In his March 14 News Messenger column, “The Courage of Convictions,” Michael Abraham called Representative Morgan Griffith “a coward” for electing not to attend what Mr. Abraham described as a “town hall meeting” held Feb. 22 in Blacksburg.
What Mr. Abraham did not disclose was that the town hall meeting was hosted by New River Valley Indivisible, an organization whose Facebook page describes NRVI as “a local chapter of the national ‘Indivisible’ movement. We are a nonpartisan group working toward a more inclusive, just, and free future.”
Nonpartisan? NRVI’s website, www.nrvindivisible.org, has as its tagline, “Resisting the Trump Agenda and Restoring Democracy.” Under the website’s Support tab, “MorganOut” sweatshirts may be purchased. Not exactly the League of Women Voters.
Mr. Abraham chose not to disclose any of this information, which would have provided readers a broader context in understanding Representative Griffith “rejecting” NRVI’s invitation to its town hall meeting.
NRVI has the right to its views, including its partisan definition of “nonpartisan.”
Representative Griffith had the right to determine whether he would attend NRVI’s town hall meeting.
And Mr. Abraham has the right to his opinion in his column, but, in this case, more information would have made the picture clearer.
Ed Lawhorn,
Blacksburg
