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Following last week's launch of anti-Democratic attacks by the prostitute-loving Dick Morris (who admitted his commercials were full of factual errors), a new group of rightwingers is airing "issue ads" against Rahall and Mollohan.
This week, the West Virginia Republicans can count on help from the American Future Fund.
A quick look into the past of the future fund shows it's made up of the expected Lee Atwater disciples:
- Former spokesman for the House GOP in Iowa, Tim Albrecht, who also worked on Mitt Romney's failed presidential campaign.
- Ben Ginsburg, legal counsel for the group. You'll remember Ginsburg as chief outside counsel for the Bush Cheney campaign in 2004. He, of course, had to resign his position when it was revealed he was advising the Swift Boat smear effort and contradicting the Bush campaign's claim that they had nothing to do with "outside" attacks on Sen. John Kerry.
- and Larry McCarthy, media strategist for the group - best known for producing the racist-as-hell Willie Horton ad for Bush Sr.'s campaign against Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988.
For those of you who read what this blog frequently, you know I criticize Democrats more than Republicans because Democrats are the ones in power. When Republicans were running government in Washington, I spent more time pointing out how misguided their ideas and political philosophy are. Now, what the GOP says or does is largely irrelevant.
As we enter Election Season 2010, it's good to remember all the ways that Democrats who represent West Virginia do a good job. For example, the majority (though not quite all) of my disagreements with Reps. Mollohan and Rahall are around the single issue of coal. I feel they over-emphasize the importance of coal to West Virginia and under-represent the interests of the other 90% of the state's economy.
But, putting that aside, there are many ways that Reps. Mollohan and Rahall do a great job of looking out for the interests of the average West Virginian. This is something that all liberals and progressives in the state should be proud of. I was reminded of that this week when the NAACP released their score card for 2009 votes on a broad range of civil rights issues.
The NAACP score card covers votes on issues related to economic justice--things that directly and indirectly make a positive impact on the lives of West Virginians.
Thank you Rep. Alan Mollohan and Rep. Nick Rahall for a job well done in 2009.
The field for the West Virginia Representatives to the U.S. House is complete. Here's the candidates who have filed for office in each of the three district races.
The Candidates
WV-01
Alan B. Mollohan (Democrat) from Fairmont, Marion County
Mike Oliverio (Democrat) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Cindy Hall (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
Patricia VanGilder Levenson (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
David B. McKinley (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
Sarah Minear (Republican) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Thomas Stark (Republican) from Parkersburg, Wood County
Mac Warner (Republican) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
WV-02
Virginia Lynch Graf (Democrat) from Charles Town, Jefferson County
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) from Charleston, Kanawha County
WV-03
Bruce Barilla (Democrat) from Bluefield, Greenbrier County
Nick Joe Rahall II (Democrat) from Beckley, Raleigh County
Lee A. Bias (Republican) from Barboursville, Cabell County
Marty Gearheart (Republican) from Bluefield, Mercer County
Conrad G. Lucas II (Republican) from Huntington, Cabell County
Elliott E. "Spike" Maynard (Republican) from Williamson, Mingo County
What to expect
WV-01 While six different Republicans bloody each other up to face the incumbent Alan Mollohan he'll have, on paper at least, just as tough a challenger in the Democratic primary. The primary challenge from the conservative Democrat Oliverio may be a blessing in disguise for Mollohan if it brings out Mollohan supporters early and awakens a campaign apparatus that was dormant when he ran unopposed two years ago. The national GOP want WV-01 to be a high profile race, but with the recent clearing of Mollohan of any criminal wrong-doing in a long-simmering FBI probe, Mollohan can now focus on building up a war chest. Rep. Mollohan may have to campaign harder than usual, but with the advantages of incumbency he should have no returning for another term.
WV-02 After facing a well-supported and well-financed challenge by DCCC-recruited strong challenge by DCCC-supported* candidate Anne Barth in 2008, Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is breathing a major sigh of relief this year. The DCCC and state Democrat party was unable to recruit any high profile candidates for this race. Democrats are lucky that grassroots activist Graf has stepped up to challenge Capito, so the seat remains contested. Graf benefits from no primary challenge so can immediately focus on Capito and a general election campaign. Capito has 'bought a landslide' two cycles in a row, Graf can only hope Capito is complacent and gets caught by surprise if the Graf campaign catches fire.
