W.Va. Official Clarifies 'Rednecks' Line

[conlor]

A West Virginia official is trying to dig himself out of a hole he dug for himself by referring to "four-wheel riding, dope-smoking, alcoholic rednecks."

While Office of Education Performance Audits head Kenna Seal has stood by his "rednecks" comments in terms of how such a lifestyle can impede education, he said this week that he had not been referring to the residents of Lincoln County, the Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail reported Wednesday.

"I used those words, but I didn't call the people in Lincoln County that," Seal said. "I used those words to describe a lifestyle that I have noticed in places across the country and even in West Virginia."

Shortly after Seal made the ill-advised comment earlier this month during a county school administration meeting, area education officials demanded an apology.

The Daily Mail said Seal did capitulate to that demand by writing a letter to the Lincoln School Board this week, apologizing for any use of an inappropriate stereotype.

W. Va. official clarifies 'rednecks' line