Thursday, March 28, 2024

Va. Democrats Threaten to Boycott Historic State Event over Trump Invite

Virginia GovernorRalph Northam has invited President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House NancyPelosi to a commemoration of the 400thanniversary of the firstmeeting of representative government in the United States. Northam’s fellowDemocrats are now threatening to boycott the event.

On July 30, 1619, the Virginia General Assembly convened for the first time in Jamestown. The Virginia Company, a private company with a royal charter, had appointed Sir George Yeardley as governor of the 12-year-old colony with instructions to bring together a legislative body to create “just Laws for the happy guiding” of the people. The first session had 22 members and enacted eight laws. The Jamestown colony eventually evolved into the colony of Virginia and then the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the General Assembly continued to meet, making it the oldest continuously operating legislative body in the New World.

Last August, Northaminvited both Trump and Pelosi to a 400th anniversary celebrationon July 30, 2019. The letter to Trump said, “Your presence and remarks on thisimportant anniversary would be most appropriate. By lending your voice andinsights, you would continue a tradition that has brought numerous priorPresidents and world leaders, including Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, toJamestown to reflect on the significance of the place and its majormilestones.” Pelosi received a similar letter.

Pelosi declined theinvitation within the last two weeks, citing a schedule conflict, but the WhiteHouse has signaled that Trump may be able to attend. Though the invitation wassent almost a year ago, Virginia Democrats have erupted in outrage over theprospect that the president of the freest country in the world might attend thecelebration of its first legislative body.

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe joined in, saying, “Racists and white nationalists have no place in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” insinuating that Trump is himself a racist or white nationalist.

Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, a Republican, called the Democrats’ response “disappointing” and “embarrassing,” noting that President Theodore Roosevelt (a Republican) attended the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in 1907 and President George W. Bush (also a Republican) attended the 400th anniversary of the same in 2007. “Sharing the views of the leader holding an elected office is not a prerequisite for showing respect for the office,” Norment said.

House Majority LeaderTodd Gilbert took the opportunity to take a shot at Virginia Democrats, whowere embroiled this year in a firestorm over a Northam’sracially-tinged appearances in a resurfaced medical school yearbook. MostVirginia Democrats demanded Northam’s resignation and distanced themselves fromhim in the wake of the controversy, though many of them have accepted campaigncontributions from him in the last few months. “No Democrat has refused toattend the commemoration with Northam, despite insisting there’s no room forracism at this commemoration,” Gilbert said.

The White House still has not confirmed whether Trump will actually attend the event.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore

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