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The Republican Gazette
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In the text box below, nominate your Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected.
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
RUSS WEEKS
Russ Weeks
in the news
Over the weekend, Russ Weeks, Republican candidate for governor, was featured in several stories about both the hand-out of government money in a process that replaced the Budget Digest, and the West Virginia Turnpike traffic mess last week.In a story in the Beckley Register-Herald focusing on his call to reform the "Community Partnership Program and the "special projects fund," formerly handled through the defunct Budget Digest, reporter Mannix Porterfield reported that, "If elected, Weeks vowed to list on a special Web site how much each lawmaker requested and actually received, and when they can expect to receive any funding for projects in their districts." You can read his story here. Weeks was also mentioned in a Register-Herald story about the annual Lilly Family Reunion.
Also, Charleston Gazette columnist Phil Kabler wrote about the special projects issue, saying, "Meanwhile, GOP gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks vowed last week to do away with the grants system if elected. He called it a 'slush fund' that allows the governor, speaker and president to reward legislators who toe the line on leadership votes... Weeks has a point. Ironically, efforts by various good government groups to eliminate the Budget Digest left a much worse system in its place." Read Kabler's column here. Several news stories on Friday included anywhere from one to several lines about Weeks' call for Gov. Joe Manchin to investigate the handling of the traffic problems that resulted from the wreck on Tuesday on the West Virginia Turnpike, including The Associated Press,the Register-Herald, and a story by Justin Anderson in the Charleston Daily Mail, which you can read here. Shortly after Weeks and Sen. Donna Boley called for such a probe, Manchin said he was asking agency heads to examine the problem.Weeks will be at the state fair this week, including Thursday on Governor's Day, when he will be a guest on Hoppy Kercheval's "Talkline" program. Reporters, editors or talk show hosts can arrange interviews with Weeks by calling 304-344-4671, or emailing here.
All's fair at the fair
Bob Adams, candidate for State Senate from the 16th District, saw his candidacy promoted by a local crane operator at the Berkeley County Fair last week. Adams' sign is featured high above a tent plastered with signs for his opponent, Herb Snyder. The inset pic shows Adams' sign lit up at night. Adams also had his popular "moon bounce" exhibit at the fair, which was enjoyed by thousands of children throughout the week.
Haught's recounting of Arch Moore saga just as revealing about tactics paper sanctioned
A column last week by Charleston Gazette publisher James Haught raised the ire of quite a few Republicans, as Haught recounted the saga of former Gov. Arch Moore Jr. I am not an Arch Moore apologist. The things of which the former governor was accused, and to which he pled guilty, are not activities which anyone, Republican or Democrat, should try to excuse.But what struck me most was Haught's admission of the lengths The Gazette -- but more importantly, he personally -- went to in order to "get" Arch Moore. For example:* Haught writes that "The paper's late publisher, W.E. 'Ned' Chilton III, personally filed an ethics complaint asking the State Bar to disbar the dishonest politician."* Haught writes that Moore's former attorney told Haught in a 1973 conversation (it is not made clear whether it was intended to be on or off the record) that an IRS case against Moore was "peanuts" and "we had it thrown out." Haught writes, "The Gazette printed his sneer, knowing it would anger West Virginia IRS agents who originally performed the probe."* Sure enough, writes Haught, the Gazette was "surreptitiously" contacted by an IRS agent, with whom Haught met in the tiny town of Washington, West Virginia, near Parkersburg. The agent provided Haught with details of the Moore probe. Haught writes, "When we printed this mess, I wrote that it came from a 'Washington source,' since the leak occurred at the tiny town of Washington."Much of what Haught recounts about The Gazette's reporting of the Moore years are examples of good, sound investigative reporting. But when a newspaper injects itself into a story to the point that it is actively trying to disbar a politician, writing stories admittedly designed to achieve the result of creating additional news on the topic ("knowing it would anger West Virginia IRS agents"), and clearly misleading its readers into thinking a source is from the nation's capital instead of a tiny hamlet in West Virginia, such methods raise as many ethical questions about journalistic tactics as about the subject of the report.West Virginia needs more, not less, good investigative reporting, and there are countless West Virginia Democrats whose activities could be revealed to rank right up there with everything Moore was accused of, if the investigative effort was made. But investigative reporting must also not cross the line from sound journalism into personal vendetta. Campaign finance reform solved most of the problems connected with the crimes of which Arch Moore was accused. Hopefully, today's practitioners of journalism adhere to a code of ethics that would likewise prevent some of the tactics admitted to by Haught in his pursuit of Moore three decades ago.Democrats praise John McCain
RNC releases time-lapse video showing Xcel Center progress
The 2008 Republican National Convention has released a behind-the-scenes, time lapse video of the ongoing transformation of the Xcel Energy Center into the podium for the Republican Party's nomination of Sen. John McCain. You can see the video here.In the week since work began at the venue, workers have removed 3,000 seats, built workspace for staff and media, and began technological enhancements needed to support the 45,000 participants expected. We invite you to view our progress by clicking here. The 2008 Republican National Convention plans to release a new video each Sunday, so that all can follow along with the six-week transformation. The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. Meanwhile, Maria Cino, Chief Executive Officer and President for the 2008 Republican National Convention, has announced the program block schedule for the upcoming Republican National Convention. The program blocks are as follows: Monday, September 1: 2:30 - 10:00 p.m. CDT*
Tuesday, September 2: 6:20 - 10:05 p.m. CDT
Wednesday, September 3: 6:20 - 11:20 p.m. CDT
Thursday, September 4: 6:20 - 10:15 p.m. CDT
*Note: there will be a 30-minute break at 6:30 p.m. CDT
"The convention will showcase Sen. John McCain and his vision for America to the 45,000 convention participants joining us from around the country and the millions more participating from home," said Cino in a statement discussing the plans.