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The Republican Gazette
MONDAY DECEMBER 15, 2008
I want to thank everyone who has called or emailed to offer congratulations -- or as some said, condolences (they were joking I think) -- on the announcement last week that I was stepping back into the role of executive director of the state Republican Party. I'm honestly very excited about it. Everyone who knows me knows what a fan of state parties I have always been, in regard to my belief in how indispensable they are to the success of candidates from the local level through the state and federal races. The offers of assistance have been much appreciated, and rest assured, you will be taken up on those offers. And if everyone who has pledged financial support comes through with checks in January and February, the party will be off to a good monetary start in 2009. Of course, the universe would not be in order without some attacks coming my way, primarily through internet blogs and postings, almost all of them anonymous. And while they claim to be Republicans, I have to believe such things are actually coming from Democrats pretending to be Republicans. After all, Republicans wouldn't launch into vicious personal anonymous attacks like that against fellow Republicans, would they? The fact they are even going after Betty Ireland and other Republicans aside from me tells me for sure it can't be Republicans behind such things. Attacking one of the few Republicans who have managed to get elected to statewide office in West Virginia? We Republicans wouldn't do that, right?Sadly, the internet has become the 21st century version of the old public restroom wall, where hate-filled, or just plain weird, nasty notes about other people can be scrawled in the cover of darkness. As much as I am tempted to respond to specific allegations or comments, I can't, because there's no one to respond to, just ghosts who use phony names. I will not respond to anonymous attacks.Instead, I'll do what I always try to do, the only thing I can do -- forge ahead and work with everyone who wants to move forward. Since coming on board with the party last week, I've been making phone calls to various GOP leaders, particularly state committee members, including some who I knew from our history would be less than thrilled with Dr. McKinney's announcement of my hiring. Most committee members have been welcoming, but I appreciate very much the fact that even those who I know were not happy with the news took the time to talk with me and respectfully share their concerns, and listen to my position and my ideas for the future. Party politics is something I like in part because there are very specific yardsticks for success or failure, and I'm more than happy to be judged by those yardsticks. In the coming months, if progress is not being made, I'll be the first to say, hey, it ain't working. Adios.But I'm an optimist, and I sincerely believe we are poised for better days ahead. I have always believed that the most important first step in the political process is communication -- communicating with committee members, officeholders, donors, volunteers and, as recruitment efforts begin, candidates. Nothing leads to misunderstandings or hard feelings more than the simple lack of communication, and I understand that. That will change, and I know Dr. McKinney is committed to that as well. (Doug addresses the issue in his Christmas message.)I am going to continue reaching out to meet with or call Republicans around the state. If you want to speak with me and haven't heard from me yet, I'm available any time. If you have questions or concerns, let's talk about it. If you have ideas for the party, please share them. The first half of 2009 will be devoted to inviting every Republican to the table who wants to be there and have a voice. Let's get to work.For the party, better communication is a key
No red carpet this year for members of Electoral College
(Corrected) The five members of West Virginia's electoral college will gather this morning in Charleston to officially make John McCain and Sarah Palin the winners of the state's electoral votes. The McCain-Palin ticket captured the state by virtue of their victory over the Obama-Biden ticket on November 4th.Back in 2000, when President Bush carried the state, electors were given the red carpet treatment, including lunch at the governor's office, courtesy of then-Gov. Cecil Underwood.That courtesy went by the wayside in 2004 when Bush again carried the state and Democrat Joe Manchin Bob Wise was in office, and apparently there will be little pomp or circumstance today when Terry Waxman, Zane Lawhorn, Sue McKinney, Marti Riggall and Bob Fish gather in Charleston to sign the electoral documents casting their votes for McCain.After electors cast their votes in every state today, a Joint Session of Congress convenes on January 6, 2009, to count the votes and officially declare Barack Obama the winner of the presidential race. The number of electors in each state is determined by the census every 10 years, and is equal to the number of the state's congressional delegation (in West Virginia, two Senators and three Members of Congress). THEN AND NOW -- Back in 2004, the five presidential electors from West Virginia were, top picture from left, Rob Capehart, Doug McKinney, Dan Moore, Larry Faircloth and Richie Robb. At right, this year's electors are, top row, Terry Waxman, Zane Lawhorn and Sue McKinney; bottom row, Marti Riggall and Bob Fish.
