June 21, 2006
 
Editorial: Vic Sprouse Could Learn Much from His Son
 

Max

Republicans in West Virginia have endured a lot over the years. They've even seen one of their Governors go to jail. Now they face an ongoing, dragged-out dilemma that threatens to hurt the entire WV GOP at the ballot box this November.
 
Two words: Vic Sprouse.
 
Senate Minority Leader Vic Sprouse has the worst possible image problem for a leader representing a party committed to "traditional family values." He is being labeled a poor father, almost a deadbeat dad, as he goes through his third divorce involving a newborn son, Max, who has multiple health issues.
 
Max has CHARGE syndrome, leaving him with an extraordinary fight on his hands in his first year of life. According to Amy McKinley, Sprouse's soon to be ex-wife, Sprouse left the family months into the pregnancy, leaving her to fend for herself as she brought Max into the world.
 
Worse, Sprouse now appears to be quibbling over how much child support he should pay to help with Max's future health needs. This is not what West Virginians expect from one of their leaders. They expect a man to do more than his share of the heavy-lifting, financially speaking, if the mother is doing everything else.
 
Sprouse should take the time he is spending now, defending his prestige position, and make some more money to help his son, Max, who is in the fight of his life.
 

Vic Sprouse

That is what any caring father would do. Whether it is what Vic Sprouse does is anybody's guess right now.
 
Sprouse could learn a lot about what it is to be a man from his infant son, Max. Max has shown courage in the face of daily adversity. He has been a source of joy in others' lives, instead of curse. And he asks for only what he needs, nothing more.
 
Too bad that we can't run Max McKInley for Vic Sprouse's Senate seat.