And for Scientology to make noise in such a bizarre way carries risk, he pointed out. "I've talked to at least ten people in Clearwater, most of whom remain under the radar who say what got them to look elsewhere on the Internet was the Freedom magazine issue about the St. Pete Times." And that issue, a similar smear against reporters Joe Childs and Tom Tobin after their landmark series, "The Truth Rundown," wasn't nearly as slick as this current one.
"I know someone [a regular, public Scientologist] OSA asked to read [the St. Pete Times issue] to gauge the local reaction in the community, and that person said 'Oh my God, this is insane,' and then went to Marty's blog, and then left the church and pulled out their family." He predicts a similar exodus after this current issue.