Saturday Night Live comic Bill Hader again offered his funny impression of Sen. Robert C. Byrd
'SNL' skewers Byrd in skit on Gov. Blagojevich
Bill Hader as Robert C. Byrd
during a skit Saturday showing Gov. Rod Blagojevich being questioned by a panel of U.S. Senators, during which the governor keeps trying to cut deals over filling the Illinois seat vacated by Barack Obama.
It was at least the second time Hader had channeled his inner Byrd, the first being a skit focused on hearings about Iraq.Hader is actually rather kind to Byrd with his impression. While he presents the senator as a rather crotchety old man, he stops short of a portrayal that might focus more cruelly on Byrd's recent frailties as observed in his public appearances.Blagojevich was portrayed as a foul-mouthed, self-absorbed politician interested only in cash and throwing out the "f-bomb" in almost every sentence (bleeped repeatedly during the sketch).---
Obama-Blagojevich questions remain
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has launched a new Web video, above, titled “Questions Remain.” The video highlights the evolving explanations delivered by President-elect Obama and his advisors concerning their contact with the embattled and scandal-plagued Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich despite Obama’s promises to instill greater transparency and confidence in government.
The Republican National Committee said late last week that despite his denials of contact with Gov. Rod Blagojevich about filling Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, Obama has yet to answer several questions about the events, including: 1. Did anyone on your team speak with an SEIU official about your replacement?2. How can you be certain that nobody on your team was in contact with the governor when you're still gathering the facts?3. Did anyone from the Obama team (transition team, senate office or otherwise) have contact with the governor or his office about anything related to the seante seat prior to election day or after?4. Will you release copies of any written correspondence between you and your aides and Blagojevich?5. Why didn't you correct David Alexrod when he said you had spoken to Blagojevich about picking your replacement?6. Did anyone on the Obama team discuss with Jesse Jackson Jr. any of Jesse's interactions with Blagojevich about the seat?RNC poses six questions for Barack Obama re Blagojevich
West Virginia's five presidential electors gathered at the Capitol on Monday to cast their votes for John McCain and Sarah Palin, then visited with Secretary of State Betty Ireland. From left, Terry Waxman, Bob Fish, Betty Ireland, Marti Riggall, Sue McKinney and Zane Lawhorn.
Manchin, Ireland host electors in Monday event at Capitol
West Virginia was officially put into the McCain column Monday when the state's five GOP presidential electors traveled to Charleston to sign the documents necessary to cast their votes for the McCain-Palin ticket. Electors Terry Waxman, Bob Fish, Marti Riggall, Sue McKinney and Zane Lawhorn were visited during the course of performing their duties by Gov. Joe Manchin, who discussed the history of the electoral process, and were hosted by Secretary of State Betty Ireland, who presented electors with a certificate, a West Virginia pin, and a West Virginia coin/paperweight. Manchin, who presided over the actual balloting, also presented electors with a certificate. At one point during Manchin's visit, Sue McKinney joked with him that even though Barack Obama won the national election, "at least the right guy won West Virginia." Manchin reportedly seemed only mildly amused.The electors did appreciate the governor's stop-by, though, and as Bob Fish said later, "The governor and the Secretary of State treated us with all courtesies today," apparently an improved environment from four years ago, when electors felt largely underwhelmed.TUESDAY DECEMBER 16, 2008
Straight-ticket voting results show heavy Dem crossover ballots
