 | ||||
| ||||||
-------
Search the Republican Gazette ---->
The Republican Gazette
When the facts are so clear
that no spin is necessary
Thursday, July 24, 2008
In the text box below, nominate your Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected. Please include your name and contact info.
Please make sure to hit your refresh button for the current edition
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
The (Martinsburg) Journal, July 19, 2008:
"Snyder said Manchin was the one who came up with the idea for the economic zone and wants it to succeed."
----------------
Email from Sen. John Unger to Jim Pitrolo regarding Herb Snyder, July 9, 2008:
Jim,
What is this all about... ? Why is Herb Snyder representing the Governor to the Jefferson County Commission today and the Berkeley County Commission next week?
John------------------
Reply from Pitrolo, July 10, 2008
(copied to Del. Craig Blair)
John,
Herb came to the Governor with a plan to form a multi county economic zone to sell the area and the Governor asked if the County Commissions involved had any interest in such a effort. Herb offered to ask them if they would co-operate. He is seeking information to bring back to the Governor to support his plan.
Jim Snyder's claim on econ plan disputed by Manchin office
Ex-senator tells a story not supported by email exchange between Sen. Unger and governor's legislative director
Former state Senator Herb Snyder has been insisting to county commissions in the Eastern Panhandle that a plan to create a new economic zone originated with Gov. Joe Manchin, who, said Snyder, asked Snyder to build support for the concept.Snyder emphatically reiterated that point again Wednesday morning on "Panhandle Live," the WEPM talk show hosted by David Welch. Snyder called into the program after an appearanceby his opponent, Republican Bob Adams, who criticized Snyder's plan as nothing but a campaign gimmick designed to generate positive headlines.
Welch questioned why the governor would ask Snyder, who holds no public office, to pursue the issue, rather than handing the assignment to someone like a state senator, such as John Unger or John Yoder.But Snyder insisted to Welch that he was merely acting at the behest of the governor, saying that if Manchin asked someone to work on a project like this, few would turn him down. Snyder reiterated several times that it was Manchin's initiative, and Snyder said he was simply trying to build support for the concept at the governor's request. Snyder even said he hesitated to do so because he is a candidate in the election, but he couldn't say no to the governor.But as revealed on today's "Panhandle Live" program, an email exchange on July 9-10 between state Sen. John Unger and James Pitrolo, Manchin's director of legislative affairs, completely contradicts Snyder's account. The exchange, on which Del. Craig Blair was copied, first indicates what Bob Adams pointed out in a press release last week when he said, “What’s clear is that a former State Senator is acting alone, without the support of current members of the State Legislature, on an issue that would directly affect each of them.” Adams' contention is borne out by Unger's email to Pitrolo, with Unger wondering why Snyder is claiming to be representing the governor. Pitrolo's reply belies Snyder's claim that Manchin sought him out on the subject."Herb came to the Governor with a plan to form a multi county economic zone to sell the area and the Governor asked if the County Commissions involved had any interest in such a effort," Pitrolo replies.Appearing on "Panhandle Live" today, Delegate Blair said he was copied on the email exchange between Unger and Pitrolo, and said he even provided Snyder with a copy of the exchange -- long before Snyder went to the county commissions or appeared on radio claiming the idea came from the governor.What is also clear now is that The Journal of Martinsburg was complicit in relaying Snyder's campaign gimmick to its readers, even reporting as fact the notion that Manchin was behind Snyder all the way, as in this line from its July 12 story (the first of two almost identically glowing stories on Snyder's plan): "With full support of Gov. Joe Manchin and West Virginia Commerce Secretary Kelley Goes, Snyder laid out initial plans for an executive order that would bring the counties into the state's greater economic plan."Did anyone at The Journal contact the governor's office, or the commerce department, to verify what Snyder was claiming? Apparently not. Nor did they ever, in either of two stories, contact Adams for a response, or even mention him as Snyder's opponent, even though they clearly identified Snyder as a Senate candidate. Why does it matter?
Snyder's claim that he was carrying out a mission for Manchin was an effort to boost his own credibility
Herb Snyder's insistence that he was carrying out a directive from Gov. Joe Manchin with his push for a new economic development zone in the Eastern Panhandle was another example of Democrats who believe the governor is hugely popular, and that attaching themselves to him will allow some of that popularity to rub off on them.By insisting to anyone who will listen that he was acting at the behest of the governor, Snyder would, in his own mind, impress upon his listeners and, most importantly, the voters, the notion that he and Mojo are tight, that Manchin really wants Snyder back in the legislature, and that already, even when he is not in office, Manchin is turning to him for assistance.With the facts that have now emerged about the campaign gimmick -- and make no mistake, it is nothing but a gimmick designed to generate favorable headlines in the obliging Journal of Martinsburg -- a more accurate picture is clearly painted. It would appear now that Manchin -- far from initiating or even caring much about Snyder's plan -- sent him off on a wild goose chase to go secure the support of the Jefferson and Berkeley commissions, support which tepidly came from Jefferson, and not at all from Berkeley. "SportsCenter" has visited and now it is time to vote for one of the 20 TitleTown USA finalists. The winner will be announced during the 6 p.m. "SportsCenter" on July 28.At this link, you can review the essays and watch the videos. Then vote (deadline is 3 p.m. ET Monday) and join in the conversation. Make Parkersburg the 'Title Town'
U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign on Wednesday announced that John McCain will participate in a town hall meeting on cancer alongside Lance Armstrong at the LIVESTRONG Summit in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, July 24th. The event will be held at 6:45 p.m. at The Ohio State University Mershon AuditoriumMcCain in Ohio today for summit
