Authoritative is a more appropriate descriptor and I don't believe he advocated whitewashing as a tactic either.

Certainly, the team must get the facts including any "gotchas." However, you must be careful to ensure any reservations you share with the team are clearly about the facts and not based your own prejudices.

That voting idea is just silly in the face of a project required by Sr. Management. There goes any "ownership" your team may have been "empowered" to feel.