Nearly 104,000 Democrats and more than 69,000 Republicans cast straight-ticket ballots in the November 4th election, according to statistics compiled by Secretary of State Betty Ireland's office. Nearly 61 percent of the state's registered voters cast ballots in the election. Of all ballots, 21 percent were cast in early in-person voting, while 2.5 percent were cast by mail-in absentee balloting.While a total of nearly 737,000 West Virginians cast votes in the election, the number of Democrat vs. Republicans voting straight ticket is interesting. Despite the Democrats' 2-1 voter registration advantage, the straight ticket voting totals indicate that a higher percentage of Republican voters cast straight-ticket ballots than Democrats, reflecting the obviously heavy Democrat cross-over vote statewide for John McCain, as well as for Shelley Moore Capito in the state's 2nd District congressional race.Unfortunately for other GOP candidates, those patterns did not hold true in most down-ticket races.Different philosophies abound in the world of political consulting
Part of the debate going on right now in the race for chairman of the Republican National Committee centers on the role of political consultants, and whether they abuse their ability to milk money from their clients. There are some RNC committee members calling on the party to more closely police the activities of the consultants who peddle their services to GOP candidates. Of particular concern is the practice of some consultants who structure their fees in such a way that they make more money based on certain spending by their clients, such as heavy television buys or certain kinds of direct mail fundraising. They are often suspected,or accused, of recommending certain spending by their clients not because it will best enhance their campaigns, but because it will enhance the wallets of the consultants. Current RNC Chairman Mike Duncan has long been cautious about using consultants in comparision to past chairmen, and has made sure that most RNC fundraising is done by in-house staff, not consultants.On the other hand, some committee members are asking which consultants are backing which candidates for chairman of the party, concerned that in some cases they may just be trying to elect a favored candidate in order to ensure for themselves lucrative contracts if their candidate wins.In my recent experience as a consultant over the past two election cycles, I have stuck to the policy of charging one, simple flat fee, regardless of of how much money is spent by my clients or on what kind of advertising. I've also been willing to work with any Republican who wanted to hire me, regardless of what his or her chances of success might have been. That business decision opens me up for criticism by those looking for things to pick at. There are and always have been blog postings from people who are tracking my career so closely that I am tempted to accuse them of stalking. I would love to have a winning record as a consultant. But I chose to be a Republican consultant in West Virginia. And I refused to try to cherry pick clients. In other words, there are consultants across the country who will only take clients who already have a great chance to win, or who are personally wealthy, or who obviously have groups who are going to give them large amounts of money. In contrast, my philosophy has been that I cannot in good conscience turn down a request from any Republican in good standing who wants to hire me. What should I tell them, “I won’t work for you because I don’t think you can win?” Those who are long shots and who probably won’t raise any money are the clients who need help the most, aren’t they? Even if they will probably not win, why shouldn’t I help them? Because it won’t look good on my won-lost record? Who cares? This isn’t a sports league where the consultant with the best won-loss record wins something. I want to help any Republican who asks for my help, if at all possible (which is why working for the party itself is exciting for me). I had clients in this past election that no one thought would come close to winning, but they nearly pulled it off. I’m proud of them, and proud of our campaigns. Vic Sprouse, who was Attorney General candidate Dan Greear's consultant in the last election, addressed this subject very frankly this week, saying, "Gary takes on races that are unwinnable. I admire him for that. It’s not something I would do. Look, I love Russ Weeks. I thought he was the most honorable man I’ve met in my time in politics, I think his wife Helen is an incredible person. I mean, I love and admire the guy. But, if Russ Weeks had called me and asked me to run hiscampaign I would have said no. I couldn’t have gone through the motions of pretending that Russ was going to win. It takes a true believer (which Gary is) to take on that race. I mean, what did he make, $10,000? I’m guessing he spent much more than $10,000 in time and blood and sweat and tears in a race because he believed (rightly so) that Joe needed SOME opposition."
