I am writing in response to the puzzling letter by Monica Ciolfi (Monitor, 7/25), as many reasonable people see Colin Van Ostern’s ad from a very different perspective. Perhaps it is because I spent almost thirty years teaching high school English and American History, but I very clearly heard Annie Kuster use the past tense in referring to Planned Parenthood’s recognition of Colin’s work. The banner also includes the date of that recognition: 6/29/16. Asserting that the ad is deliberately misleading seems a tad petty to me, as does the accusation that Colin has done nothing to promote abortion rights in the years since being named a NARAL NH Champion For Choice.

Helping to elect countless state representatives, and to repeatedly re-elect Annie Kuster, strikes me as actively working to promote the rights of women. Ciolfi is within her rights to support the candidate of her choice, but I regret she felt compelled to do so by attacking a Congressional candidate who has developed working relationships with activists in virtually every community in the district and who has earned the support of hundreds of women who are tirelessly working to support reproductive rights. I count myself one of them. Ciolfi’s letter ends with a particularly unfortunate comment that the only organization to endorse so far is EMILY’s list, a group that by definition only supports women. Of course they would endorse Van Ostern’s opponent.

Deborah Bacon Nelson

Hanover