Truth ‘massaged’

Ah, don’t you just love the English language and the warm and fuzzy words used to describe scandals?

I was intrigued by the use of the word “massaged” in The Washington Post news story (with contributions from CBS News) “Witness rips Benghazi actions” (May 6 and TribLIVE.com), which mentioned “claims in a recent Republican committee report that the State Department massaged public statements about the attack to eliminate or play down the likelihood of a terrorist connection.”

My Webster’s defines “massage” as “manipulation.” Perhaps The Post could have found a more fitting verb in the same section of this dictionary, i.e., “made up,” “manipulated,” “manufactured” or (best choice) “masterminded.”

I can only hope that the truth will be found and told.

Katherine Handshue

Pleasant Hills

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