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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
Thursday, March 20, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Published daily except some days
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The Republican Gazette welcomes Emails to the Editor and press releases. All submitted items must include the name and contact information for the author of the article, and all articles will only be published with the author's name included. Thank you for reading and participating in The Republican Gazette, another of West Virginia's most biased publications.
All opinions are those of The Republican Gazette and its editor, Gary Abernathy, except letters or commentary signed by others, and do not reflect the views of anyone else, including clients of Abernathy Strategies.
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BOB ADAMS
RUSTY MORGAN
Adams, Morgan square off over Senate issues
Morgan surprises everyone by failure to know anything about teacher pension issue
Bob Adams and Rusty Morgan, both vying for the Republican nomination for the State Senate seat in the 16th District, squared off in a debate Wednesday night at Jefferson High School.The two candidates discussed issues ranging from the rights of voters to hold referendums to which candidate was best equipped to defeat Democrat Herb Snyder in November.The most surprising moment of the night came when Morgan, a Jefferson County commissioner, was asked whether he would have voted for the teacher retirement merger plan passed by the Legislature. Morgan said he was not familiar with the issue and could not comment. In fact, as moderator and editor of The Journal, Maria Lorensen, reminded him, the issue has been all over the news. (Oddly, Morgan's admitted unfamiliarity with the issue went entirely unmentioned in today's coverage by The Journal, despite the fact it was the most striking moment of the debate.) Adams (who, in the interest of full disclosure, is a client of Abernathy Strategies) answered the question by detailing the nature of benefit plans, the need for better financial education for state employees making pension decisions, and said he probably would have voted for the bailout, reluctantly.Adams opened the debate by pointing out his success as a small businessman and his and his wife's hopes for raising their four small children in a more economically thriving state. Adams said he planned to contrast his vitality and fresh approach to the issues with Morgan's record, including the commissioner's recent comments opposing the right of voters to hold referendums to overturn commission zoning decisions, and his comparison of tax cuts to "bribery." Morgan detailed his career in politics and offered a resume of his public service over the years. He said his experience qualifies him for service in the Senate, and defended his commitment to sunshine law requirements and growth policies in the Eastern Panhandle.Adams said the incremental tax reduction packages passed in the recent legislative session would do little if anything for economic growth, and said the state needed immediate tax relief to spur the economy. Adams said he would fight in Charleston for the Panhandle to reap more of the rewards it deserves. The debate was part of a series of such events being sponsored by The Journal of Martinsburg and WEPM radio. In addition to Lorensen, moderators included David Welch of WEPM, John McVey of The Journal, and EPAC Delta Sigma Theta Social Action Committee Chairwoman Michelle Barnes.McKinney: Dem issues wrong for West Virginia
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney issued the following statement Wednesday in response to campaign events by Senators Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton:“As Senators Clinton and Obama bring political opportunism and empty rhetoric to the Mountain State, they’ll have to answer for why their liberal policies and values are so out of step with the average West Virginian,” said West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney. “The agendas put forth by the Democratic candidates are clear – and they’re clearly wrong for West Virginia. For all their squabbling and bickering, they share the same flawed beliefs that threaten 2nd Amendment rights, ignore foreign policy realities and would raise taxes on West Virginia families to pay for drastic increases in government spending.“When Mountain State voters are offered a choice between John McCain – who exhibits independent judgment, courage and real experience – and Senators Clinton and Obama – who exhibit none of those qualities – I think the choice will be obvious.”Hillary Clinton campaigned Wednesday at Capital High School in Charleston, and the most striking part of the Charleston Daily Mail's coverage was this excerpt: Much of the crowd consisted of Capital High School students. All juniors and seniors attended the rally. Banners reading 'Welcome to West Virginia...Hillary' adorned the gymnasium and the school choir, band and ROTC program were on hand. All juniors and seniors attended? Plus the school choir, band and ROTC program? For a candidate in a partisan election?This type of use, or abuse, of students and school facilities as a backdrop might be appropriate if Hillary was indeed the president. But as a candidate in a partisan primary election, sending all the juniors and seniors into the big gym to participate in a rally for Hillary is clearly inappropriate.Later in the story, one student was quoted as being a John McCain supporter, and another as being undecided. But apparently they were all ushered in for Hillary -- and Gov. Joe Manchin -- regardless of whether they supported her or not.Did Hillary -- a constant critic of President Bush's education policies -- believe it was a good idea to yank students out of class so they could stand, cheer and serve as props for her for a while? Apparently.Capital HS turned into Clinton rally location, complete with students
Huggins is a coach who knows how to win by making best of talent
I had the privilege of watching Bob Huggins coach at Cincinnati during his entire tenure there, and always admired his ability to get the most out of the talent he had.Huggins was criticized at Cincinnati for relying heavily on junior college transfers, some of whom were regarded as having less than the best character. But Huggins prided himself on making his players better both as athletes and as human beings, and he generally succeeded.At Cincinnati, Huggins' calling card was defense. He generally played a tenacious man-to-man, and even when the Bearcats weren't scoring, they were in the game because of their lockdown of their opponent through their aggressive full-court press and double-team traps.At West Virginia, Huggins is doing an amazing job with the talent he inherited. After a couple of years of recruiting his own players, WVU fans will really be in for a treat.