See It” for Wednesday, Dec. 19, reflected the mindset of an anonymous but opportunistic journalistbully: (1) identify by name a convenient target, (2) throw out predictably provocative red-meat (Limbaugh, Maddow), (3) cherry-pick one phrase from the named target’s comments, and (4) rain down a counterfeit indignation via newspaperink upon the target.

The partial quote cited in your editorial came from a longer - and yes, passionate - exchange between myself and a fellow Republican, Speaker-elect Davy Carter. It’s unfortunate the opinion writer found it “more acceptable ... to draw horns and tails” on me (to demonize me) than to provide an accurate, complete rendering of this verbal exchange that occurred among likeminded patriots. The opinion writer accused me of “assign[ing] nefarious motives” to others; isn’t that a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

Suggesting the current“poisonous political atmosphere” is caused by “people of one viewpoint vilifying] others who think difterently” is a throwaway (and insulting) explanation for complex and real difterences between the two parties.

The Republican Party was founded on specifi c principles, including limited government, lower taxes and strong defense.

Lincoln’s party was birthed by people who believed “all men are created equal” and that no one (no matter the color of his or her skin) should be the property of another. These are the things for which people fought and died. Should I express less passion forthese basic principles today?

Friends and co-workers who know me understand my passion - many of them have similar passion. As president of the Washington County Republican Women for 2013, I’m privileged to work with them (women and men) in concert with the aforementioned Republican Party principles.

Readers may blindly trust the smears of an editorial bully, or investigate for themselves the truth about me and my fellow Republican Women.

SHARON LLOYD

Springdale

Opinion, Pages 5 on 12/26/2012