Nov. 26, 2006
 
COMMENTARY: Thankful for Don Blankenship
 
By Craig Hammond
Bluefield News Network Writer
 
In a recent editorial (“WV Republican Party Must Go to the Bull Pen" Bluefieldnews.net, huntingtonnews.net and Hintonnews.net on November 25, 2006) the writer seems to blame the poor showing of the West Virginia Republican Party of November 7th on Don Blankenship.
 
A careful look at the voting patterns statewide will show that straight ticket voting -- and turnout -- for the Democratic Party was significantly up, while straight ticket voting for the GOP was about the same as the 2004 cycle. In other words, it was a big (and I mean a big) Democratic year. In fact, had Blankenship not participated at the level he did, the outcome, in my opinion, would have been much worse for the party of Lincoln.
 
I'm not a Blankenship boot licker. I opposed him on the matter of the constitutional amendment to bond out the state's pension debt last year -- I voted for it. And I opposed him on his call for the immediate removal of the tax on "all" food. But I know an asset when I see it. Blankenship is, and has been, an asset to Republicans and all clear-minded West Virginians.
 
The only only fault I would assign to Mr. Blankenship is that he may have been a little too cocky after his successes in 2004 and 2005. He may have thought he was invincible. If he had a little more political savvy he would have put more resources into the races that were razor thin. The Mahan vs. Stevens race in Summers County is a good example, and less money in the safe races. But he's new to the game and he's learning really, really fast.
 
I do, however, agree with everything else in the editorial -- especially the value Michael Kawash is, and has been, to our party and state. He's top-shelf material. I hope the party leaders understand this. In a few years the Iraq issue may not be as bright on the political radar screen. In fact, I am optimistic that a resolution to the crisis will come about soon.
 
We Republicans have a great bull pen of talent and it will show in 2008. But words such as backfire and backwash should not be used to describe Don Blankenship's involvement in the process. Try the word ASSET. Say it again: ASSET.