A liberal Virginia organization, ProgressVA, released a report on Virginia legislators and their connection to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a conservative organization promoting the “stand your ground” laws. ProgressVA determined that Virginia spent $232,000 in state funds to send legislators to ALEC conferences where they met with corporate lobbyists behind closed doors. State House Speaker William Howell, a member of ALEC’s national leadership team, was confronted by ProgressVA executive director Anna Scholl. The discussion between the two turned a bit nasty.

The report doesn’t document wrongdoing by Howell or any other legislators. It is more of a political fight between liberals and conservatives. That doesn’t lessen the hostility by Howell who first responded to Scholl’s continued pressing by saying that the group’s website had nothing on it. After that, he became more personal.

“I guess I’m not speaking in little enough words for you to understand.”

Scholl didn’t care for that but responded more with a defense of herself than an attack on Howell’s personal integrity.

“I’m a smart girl, actually. I went to the University of Virginia…I think words with multiple syllables would be just fine for me.”

Howell’s response: “Well good for you.”

Too bad the video didn’t carry on what happened after that. It must have toned down, but it seems politics today are finding some way to revolve around personal attacks instead of substance.