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REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
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''Joe the Plumbers' out in force
McCain-Palin supporters were out in force Thursday in Charleston demonstrating their support for "Joe the Plumbers" across America who will be hurt by Barack Obama's tax hikes. The event took place on the eve of Joe Biden's visit today.At the fourth and final West Virginia gubernatorial debate held last week in Morgantown, moderator Geri Ferrara, editor of the Morgantown Dominion-Post, asked two pointed questions about the degree scandal at West Virginia University. The first question was asked directly of Gov. Joe Manchin, who appears to be clearly uncomfortable as the question is being asked. Under the debate rules, the candidate answering first had two minutes to respond, with the other two candidates given one minute for rebuttals. Manchin used only about half of his allotted two minutes to respond to this question, obviously wanting to move off the subject.
Manchin's new ad admits to 'mistakes'
Joe Manchin's newest campaign commercial features the West Virginia governor admitting to "mistakes" and claiming that he's "human" -- a telling campaign decision on a message that belies any notion that he's leading election polls by margins as significant as some that have been reported.The new ad features Manchin leaning forward in a chair talking to an unseen interviewer, and saying near the end of the spot, "I'm gonna make mistakes. I'm human. You're human. That's to be expected." A candidate who believes he's cruising to reelection does not spend valuable air time engaging in what amounts to as close to a mea culpa as the governor is likely to ever come. Manchin may have been reacting to the fact that -- while few media organizations have pursued it aggressively -- the notion that he was directly involved in the scandal at West Virginia University resulting in his daughter receiving an unearned degree has not faded from the minds of most West Virginians, and has been a central issue of challenger Russ Weeks' campaign. That point was brought home again directly to his face by Geri Ferrara, editor of the Morgantown Dominion-Post, who asked Manchin about the degree scandal in pointed questioning that pulled no punches. A video of her question and Manchin's response -- including a camera shot of Manchin looking very uncomfortable as the question is being asked -- is posted above right.West Virginia Citizens Defense League President Jim Mullins has urged West Virginia gun owners who have concealed handgun licenses to not carry in South Carolina despite an announcement more than three weeks ago and letters sent to West Virginia concealed handgun license holders by Attorney General Darrell McGraw that the two states had established a reciprocity agreement.Although the West Virginia Attorney General’s concealed handgun web site indicates that West Virginia has reciprocity with South Carolina and posts a copy of a final reciprocity agreement for public viewing, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) does not list West Virginia among the states whose licenses or permits are recognized in South Carolina. Mullins says SLED, which administers South Carolina’s concealed carry law, has informed him via phone that it has never received a copy of an executed agreement from McGraw and is of the official opinion that West Virginia concealed handgun licenses are not presently valid in South Carolina.Mullins said, “Out of an abundance of caution, until SLED publicly confirms that it has received an official copy of a reciprocity agreement from Attorney General McGraw and adds West Virginia to the list of reciprocal states on the SLED web site, I urge those West Virginians who have concealed handgun licenses to not carry in South Carolina. I also urge the public to contact Attorney General McGraw to urge him to resolve this discrepancy as soon as possible.”Mullins added that the discrepancy between West Virginia and South Carolina officials creates a legal conundrum for West Virginia concealed handgun license holders who may carry in South Carolina. He said, “South Carolina law requires a licensed individual who is carrying a concealed handgun to immediately and voluntarily inform any law-enforcement officer who comes into contact with that person for an official purpose that he or she is licensed and is presently carrying.This requirement, coupled with the present misunderstanding by SLED regarding the existence of this agreement, places West Virginians in a Catch 22 situation if they carry in South Carolina: either be arrested for carrying a handgun without a permit.The West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (WVCDL) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support an individual’s right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use, as protected by the state constitution and the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. WVCDL is a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. WVCDL President Jim Mullins is a third-year law student at the West Virginia University College of Law.WVCDL: Despite statement by McGraw, it's not safe for West Virginians to carry concealed handguns in South Carolina yet
Success of Fox has led to open media bias
The national mainstream media's blatant support for Barack Obama, while is many ways disappointing, is in other ways just an inevitable culmination of decades of liberal biases finally coming into the open.In large part, the success of Fox News is responsible for the development. While some like to say that Fox is simply "fair and balanced," let's be honest -- it's a pro-Republican entity, with just enough Democrats on the payroll to make some claim to fairness. Faced with Fox's amazing success in viewership, MSNBC has made a conscious decision to serve the left as Fox serves the right. Trouble is, the nation as a whole is made up of moderate-conservatives, and MSNBC's effort to attract an audience largely fails because there are not enough avowed liberals to make a viewership dent.CNN -- the grandfather of cable news -- continues to lean heavily to the left, but comes closest of the three to being somewhere in the middle of the spectrum these days. What has been most interesting is the election coverage this year by ABC, CBS and NBC. By the estimation of countless media watchdog groups, the coverage of Obama v. McCain by the "Big Three" has been so tilted toward Obama as to be shameful.Almost all the national media organizations have, for all practical purposes, declared their political preferences. Fox -- created as a response to the liberal bias of the media -- has in fact spawned a backlash response from its counterparts. Perhaps we are better off that they are all being so openly biased, rather than even trying to pretend to be truly fair and balanced.
Republicans rally in Eastern Panhandle at Eisenhower Dinner
Statewide candidates joined Eastern Panhandle Republicans Friday at an Eisenhower Dinner that atracted a full house of about 150 attendees. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito offered opening remarks. Also speaking were U.S. Senate candidate Jay Wolfe, gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks, attorney general hopeful Dan Greear and Supreme Court candidate Beth Walker. Shown speaking above is 16th District state Senate candidate Bob Adams. At right, Weeks speaks with supporters about his campaign and his book, "No Strings Attached." Dr. Joseph De Soto, president of the Berkeley County Republican Club, served as master of ceremonies, and organized the event. In the top photo, bottom left corner, an attendee is seen leafing through a copy of a voter's guide that was available at the event. Designed and edited by Del. Craig Blair, the guide will be distributed to more than 40,000 households in the Eastern Panhandle. Here's The Journal's coverage.
SARAH NEAR WV
GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is campaigning today near the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, including stops in the Virginia and Maryland communities of Leesburg, Salem and Fredericksburg. Many Eastern Panhandle Republicans were making plans over the weekend to attend one of Palin's rallies today.