* Updated: In my haste earlier, I may have left the wrong impression. To clarify: Anne Barth was well supported by the DCCC once she entered the race; State Sen. John Unger was the original DCCC-recruited candidate up until he unexpectedly dropped out just prior to the filing deadline. Also, although Anne Barth did well with fund-raising, she was still out-spent by Rep. Capito by around 3:1.
WV-03 Incumbent Democratic Nick Rahall will have no problem dispatching Barilla in the primary. Former Democrat Spike Maynard is widely expected to be well funded by Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship and prevail in the Republican primary field. A Rahall vs. Maynard general election will almost certainly be a hugely negative, substance free affair. This race will draw national interest--after all, can you think of any other congressional candidates who have inspired Grisham novels? In the end, the interest will benefit Rep. Rahall's fund-raising and he'll be returned for yet another term.
West Virginia Republicans last hope for defeating Rep. Alan Mollohan fell as the Justice Department ended the investigation into him with no charges. Despite all the noise by the GOP, the four-year investigation that went on for years under the political machinations of the Bush "Justice" Department has come to an end.
The Justice Department has shuttered its nearly four-year investigation into the personal finances of Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), freeing the 14-term lawmaker to pursue what could be a tough bid for reelection without the lingering cloud of a federal criminal probe.
Tough reelection? Let's hope the Republicans believe their own propaganda. If the Republicans can find an opponent who didn't lie to boost his or her resume like their past challengers have done and if the RNCC provides HUGE amounts of money to a potential challenger will I believe the Republicans really think they have a shot. The WV GOP will make a lot of noise, but look for Rep. Shelley Moore Capito to help squelch any national GOP efforts to recruit and fund a real challenger to Mollohan. She does not want a potential rival for other offices in the state to come from within the state party that she controls.
In any event, a Republican challenger would have to get by Mollohan, who has been highly effective despite the mud thrown at him by the Republicans.
In a statement, Mollohan said the investigation was sparked by a conservative watchdog group's partisan actions. The probe was launched when he was serving as the top Democrat on the House ethics committee.
"For nearly four years, in the face of a politically-motivated assault on my character, I have continued to fight for jobs and the working families of West Virginia. With this behind me, I am more determined than ever to stand up for the people of the First Congressional District and fight for what matters," Mollohan said.
If I was Rep. Alan Mollohan hearing the GOP noise machine winding up, I'd be thinking: "Oh, please don't remind anyone of all those appropriations I've brought home to West Virginia."
"Drown me! Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please," said Brer Rabbit. "Only please, Brer Fox, please don't throw me into the briar patch."
Wingnut Web site The West Virginia Watchdog is pushing the idea that former Supreme Court Justice Elliot "Spike" Maynard, who was booted from office by the voters following a little photo problem, is a possibility to challenge Representative Nick Rahall in next year's election.
The Watchdog hilariously thinks Spike is the kind of 'statesman' the race needs.
Apparently, Delegate Ralph Rodighiero. who was recruited by the coal companies for the Democratic primary, has a resume as a massive tool that's a little too thin. Or maybe Rodigiero is just intended to soften up Rahall for Spike, who could run as a Republican.
Roman Stauffer, who served as a political operative for the other French Riviera vacationer, Don Blankenship, has weighed in - and he's excited that there's chance ol' Spike might finally come out of the political closet and switch to the GOP.
Which wouldn't be too much of a surprise. With his promotion of Antonin Scalia's so-called "strict constructionist" philosophy and ties to the Mingo County thugs, the guy is anything but a Democrat.
Being open about his political affiliation might be the first honest thing Spike does in his career.
If the coal barons continue to attract candidates of this quality, don't be too surprised if there's an announcement soon that Arch Moore is coming out of retirement to run for the job.
Debate and votes on amendments have been going on over the lasttwo days. My understanding is that this claws back the fees and subsidies to private banks for making student loans, re-invests 88% of those the savings back into community colleges, schools in areas with natural disasters and increases in Pell Grants, then returns $10 billion over ten year to the General Fund. Some colleges already have decided to skip private banks.
Agreeing to the Rule for Debate #703 241-175 Mollohan AYE
Rahal AYE
Ca-pee-toe NO
And since there are no funds for ACORN in the bill, Rep. Issa (R-CA) has a motion to recommit and amend the bill to defund ACORN. (I consider it a cheap trick.) #718 345-75 Mollohan NO
Rahal NO
Capito AYE
Final Passage H.R. 3221 to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes #719 253-171 Mollohan AYE
Rahal AYE
Ca-pee-toe NO
I'll give them both credit for playing the politics in as saavy a manner as possible--they've been working all along to extract as many concessions as possible that benefit the coal industry, to the point that Greenpeace now opposes the bill as too weak. Talk about a payday for King Coal, one report says:
among many, many other things, the 1,200-page bill would also devote $60 billion to making sure clean coal isn't a loser.
