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Monday, June 16, 2008 "When news breaks, we fix it" Serving West Virginia since 2005
Russ Weeks: An American Life
Obama could be setback for black candidates
First black president much more likely to be a conservative Republican
As media pundits try hard to present an electoral map that results in a victory in November for Barack Obama, the plain truth is that so many factors would have to break perfectly in favor of the Democrat nominee that its likelihood of happening is near zero.More likely is an electoral landslide for John McCain. If that happens, it will be decades before Democrats dare nominate another black candidate for president, since they will constantly remind each other, "Remember what happened to Obama in 2008."It is not that Obama can't win because he is black. It is that Obama can't win because he is Obama. Already, voters are extremely reluctant to elect liberals on a national ticket, and Obama is an out-and-out card-carrying leftwing liberal.
Throw in the questions about Obama's background and upbringing, his comments about small town Americans clinging to their guns and religion, and his long relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and what you are left with is one of the most unappealing candidates for president in modern history.When Americans do elect the first black president, it will much more likely be a conservative and a Republican, someone who is pro-life, pro-gun, pro-traditional marriage, in favor of tax cuts and a strong national defense.Just as only Nixon could go to China, only a conservative can be elected the first black president.Fasten your seatbelts for a high-profile race for governor
Media obviously anxious to cover Manchin v. Weeks
Like most of you, I am extremely excited about the 2008 race for governor of West Virginia, if for no other reason than the coming onslaught of media coverage that naturally will report daily on such an important election.Some of the more cynical among you might think that this race will hardly be covered at all. You think that the media has already determined that Joe Manchin is a shoo-in for reelection, that Russ Weeks cannot compete with Manchin financially, and that the incumbent is too popular and too entrenched to be knocked off by a one-term State Senator from Raleigh County. Shame on you. To buy into that thinking is to insult the media establishment in West Virginia. I know that the newspapers, radio stations and TV outlets across the state are better than that, and I am sorry that you do not know it also.I for one am convinced that the media will make it their mission to inform readers, listeners and viewers about the stark differences on the issues between the major party nominees. I know they will not cover the race as though it's only about money, with just an obligatory story every few weeks about which candidate has out-raised the other. I know that because that would be a disservice to voters everywhere.And I also know that Russ Weeks can count on coverage for his policy statements and issue positions, because that is what voters care about. Russ is not going to have to resort to finding a new reason to bring a lawsuit against the governor or say something outrageous just to get his name in print. To do so would be to buy into the notion that the only way to get the media to pay attention to the race is for him to find some way every week to do something so over-the-top that the media cannot ignore it.That will not be necessary, because there are issues on the table too important to ignore, and the differences between the candidates are too well-defined to require the Weeks campaign to resort to tabloid tactics just to get a story here and there. For example:* Manchin believes in incremental tax reductions, Weeks believes in immediate elimination of taxes that hurt the economy and stifle growth.* Weeks wants to restructure the Department of Health and Human Resources, eliminate duplication of services, and conduct an independent audit of the millions it spends. Manchin seems happy with the status quo. * Manchin claims to be pro-life, but will not act on pro-life legislation. Weeks promises to include pro-life legislation every year.* Most importantly of all, Manchin is at the heart of the cronyism and corruption that have directly led to the scandal at West Virginia University and infiltrates nearly every other aspect of state government, while Weeks has made clean government and ending cronyism the cornerstone of his campaign. How could there be two more divergent candidates and campaigns, providing fodder for endless stories on the subject? The media will give Russ Weeks the coverage he deserves if for no other reason than the fact he is the Republican nominee for governor. So when he issues a press release or two each week, reporters will find news space to cover it, even if he's saying something they think is purely political or designed just to get attention, because they know it is not their job to determine that, but rather it is their responsibility to transmit it so that voters can decide the merits for themselves. If you want to read stories about how much more money Manchin has raised than Weeks, they could all be written in advance today, because that will not change. Manchin will gobble up all the money, as PACs, groups, organizations and individuals try to curry favor with him, which is, of course, part of the problem that plagues West Virginia government.The media will not play into Manchin's hands and allow the coverage of this campaign to be defined by campaign finance reports, predetermined endorsements, or the self-preservation of the status quo. If you think that will be the case, you have simply grown much too cynical. The media in West Virginia understands that issues matter, and the stories will prove it. Stand back and let the coverage unfold...Day after Manchin says take a hike on abortion issue, WVFL considers backing him -- really
On Friday, Gov. Joe Manchin said he would not consider adding legislation to ban tax funding of elective abortions to a special session call, and on Saturday West Virginians for Life met to consider endorsing him.WVFL made no announcements following its meeting on Saturday, but a safe bet would be that at the end of the day the governor will walk away with the endorsement over GOP challenger Russ Weeks, for whom the abortion issue has been a driving force throughout his life and political career, and who issued the special session challenge to Manchin last week.Why? Because the governor's back pocket is apparently a cozy place to reside, and even comes equipped with more than a few built-in amenities, like state jobs and invitations to glitzy functions.Let's put it very simply: If Joe Manchin wins the WVFL endorsement over Russ Weeks, it will be like The Charleston Gazette naming Rich Rodriguez the West Virginian of the Year over Robert C. Byrd.Manchin has demonstrated about as much dedication to the pro-life cause as R.J. Reynolds has to promoting clean air. For pro-lifers, the only difference between having Manchin as governor compared to, say, Bob Wise, has been that Wise didn't pretend to be pro-life. Otherwise, legislative victories for the pro-life cause have been practically identical under the two governors.UPDATE: Actually, under Wise, one pro-life bill was passed each year, but only one has been passed during Manchin's entire term.When WVFL makes its endorsement in the governor's race known and, as likely, it turns out to be for Manchin, the only question left will be who gets chosen to keep a straight face when making the announcement.In 2002, when WVFL wanted someone with the courage to take out Senator Bill Wooten, who bottled up pro-life bills, Weeks answered the call and got the job done. We shall see what kind of thanks he gets in return.***UPDATED***