Vic's take on the subject perfectly summarizes a different approach to political consulting than mine, and Vic's is likely the more dominant, and perhaps more sustainable, position held by most consultants. Vic goes on to say that whether he will do political consulting again in 2010 is undecided.That's not the case for me. I won't be doing it. If I'm involved in the election cycle in West Virginia by the time 2010 rolls around, it will be in my new role as executive director of the state party, or not at all. And when the day comes that I do exit the executive director ranks, my private business pursuits will turn strictly to media relations and communications, not overall consulting. Why? Here's my favorite line from Vic's blog: "Gary is getting bashed for being a bad consultant. I’m not sure what that has to do with being ED." Geesh! I've already busted Vic (jokingly) by email for agreeing that I was a bad consultant. He responded with an "LOL" and said he didn't mean to make it sound that way. Hmmm.But the fact is, losing does not make me happy. And it wasn't just the Russ Weeks race that bummed me out last month. Yes, I treated Russ' race as winnable and I always believe in miracles, and working with Russ was an honor and a privilege. But I also saw the polls along the way, so election night results weren't shocking, just disappointing.What depressed me even more, and still does, are the races I handled that came within literally a few hundred votes out of tens of thousands, but fell just short. Bob Adams' race against Herb Snyder in the 16th Senate District was the worst nightmare, with Bob falling just 224 votes short out of about 53,000 cast.The problem is, you get very close to the people you work with, and you beat yourself up wondering what you could have done to come up with another couple hundred votes so that all their blood, sweat, tears and money would not have gone for naught. One of the nicest emails I received after the last election came from a well-known Democrat consultant in this state, who wrote, "Even though the results were not what you were hoping for, you should feel very good about doing as much as you did with the limited resources that you had at your disposal. No one can ever say that tough odds dissuaded you from doing your best for your clients." I appreciated that as I wallowed in my depression on November 5th.Nevertheless, my general consulting days are behind me, and when I re-enter the world of private enterprise someday, it will be to provide media consulting and public relations only, offering that specialty service under the umbrella of someone else doing the general overall consulting. I've already done a lot of that for campaigns in other states, it's what I enjoy the most, and it might be easier on my mental stability in the long run. And if worse comes to worse, there's always that spangled jumpsuit hanging nearby.If Vic decides to sit out 2010 as well, it offers quite a bit more opportunity to other GOP consultants in this state. From our efforts at the state party, we'll help come up with some great candidates for them to work with, and do everything we can to make sure the party is well positioned to make sure a lot more of them get over the hump next time.Please don't let Barack Obama stop smoking
The Charleston Daily Mail did a story this week on Barack Obama's efforts to quit smoking. Understandably, the president-elect is reluctant to say much about his failure to completely kick the habit, since the eyes of the world are upon him, and smoking has been made by some to be a worse crime than armed robbery.Here's some advice. If you want to quit smoking someday, don't choose years in which you are serving in the position of being the most powerful man in the world, with your finger on the nuclear button, making decisions of war and peace, life or death. Choose another time. Don't worry about setting good examples right now. Have a cigarette and relax a little now and then, k?WV's federal Dems gave state party over $200,000
Officeholder transfers accounted for about one fourth of total party spending
$110,180
$61,250
$33,750
$1800
ROCKY
BYRD
RAHALL
MOLLOHAN
Members of West Virginia's Democrat congressional delegation ponied up more than $200,000 from their campaign accounts to the state Democrat Party, with Sen. Jay Rockefeller leading the way with more than $110,000 in contributions, and Rep. Alan Mollohan sharing a comparatively miserly $1800, despite facing no opposition in the general election. Sen. Robert C. Byrd gave about $61,000, while Rep. Nick Joe Rahall transferred nearly $34,000. In total, the state Democrat Party had more than $900,000 in receipts for the campaign, with about half of it coming from the federal candidates and the Democratic National Committee, which gave nearly $300,000 to its state counterpart.While much of the funds were used for voter turnout programs designed to assist the Obama effort, among the party's expenditures was also more than $65,000 in mailings that targeted incumbent legislative Republicans. The mailings were produced by AMS Communications of San Francisco. GOP Delegates Tom Azinger, Craig Blair, Kelli Sobonya, Mitch Carmichael, Patti Schoen, Carol Miller and Mike Porter were targeted for defeat by the mail campaign, but all won reelection in spite of the onslaught.
