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W. Va. official clarifies 'rednecks' line

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CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- 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.

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"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.

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