June 9, 2009
EDITORIAL: Odd Man Out: McKinney Faces Restive GOP State Executive Committee
A growing anti-incumbent sentiment may crest at the wrong time for State GOP Chairman Doug McKinney at the summer meeting for the state's Republicans in Martinsburg this weekend. The party needs to ready itself for legislative and Congressional races in 2010, and the Chairman, once again, is an ongoing distraction.
Many feel that McKinney simply isn't one of them. They note that he rarely speaks out on conservative issues in the press. They point to hiring now former Executive Director Gary Abernathy without seeking their approval.
They remember his public endorsement of Democratic Supreme Court Justice Spike Maynard. This alone is cause for booting him from the party's chairmanship, according to the party's own rules about endorsing another party's candidate. Certainly no other WV GOP Chairman had ever done such a thing.
Moreover, many pro-lifers in the WV GOP are still reeling from McKinney's public suggestion that the Republicans move away from that plank, one that gathers support from many conservative Democrats in West Virginia, too.
In short, the complaints far outweigh the cheers lately for Chairman McKinney.
Now he is without his hired gun, Gary Abernathy. Abernathy had his detractors in the party, stemming from his previous stint under former GOP Chairman Kris Warner. Warner's raid on the party's finances to help his brother's gubernatorial bid remains one of the biggest financial setbacks the party has faced in recent times. So Abernathy's past association with Warner couldn't help him with some people on the committee.
However, Abernathy knew how to turn a phrase, something McKinney has demonstrated great difficulty with in his relationship with his own party's conservative rank and file. Many will be watching to see what McKinney does this weekend in Martinsburg without Gary Abernathy around to explain, yet again, "What Doug MEANS is...."
Despite the growing criticisms on fundraising, ideology, and future strategy, McKinney persists in trying to control a party for which he shows little respect or affection . Increasingly, the party is returning the same salute to him.
Being a political party's chairman can be a thankless job, even in good times. But why would someone continue to direct such a dissatisfied choir? Quite frankly, the only party that seems to enjoy Doug McKinney's ongoing drama with the WV GOP is the State Democratic Party.
Who can blame them?
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EDITORIAL: Odd Man Out: McKinney Faces Restive GOP State Executive Committee
A growing anti-incumbent sentiment may crest at the wrong time for State GOP Chairman Doug McKinney at the summer meeting for the state's Republicans in Martinsburg this weekend. The party needs to ready itself for legislative and Congressional races in 2010, and the Chairman, once again, is an ongoing distraction.
Many feel that McKinney simply isn't one of them. They note that he rarely speaks out on conservative issues in the press. They point to hiring now former Executive Director Gary Abernathy without seeking their approval.
They remember his public endorsement of Democratic Supreme Court Justice Spike Maynard. This alone is cause for booting him from the party's chairmanship, according to the party's own rules about endorsing another party's candidate. Certainly no other WV GOP Chairman had ever done such a thing.
Moreover, many pro-lifers in the WV GOP are still reeling from McKinney's public suggestion that the Republicans move away from that plank, one that gathers support from many conservative Democrats in West Virginia, too.
In short, the complaints far outweigh the cheers lately for Chairman McKinney.
Now he is without his hired gun, Gary Abernathy. Abernathy had his detractors in the party, stemming from his previous stint under former GOP Chairman Kris Warner. Warner's raid on the party's finances to help his brother's gubernatorial bid remains one of the biggest financial setbacks the party has faced in recent times. So Abernathy's past association with Warner couldn't help him with some people on the committee.
However, Abernathy knew how to turn a phrase, something McKinney has demonstrated great difficulty with in his relationship with his own party's conservative rank and file. Many will be watching to see what McKinney does this weekend in Martinsburg without Gary Abernathy around to explain, yet again, "What Doug MEANS is...."
Despite the growing criticisms on fundraising, ideology, and future strategy, McKinney persists in trying to control a party for which he shows little respect or affection . Increasingly, the party is returning the same salute to him.
Being a political party's chairman can be a thankless job, even in good times. But why would someone continue to direct such a dissatisfied choir? Quite frankly, the only party that seems to enjoy Doug McKinney's ongoing drama with the WV GOP is the State Democratic Party.
Who can blame them?
Share This Story:
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