I haven't decided yet whether I'm for or against this bill (at this moment, I'm leaning slightly for). I'd like to see a much stronger bill--something that is guided more by science and less by politics. Still, I hold out slim hope this bill will get better before it is signed and equally slim hope it provides a framework for making difficult political decisions ahead. The reality of the "facts on the ground" will force our hand--physics cannot be bargained away, no matter how deeply we bury our heads in coal ash.
Finally, for those who are--quite understandably--upset with Rep. Rahall and Mollohan on this vote, what did you expect? In politics, your allies will not be with you on every vote. It is unreasonable to expect that any climate change bill Rahall (in particular) and Mollohan (almost as much) would support is a bill that is going to meaningfully address the magnitude of the environmental issues facing us.
When our Democratic delegation in Congress stops voting the progressive way on Democratic budget priorities, ending our presence in Iraq, and moving toward universal health care, that's when there's ample room to start talking about primaries from the left.
Meanwhile, there's no news here. King Coal still reigns.
WV 1 Mollohan, Alan B. (D) R+ 9
WV 2 CAPITO, SHELLEY MOORE (R) R+ 8
WV 3 Rahall, Nick J., II (D) R+ 6
I don't know if these rankings have any practical effect beyond putting firmer numbers on the recent trend of W.Va. supporting Republican presidential candidates.
Maybe the new numbers would give a casual observer a false sense that Reps. Mollohan and Rahall are more vulnerable to Republican challengers than either truly are. (Baring a major scandal the seats are super safe. Even in the case of an unexpected open seat, they'd be a difficult pickup for Republicans.)
Also, it may also make it slightly harder to get national attention for the Democratic challenger in WV-02 this cycle. On the other hand, there are fewer and fewer Republican seats to challenge each cycle, so even at R+8 WV-02 should still be seen as fair game.
Gretchen Mae Stone at the State Journal has the news in the article Senators Co-Sponsor Bill to Restore Clean Water Act. Rep. Nick Rahall (WV-03), West Virginia's long-time Democratic representative of the heart of the coal fields says (emphasis mine):
Rahall said the state's most productive coal seams likely will be exhausted in 20 years. And while coal will remain an important part of the economy, the state should emphasize green job development. That, he said, is especially important as pressure against mountaintop mining increases.
Rahall said the pressure is coming from both Republicans and Democrats. During the 2008 presidential race, Republican nominee John McCain came out in favor of ending mountaintop mining.
"It's something that's evolving over time in our industry and the responsible segment of our industry realizes that," he said.
Exactly. If there's only 20, at most 30, years of productive coal mining remaining in the state, how do we make sure the state's economy makes an orderly transition to what comes next?
He reviews each congressional district where Obama did worse than either Kerry or Gore. There's only one in W.Va.
West Virginia
WV-03 Rahall (D): Kerry 46%, Obama 42%
West Virginia generally sees pretty good Democratic performance, at the federal and statewide levels, but not this year. That shouldn't change too much, and the state should still favor Democrats at most levels (if not the top level).
Here's a weird quirk: the West Virginia district which most strongly supported Obama is held by a Republican, Shelley Moore Capito. Obama got 44% in WV-02, Capito's district.
The entire diary is worth a read. Here is his summary:
So, every district in the country in which Kerry outperformed Gore Obama is in either McCain's home state, Kerry's home state, Appalachia, the South, or NY-09.
[snip]
As for the South and Appalachia, not all Democrats are doomed in these areas (though some are trending away from the party) and not all parts of these states were hostile to Obama (who won Florida, and surged in Texas).
Two of the reasons most often cited for Obama slippage are racism and general demographic shifts away from the Democratic Party. Four years of a reasonably successful Obama administration should do quite a bit to counter some of the former, so hopefully the numbers in 2012 should give us an indicator of where, and to what extent, the latter was a factor.
Familiarity is another strong factor in Appalachia--an inherent fear of change and discomfort with anything new. Some district visits by a successful Pres. Obama will go a long way toward boosting his re-election numbers.
Cheers to Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV-01) for voting the right way on telecom immunity and defending the rule of law. Pains me to say this, but jeers to Rep. Nick Rahall on this vote.
The odd thing is that yesterday Rahall voted the right way on Iraq war funding and Mollohan voted the wrong way.
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