RNC taps Mike Stuart to committee. Democrats celebrate

by: Carnacki

Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 16:23:21 PM EST

West Virginia GOP Chairman Mike Stuart apparently needed some healing balm for all the self-inflicted burn he's been getting. Link:

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus has announced the appointment of West Virginia GOP Chairman Mike Stuart as Chairman of the RNC Standing Committee on Resolutions.

"I am delighted to have Mike Stuart serve as the next Chairman of the RNC Standing Committee on Resolutions," Priebus said. "His experience leading the West Virginia Republican Party and his longstanding dedication to our Party's conservative principles make him the best choice to serve in this key leadership post heading into such a critical election season for our country. (Emphasis mine)

Stuart has been leading the WV GOP since all the way back to 2010.

Some experience.

And let's look at that experience leading the West Virginia Republican Party

Stuart told Politico he was going to enter the gubernatorial race if a strong candidate did not appear AFTER Betty Ireland, the best polling Republican in the state, had announced and before other Republican candidates entered.

He issued a press release condemning legislation passed to give long needed pay raises to state employees AFTER 15 of his own party's House delegates had voted FOR that legislation.

He condemned Attorney General Darrell McGraw for not joining a federal lawsuit AFTER McGraw had all ready joined it.

Instead of building the party's credibility and standing in West Virginia, Stuart has been seen as working more to burnish his own resume and credentials for his own future run, not the sort of thing one expects to see in a party chairman.

So as a West Virginia Democrat, it's good to see Stuart taking on a new task for the RNC that will take away his time from party building and fund raising in West Virginia during not just one, but two election cycles with the special gubernatorial election this year and the races in 2012. But hey, it is yet one more thing to help Stuart make important connections that will benefit himself as a candidate some day. He's definitely following a "conservative principle" in that he's looking out just for himself.

I say with all sincerity, I hope Stuart does as good a job for the RNC as he has for the West Virginia GOP.