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Questions About Freeman's Qualifications
(by John C. Donahue Jr., Northfield - September 03, 2008)
Editor:
Back in the days when I was editor of The Northfield News, perhaps as much as a year ago, I wrote an editorial that mightily annoyed Nathan Freeman, a current wannabe lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary.
He not only didn’t like the editorial but was incensed that I dared print it. To punish me, he canceled his advertising in the paper. He also said that he was afraid that if he continued advertising, some of his customers might think that he supported my views and take their upholstery elsewhere.
Mr. Freeman was entirely within his rights. There is no law in this country that says anyone must support views that are abhorrent to them.
At the same time, he opened some interesting questions about his own devotion to freedom of the press, the vigorous free exchange of opinions, and other key American values, not the least tolerance for opposing views. In addition, is running from controversy like a scared rabbit an example of the “bold courage” his campaign announcement promised the people of Vermont were he to be elected to the state’s second highest office? Trying to suppress opinions, instead of debate them, hardly seems the American way.
I made no issue of his decision at the time because it involved only the two of us, but now it seems quite germane to his qualifications for office and what we could expect of him if elected.
Luckily, Northfielders in general seem to be a lot more tolerant. No other merchant protested the editorial. Perhaps none of them read it. And I’ll bet that Mr. Freeman will not lose a single one of his upholstery customers because of his decision to run for lieutenant governor and mount what is sure to be a controversial campaign.
John C. Donahue Jr.
Northfield
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