EDITORIAL: Manchin: All Eyes Trained On Him
We believe that Governor Joe Manchin has shown himself to be extraordinarily self-serving in recent years, especially in the way that he handled the special election. Instead of allowing for a proper amount of campaign time for such a high office, Manchin cut the time short, so that he could snuff out possible contenders from the get go.
So this race was, as usual, all about Manchin, all of the time. He likes it like that.
Only Republican John Raese had the political experience and fundraising skills to give Manchin a run for his money. And Raese gave Manchin all he could handle with espousing popular conservative issues that forced Manchin to tack to the right more than he ever did before.
Manchin was clearly worried by Raese's potential and his rising poll numbers. He started to see what others saw, namely the conservative appeal Raese had as he chatted up regular folks all along the campaign trail in West Virginia this fall.
Manchin's anxiety over Raese's progress accounts for the rather savage treatment Manchin gave Raese's family in ads that were unfair, untrue, and unseemly for a sitting Governor to condone. So much for the Governor who likes to bring people together! His was the most divisive political campaign in recent West Virginia history.
We predict that Joe Manchin will inevitably disappoint West Virginia voters, as already he has seemed torn in his first press conference after the election. For example, forever splitting the difference, Manchin still says he likes Obamacare, though he tells opponents of it how he longs to change it.
The election's over now, Governor. You have to make up your mind when you vote on Obamacare, Cap and Trade, and more Stimulus efforts in the U.S. Senate.
We aren't quite sure how much more Manchin could do to show that he is more with Obama than with us on Obamacare, but we will just have to wait until it all plays out. Certainly, West Virginia's senior U.S. Senator, Jay Rockefeller will put Manchin under his wing, and he's a big fan of Obamacare, too.
Time will tell. Will the conservative Democrats be proven right in helping Joe Manchin again this time? Or will they have to face the fact that they have been hoodwinked yet again by one of their own?
We believe John Raese can sleep soundly and with a clear conscience for the principled race he ran for West Virginians in both parties, as well as for Independents, too, this fall. He ran no personally negative ads, and he conducted himself as a gentleman on every occasion.
But Joe Manchin can't say the same. His relentless ambition drove him to extremes to win. So while he enjoys his place on the national stage, he should know that many people back home will be watching his every vote.
We won't be surprised when he votes along with his Democratic Washington, D.C. handlers, who have given us the likes of Harry Reid, Barack Obama, and Nancy Pelosi..
But apparently some of West Virginia's conservative Democrats will be. How sad for them.