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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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Thursday, April 24, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005.
Panel's findings leave no room for excuses in Bresch incident
There is hardly any reason to comment further on the scandal -- and scandal is not too harsh a word -- involving West Virginia University's decision to award an MBA degree to Heather Bresch that she did not earn, other than to quote from two key findings of the independent panel that investigated the incident."The staff of the President's office reacted immediately, treating this matter as an issue involving a 'records discrepancy.' The perceived 'discrepancy' came strictly from the fact that Ms Bresch disputed those records in telephone conversations with President Michael Garrison and Chief of Staff Craig Walker. However, the University's records held by A&R were clear: Ms. Bresch had not completed an MBA degree."And then, this:"A meeting was then held Monday, October 15 (2007) ... chaired by Provost Lang. Also present from the President's Office were Chief of Staff Craig Walker, General Counsel Alex Macia, and Vice President for Communications Bill Case ... the panel believes that the actual or perceived pressure to go along with this decision (to award the degree), not to 'rock the boat,' was palpable." This case is, in reality, extremely simple. * Ms. Bresch called her old friend Mike Garrison and his chief of staff, Craig Walker, to insist she should be recognized as holding the MBA degree.* A meeting was quickly convened, with Walker attending on behalf of Garrison, and under "palpable pressure," the degree was awarded, with absolutely no evidence that it should be.To reach any other conclusions, and to attempt to make excuses or claim that it was an honest mistake, is to ignore the obvious. To shift the blame to anyone other than the top of the ladder is an exercise in diversion.To now charge Garrison with the task of making improvements at WVU to avoid future issues such as this is to ask the fox to clean up the hen house. Garrison says he takes responsibility. Taking responsibility will not be reflected by finding someone else to fire or blame.
Ketchum caught making up information
WVPBS reports on claims that just don't match up to the facts
West Virginia Supreme Court candidate Menis Ketchum has been caught making claims about his record and experience that don't match up to the facts, and his shifting position regarding Justice Spike Maynard has also come under scrutiny.Scott Finn, reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, has filed a report pointing out these discrepancies and giving Ketchum the opportunity to address them. The report also includes a transcript of tough questioning from WCHS-TV reporter Kennie Bass.An excerpt from Finn's story:Ketchum: "I have more reported opinions in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that any other lawyer in this state, except a man named Ancil Ramey.”Finn: Ketchum is saying that he has argued more cases in front of the state Supreme Court than anyone else, expect Ancil Ramey of the Charleston law firm Steptoe & Johnson.Except that’s not true – at least, not according to our research. We found several lawyers whose name show up more often on Supreme Court opinions than Ketchum.Finn points out other areas of conflict between what Ketchum says and what the facts show, as well as his close friendship with Justice Larry Starcher.Finn's report includes this exchange when Ketchum was questioned by Finn and Bass at a recent media roundtable:Finn: Have you argued cases in front of Justice Starcher and is that a problem?Ketchum: Yes I have and no it isn’t.Bass: Why?Ketchum: Why isn’t it?Bass: For example, is it a problem if Justice Maynard hears cases involving Massey Energy?Ketchum: With regard to the Don Blankenship case?Bass: Yes.Ketchum: It doesn’t bother me. Kenny, there’s only one person who never made a mistake and that’s Jesus Christ. It’s easy for me to pick on an incumbent. Let’s talk about issues. Let’s get past that. I mean, really. I don’t think I ought to sit here and beat on him about it. He gets beat on every day in the paper.But, as Finn points out, Ketchum has flip-flopped on the Maynard question, often being harshly critical of his fellow candidate.MENIS KETCHUM
NEWS AND NOTES
AP: McKinney says unless funds come in, he might dissolve the Republican Party
The Associated Press reported today that state GOP Chairman Doug McKinney wrote in a fundraising appeal to state committee members that, "If contributions do not increase, the only way the WVGOP can avoid deficit spending is by dissolving the Party in West Virginia."McKinney added,"You read correctly. The WVGOP is in danger of ceasing to exist if we do not get more financial support from you and other concerned Republicans.''Weeks will be in Morgantown for
various events in wake of WVU scandal
Republican gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks will be in Morgantown Friday for various events, including discussions with local officials about the degree scandal at West Virginia University.Weeks will also attend the Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee Annual Proclamation Dinner at the Waterfront Place Hotel, which gets underway with a social hour and Meet the Candidates event at 6 p.m.(Press Release) In New Orleans, John McCain will take a walking tour of the 9th Ward with Governor Bobby Jindal, Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, the Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, and National Guard Colonel Danny Bordelon. He will then go to Xavier University, the nation's only predominately black Roman Catholic university. There Senator McCain will visit with Xavier President Dr. Norman Francis, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and University Dignitaries before holding a town hall meeting. Women of the Storm, a non-partisan alliance.McCain doing walking tour of New Orleans
