Republicans Bought and Paid For?

by: JAWVMM

Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 14:21:06 PM EDT

Some of the biggest donors to the West Virginia Republican Party have ties to the coal industry or businesses that are involved in the coal industry.

The largest single donor to the West Virginia Republican Party is Don Blankenship. Mr. Blankenship gave $100,000 in corporate cash in 2000 to purchase a headquarters for the State Party. A portion of that money is now being used to make the rental payment on the State Party building for the executive director and staff.

Other large donors like James "Buck" Harless, Andrew Jordan, Steve Walker, and Pat and Mike Graney have made most of their money in the coal and energy business.  These gentlemen and their businesses have a stake in the outcome of the coal and energy debate.

Democrats accusing the opposition of selling out?  No, Roman Stauffer at West Virginia Red complaining that the Republican Party and elected officials took the money and aren't delivering the goods to support Big Coal.

And we learn that although the site "welcome[s] diverse viewpoints - partisan or non-partisan" Stauffer had

instructed West Virginia Red writers and contributors to not write about the condition of the West Virginia Republican Party

Hurrah for the community here, which is free to speak and concerned about the people of West Virginia, not the party as an end in itself, selling its support to the highest bidder.