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Abernathy Strategies
RepublicanGazette
Wednesday, April 2, 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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Adams wins pro-life nod over opponent
Morgan describes himself as pro-choice, pro civil unions
Bob Adams, Republican candidate for the 16th State Senate district, has won the endorsement of West Virginians for Life.His opponent in the primary, Jefferson County Commissioner Rusty Morgan, this week described himself as "pro choice" and said of civil unions for gays, " I don’t have strong feelings about it. It’s okay with me, I guess."In that same interview with the Shepherdstown Observer, Morgan took a swipe at his own party, saying, "I am not going to worry about whether people think I’m a Republican or not. All that flag waving, the circus environment, is fine for people who enjoy that kind of thing."BOB ADAMS
Virginians for Life (WVFL), the state pro-life organization. WVFL is affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee and through both education and legislation is working to build a society where all human life is respected, from conception until natural death.
"Melissa Adkins., West Virginians For Life Executive Director, stated, 'We commend Mr. Bob Adams for expressing commitment to the unborn.'"In its endorsement of Adams, the West Virginians for Life PAC said, "WVL PAC is the internal PAC for West 
RUSS WEEKS
Weeks will file suit on retroactive per diems
Republican gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks said today he will file suit against the West Virginia State Legislature and Gov. Joe Manchin to reverse the retroactive per diem payments lawmakers have begun collecting from the recent regular and special sessions.Weeks said the additional $1120 being collected by lawmakers is both illegal and immoral. Weeks said it was clear from news reports that even many lawmakers did not realize the retroactive provision was contained in the final bill.“The citizens of our state deserve representation that is responsive and respectful to the average West Virginian,” said Weeks. “In no other walk of life can a person give himself an increase in pay, and then collect it from past service. The arrogance of the legislative leadership in supporting this kind of activity is shameful.”
Weeks said his campaign for governor is all about accountability.“Our legislators and our governor must be held accountable to the people,” said Weeks. “Voting a pay raise for themselves is hard enough for most people to swallow. But making the per diem part of it retroactive is too much. It is likely illegal, but more importantly, it is just wrong.”A former State Senator, Weeks said he will be meeting with attorneys this week to craft his lawsuit, with the goal of filing it within a week.“I’m filing this suit on behalf of the people of West Virginia,” said Weeks. “Only when we stand up and demand accountability will we begin to see accountability become reality.”WESPAC, the political action committee of the West Virginia State Medical Association, has announced its endorsement of Beth Walker for Supreme Court. The Medical Association has over 2,800 statewide members composed of physicians, retired physicians, medical residents and students. WESPAC is a voluntary, bipartisan organization made up of physicians, their spouses and others."I am proud to have the support of WESPAC," Walker said. "A fair and impartial court system is crucial for the future of West Virginia and I believe that the medical community has a clear understanding of the importance of our judiciary being independent and even-handed.""If we permit our courts to be anything less than fair and impartial, we risk our state's ability to attract and keep the talented physicians essential for quality healthcare for all West Virginians," Walker stated.In a letter to the Walker campaign, Dr. Phillip Stevens, Chairman of WESPAC, stated "We will communicate to our statewide membership, as well as the general public, your endorsement and are confident this will help your campaign efforts."Beth Walker is a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. There are two seats on the Supreme Court up for election in 2008. Both seats carry 12 year terms. 
WESPAC endorses Walker in Supreme Court race
BETH WALKER
ABC News attempts to ambush Maynard in parking lot at Capitol
ABC News attempted to engage in some old-fashioned ambush journalism at the State Capitol in Charleston on Tuesday, parking its van in a reserved handicapped spot, then jumping out to confront Justice Spike Maynard as he made his way to his Capitol office.A second ABC crew reportedly attempted to ambush Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who refused to talk with them.The Republican Gazette first reported Monday on the presence of ABC reporter Brian Ross in Charleston, and later, the West Virginia Record reported that Ross interviewed Justice Larry Starcher Monday. It seems increasingly clear that Starcher is the driving force behind the effort to make the Maynard-Massey recusal situation a politically-charged, ongoing story.The Record reported, "On Monday, sources say Ross and his crew interviewed Justice Larry Starcher. On Tuesday, the team interviewed Chief Justice Spike Maynard after trying to talk to him in the parking lot as he made his way to his Capitol office. The news team also apparently tried to talk to Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship."Also Tuesday, Supreme Court candidate Bob Bastress appeared at a "meet the candidates" event in Raleigh County, where he, too, reportedly engaged in an aggressive attack on Maynard and Massey Energy. There appears to be an obvious coordinated effort between Starcher, Bastress and another Democrat candidate for the high court, Menis Kethum, to focus media and public attention on Maynard, Massey and Justice Brent Benjamin in an effort to paint the court as having been "bought" by Blankenship.The impetus for such a focused strategy is that trial lawyers and labor unions are watching control of the court slip from their grasp after years of confidently depending on the court to rule in their favor is almost every case. Should Maynard be reelected, along with the election of GOP candidate Beth Walker, the court could escape its reputation of turning West Virginia into a "judicial hellhole" because it would no longer be under the thumb of the trial lawyers. The trial lawyers, in turn, are apparently prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent that from happening.The Putnam County Republican Club will meet on Monday, April 21, 2008. at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse in the large courtroom. The PCRC executive board will meet at President Nicely’s house at 151 Glenwood Lane, Hurricane on Sunday evening, April 20, at 6 p.m. (The evening before the meeting.) The Putnam County Republican Executive Committee will meet at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse on April 21, also. Questions – call Chairman Ron Stone at 586-3731.Putnam GOP meetings coming up
