Regarding the recent My View column “"Time for Nikki Haley to end her campaign,” I’ll put aside the fact that the author laughably cites Donald Trump as a protector of government overreach, despite Trump’s previous well-documented attempts to use the Justice Department to prosecute his political rivals and personal enemies. 

My bigger issue with Manning’s screed is why the River Reporter sees fit to publish a political column from a man with zero ties to our area. Mr. Manning leads Americans for Limited Government, a Virginia-based front group that is funded by Koch-affiliated lobbying organizations. The group portrays itself as defenders of freedom in order to hide its true agenda; the deregulation and gutting of oversight of the oil industry. 

The dissemination of this editorial is classic astroturfing, which makes locally distributed content appear to be grassroots advocacy. 

I have some questions for the publisher: Were you paid to publish this column? How did it come to you? Or, is this just a clumsy attempt to cater to local Republicans who have openly questioned a liberal editorial bias? 

You’ve been used or you’ve shed your journalistic responsibility in the publishing of this column. Either way, it’s a self-inflicted black eye. Bravo.

George Billard
Eldred, NY