Democrats also spent about $12,000 on their election night party at the Marriott in Charleston, including invitations.Two years ago in the 2006 election cycle, the state Democratic Party also raised and spent nearly one million dollars, with more than half of it coming from Byrd and Rahall. At that time, Byrd gave the state party $298,000, while Rahall ponied up $225,000 to the party from their respective campaign accounts.This year, the state party also took a $10,000 contribution from Joe C. Ferrell, the former Democrat member of the House of Delegates who famously missed every day of the 2006 session and, as The Associated Press reported in 2007, "blamed his absence in part on a back problem, but federal prosecutors considered him a co-conspirator in an ongoing election fraud probe that resulted in a number of convictions last year."Another ten grand came from Jeremy Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North which controls the Wheeling Island Racetrack.Report says Mollohan among those who convicted defense contractor helped feds with during their probe
Rep. Alan Mollohan is among five congressmen who were under federal investigations that were aided by Mitchell Wade, the defense contractor who is scheduled to be sentenced next month for providing former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham with $1.8 million in bribes. .Wade is asking for leniency because of his assistance in the probes of other members of Congress, including Mollohan, according to sethhettena.com.As noted in the report, Mollohan "received $23,000 in campaign contributions and gifts to a family foundation from Wade’s company, MZM Inc., and another firm that did business with MZM. In October 2002, MZM gave $20,000 to Mollohan’s Summit PAC."On the same subject, Roll Call reported in 2005, "One of those who created Summit PAC for Mollohan was Robert Hytner, vice chairman of Information Manufacturing Corp. of Rocket Center, W.Va. — a company that had a close but apparently troubled business relationship with MZM. In 2002, IMC paired with MZM on what was to be the initial round of a $12 million Defense Department contract. The contract was issued for support work for the Pentagon’s Joint Counter-Intelligence Assessment Group, Congressional sources said. Mollohan, who serves as ranking member on the Appropriations subcommittee on Science, State, Justice, Commerce and related agencies, said he had no role in securing any funding for that program. How IMC and MZM came to share the $12 million DOD contract is unclear."WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2008
GOP calls on Illinois leaders to hold special election
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan released the following statement Tuesday:“We agree with President-elect Barack Obama that his Senate seat belongs to the people of Illinois. It’s appalling that House Speaker Madigan and Senate President Jones are continuing this embarrassment for Illinois with their backroom politics and lack of leadership. The only way the people’s voice will be heard and Illinois can end the taint of the Blagojevich scandal is to have a special election.” Earlier, Duncan noted, “It’s extremely disappointing that Democratic leaders in Illinois are ignoring bipartisan calls for a special election to fill the Senate seat. Considering the scandal surrounding Governor Rod Blagojevich’s administration, a special election is the only way to credibly fill the seat. I hope that Speaker Madigan puts good government before partisan politics.”
Mr. President
Time magazine included this photo of Barack Obama from his college days as part of its new issue declaring him its 2008 Person of the Year. Yes, I agree that what he's pictured doing is very unhealthy -- you should never wear a hat indoors. However, we never saw him wearing a hat indoors during the campaign, so hopefully he's kicked the habit. Despite rumors that he does sometimes wear a hat indoors in private, I personally think that's his own business. This photo will likely become a permanent fixture on The Republican Gazette.
Is Unger's teaching stint to help him with education issues, or because he lost a job?
JOHN UNGER
News reports said this week that state Sen. John Unger "was added to the Berkeley County school system's substitute teacher list on Monday."Unger says he wants to "learn about issues faced by public schools" and as the AP reported, "Unger says he hopes being in the classroom will help him in addressing education issues." Of course, he could just ask fellow Eastern Panhandle lawmaker Del. Jonathan Miller, who has long been a substitute teacher, or even Del. Linda Sumner, who was a longtime, full time teacher until her recent retirement. But that would require communication with fellow legislators.Frankly, it's difficult to understand how Unger has enough idle time to be a substitute teacher, given his full time national security responsibilites. Will the country be safe while Senator Unger is hanging out in classrooms? The more likely question raised is whether Unger still holds his $88,000 a year job with EGG, a company that is part of a web of interelated corporations benefitting from millions of dollars in federal earmarks from Congressman Alan Mollohan. Unger once told the Charleston Daily Mail that in regard to his work with EGG, he has exactly one client -- the National Energy Technology Laboratory, which is located in a Morgantown industrial park right next door to EGG. Unger said "one of his roles is figuring out alternative ways to deliver electricity and protect power sources from terrorists," and so far, as we know, he's done a bang up job, because our power sources have not been attacked by terrorists. That's why I hate to see him put us at risk now, even for the worthy cause of learning about issues faced by public schools.
Unger said this week that he's qualified to teach social studies and science at the high school and middle school levels. That could be. We know he's not qualified to teach accounting or economics, since he once said, "Usually, I don't pay much attention on what I'm paid as long as I can pay the bills and get by. It's not a big deal to me." Can't you just hear students who don't do their homework? "Well, gee, Mr. Unger, like you say -- I usually don't pay much attention as long as I can get by. It's not a big deal to me."THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2008
Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year
May God richly bless you and your families during the holidays.
The Republican Gazette will return on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009
Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year
