Comments on: Tuesday’s column: Rep. Morgan Griffith’s rigged survey

By: John Knowles

John Knowles — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:10:58 +0000

Actually, question # 4 is as baited as some of the others. By tossing in the now iconic adjacency pair “illegal (+) immigrants”, in Griffith’s “survey”, a position is assumed by both parties, and the Honorable Rep. has led the respondent to likely make the response expected/desired. The question ignores the complexities of our own immigration bureaucracy (most anyone who has navigated it has a story), the nuance involved by the millions of different narratives of those lumped into the characterization by the offensive phrase, and simply the changes to people movements when former economic borders are suddenly and legally removed. Add to that the particular historical, geographical, political, & cultural factors between the US and its largest immediate neighbor, which is also the sending country of the bulk of the “undocumented” (a term that does more justice to the plight of so many who continue to live in the shadows, fearfully, as they wait for Congress & WH with representatives of the largest sending countries to resolve a workable category for them.), and which happens to be the largest Spanish-speaking country by 2 fold. # 4 is just as bad as others.

By: Other John

Other John — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:19:00 +0000

cr, that’s a good question. I’ve lived in the 9th District since moving here in 2000, though every year until building our house in late 2007, I moved (being in college through 2004)…so that may have something to do with it. But, after getting our house constructed, I don’t recall anything coming from Boucher except the standard election mailers…so I’m not sure why we didn’t get anything.

But your mention about time spent in the district outside of the eastern extent was one of my concerns about Griffith, even as a resident of the eastern end of the 9th. I wondered how much actual focus and attention he would pay to the coalfields area and in general, points west of I-77. Seeing as how he has a solid support base there, I guess he really doesn’t need to do much to maintain their support.

By: Tayree

Tayree — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:12:12 +0000

My husband got this survey and was also disgusted with the way the questions were worded. I am just as disgusted by Griffith’s so-called columns in the local paper that are filled with party rhetoric and disrespect, not creative solutions or the opportunity for cooperation with those with differing opinions. These columns are in stark contrast with the others in the same paper by a WV Rep (D) and our local VA delegate (R) – clearly gentlemen. I would never use that word for Griffith. I don’t care if your political opinions differ from mine as long as you can be respectful in conveying them. Griffith most certainly is not.

By: crooked road

crooked road — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:22:10 +0000

OJ, not to dispute, but funny that I used to get semi-monthly flyers from Rick Boucher for years on end. The only months I have ever gotten flyers from Griffith were Sep/Oct/the first week of November in even numbered years. I dunno, could there be some connection to election cycles?

Anyone ever take the time to check out Griffith’s supposed ‘time in the district’ outside of the RoVa/NRV? High profile events? You betcha! Everyday concern about those who vote overwhelmingly for him? ‘Sorry, gotta run to the coal company offices, catch ya later!’

By: Other John

Other John — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:23:54 +0000

While Rep. Griffith’s politics are not in line with those of myself or my wife, I have been impressed with the fact that we have gotten written responses to our inquiries and letters sent to him regarding various legislative initiatives. I agree that the questionaire was a bit on the vague side, but I also don’t think that it could be reasonably designed to allow for even a modest number of potential variations to simple Support/Oppose answers. There were several questions where complexity is required, but that could not probably be utilized in such a mailer.

Do what we are doing, instead: send a written letter to Mr. Griffith detailing the ideas that you think need to be explored for each of the issues/questions in the mailer. Provide full, written responses with your positions. We mailed back the questionaire, but will also be mailing more detailed responses as a supplement. I don’t agree with him on much, but this is the second or third such mailer we’ve gotten from him thus far, which is 2 or 3 more than we got from Boucher…and I appreciate that…even though I have not voted for him in either election.

By: Dave Gresham

Dave Gresham — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:58:32 +0000

16.DaveGresham…probably depends on what you had for lunch that day.
Comment by Kristen — January 8, 2013 @ 11:07 am

Burritos Kristen, with lots of hot sauce. And according to the Griffith school of logic, I’ll be telling the judge the reason I sat on Morgan’s face was aroma therapy.

By: Ron May

Ron May — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:43:38 +0000

No Rick! We have a showing up for work and getting anything done problem in Congress among other major issues.

By: Blacksburg Suz

Blacksburg Suz — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:41:55 +0000

He is my congressman but I certainly didn’t vote for him. I disagreed with Rick Boucher on several issues but he was responsive. If you called his office or sent a letter you got a response. Not the case with Griffith – I have called his office on more than one occasion – left my name, address and phone number and have never gotten a response. I DID fill out the survey but then decided not to spend my hard-earned teacher salary on the postage. There is no way he cares or will listen to my views anyway – they don’t match his preconceived ideas.

By: wayne goodman

wayne goodman — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:40:39 +0000

Good grief pistol pete!
2.Dan, this might be your worst column ever. The nit picky, cry baby stuff is ridiculous. The questions are not over the top like you make them out, but your “evaluation” of this with today’s column will generate a lot of “Who cares”, or “stop whining” comments”

If you as a school teacher can’t recognize that those questions are over the top and loaded to only solicit the answers that Griffith wants to hear, then I’d sincerely hate to have one of my children or grandchildren
subjected to any class that you might teach. If you think those are fair questions, I would hate to see the questions that you would design for testing and evaluating your students.

By: kent

kent — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:21:26 +0000

like your story,but he left out some questions on the survey like should i resign from office since i had outsiders pay for me to get back in. would you support me if i took a pay cut to the mimium wage since i do minium work, ask my fellow congressman and congresswomen to follow suit. that will bring some money in to decrease the debt. I have more but it would take the whole day and i don’t waste my time on someone that is worthless like morgan griffith