May 25, 2010
EDITORIAL: There's a First Time for Everything
Very few people are still around who were old enough to vote in 1928, which was in all likelihood
the last year in which it was actually fashionable to be a Republican in West Virginia. The Democrats,
buoyed by the stock market crash in October 1929, took over the West Virginia legislature in 1930
and after FDR became President, it was goodbye two-party system in West Virginia for now going on
80 years.
The West Virginia legislature has been in Democratic hands that long, and while an occasional
Republican got elected to statewide office, those were rare occasions predicated by a division in the
Democratic Party. In short, since 1930, it's never been an actual political asset to be a Republican
in West Virginia.
Until now.
With every month that passes, the public is clamoring for genuine leadership--and of a conservative kind,
when dealing with issues like immigration reform, fiscal restraint, energy issues, and economic progress.
This is creating a perfect storm for the Republicans to sweep over even safe Democratic districts this fall,
with even careful prognosticators suggesting that the GOP should pick up at least 27 House seats in Congress
this fall.
Moreover, take a look at what has happened just in our traditionally Democratic state this past year:
* A former State Supreme Court Justice, Elliott "Spike" Maynard, changed parties and is now a GOP nominee for Congress. The fact that he is from Logan, one of the most yellow dog Democratic counties, should tell you something about the average West VIrginia Democrat figuring out that the national Democratic Party no longer speaks for him. For a former statewide Democratic Party leader to switch to the GOP is historic.
* Democratic incumbent Congressman Alan Mollohan was bounced out by his own party during the primary, a clear sign that the Democratic Party's rank and file in the First Congressional District is not immune to the concerns about bloated federal budgets and no real progress on job creation. Clearly, they want something more conservative than Alan Mollohan provided in his long career in D.C.
So what if most voters -- Republicans, Democrats, and Independents -- found that they all wanted the same thing this fall. A serious change, a conservative attitude towards federal spending and job creation. What if any voter, regardless of party, wanted to know for sure that the person they were elected would be toughminded on these issues, owing nobody but the people who put him in any explanation for his votes?
What if, for the first time since 1930, it was actually an asset to be a Republican on the ballot in West Virginia? Yes, an asset, because voters don't have to worry that the Republican nominee is going to vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker if he's elected to Congress. They don't have to worry about where he stands on coal, on job creation, on the military. Everyone knows what Republicanism means on those issues. And so, for the first time in 80 years, it's finally an asset to be a Republican in West Virginia.
The First Congressional District GOP nominee, David McKinley, always managed to get strong Democratic support during his successful legislative races, even while serving as State Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. Surprised? You shouldn't be. The vast majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents want the same thing, namely political leadership that really represents them, in Charleston and in Washington, D.C.
McKinley's secret to electoral success has been a consistent advocacy for conservative solutions on government spending, private sector job creation, a deep appreciation for traditional values and our nation's military.
In short, he's a conservative. That covers an increasingly wide swath of voters in this state. We look forward to his progress over the summer and fall as he introduces himself further to all the voters of the First District.