malaprop? or what?

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

from an NYT story "Trailer-Park Dwellers Fight Eviction From
Paradise" by Chris Dixon, 5/2/05, p. A12 (the paradise in question is
the beach at Laguna Beach, California):
-----
...with a slice of paradise on the line, most residents have chosen
to fight.

"They're pulling this old bandwagon that's long dead and not true,"
said Tim Williams, 36, who has lived at El Morro for nearly four
years with his wife, Dalila, and their son, Sebastian, 5.  "Saying
people are denied access--that's a lie."
-----

ok, "bandwagon" is clearly not the word for the job.  something like
"canard" would fit.  but what word was this guy aiming for? (or,
alternatively, what did he say that the reporter misheard as
"bandwagon"?)

arnold