July 8, 2010
EDITORIAL: Manchin Should Fill Out Term
If the whole "Manchin must run for U.S. Senate" business weren't so contrived, perhaps the public
could understand if the Governor wanted to fulfill his lifelong goal and succeed U.S. Senator Robert
Byrd as West Virginia next U.S. Senator. But the recent "call of both labor and business," as embodied
by the WV Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, for Manchin to step down and run for the unexpired term
(or even appoint himself) points to one of the most fundamental problems in West Virginia's sickly politics: ignoring
the will of the people.
The AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce are active lobbying organizations, and on some issues they can help push a given bill through the legislature. But their power--even when put together on an issue like this-- is vastly overrated. Can anyone tell us the last thing the WV Chamber of Commerce did to significantly improve the lot of West Virginia businesses? And the AFL-CIO's influence is shrinking almost as much as the WVEA in recent years.
In short, for Manchin to act like he has a "mandate" because these two waning groups want to curry his favor as the state's next U.S. Senator is absurd in the extreme. The people graciously elected Manchin to a second term as our state's Governor. He wasn't awarded that post merely as a stepping stone to the U.S. Senate. And surely even Manchin wouldn't suggest that he has already completely all the tasks he was sent to Charleston to do. We don't see a rush of new industry coming to West Virginia, for example. And the school systems seem to still need some work, as do the pension plans for state employees, etc. etc.
Manchin needs to put his ego and ambitions aside, appoint a decent stand-in for himself, and finish out his term. Then, if the people believe he has done a good enough job as a two-term Governor to reward him with the U.S. Senate seat, he is as entitled to run for it as anyone.
But finish what you started, Governor. And don't imagine that the AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce speak for the vast majority of West Virginians.
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EDITORIAL: Manchin Should Fill Out Term
If the whole "Manchin must run for U.S. Senate" business weren't so contrived, perhaps the public
could understand if the Governor wanted to fulfill his lifelong goal and succeed U.S. Senator Robert
Byrd as West Virginia next U.S. Senator. But the recent "call of both labor and business," as embodied
by the WV Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, for Manchin to step down and run for the unexpired term
(or even appoint himself) points to one of the most fundamental problems in West Virginia's sickly politics: ignoring
the will of the people.
The AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce are active lobbying organizations, and on some issues they can help push a given bill through the legislature. But their power--even when put together on an issue like this-- is vastly overrated. Can anyone tell us the last thing the WV Chamber of Commerce did to significantly improve the lot of West Virginia businesses? And the AFL-CIO's influence is shrinking almost as much as the WVEA in recent years.
In short, for Manchin to act like he has a "mandate" because these two waning groups want to curry his favor as the state's next U.S. Senator is absurd in the extreme. The people graciously elected Manchin to a second term as our state's Governor. He wasn't awarded that post merely as a stepping stone to the U.S. Senate. And surely even Manchin wouldn't suggest that he has already completely all the tasks he was sent to Charleston to do. We don't see a rush of new industry coming to West Virginia, for example. And the school systems seem to still need some work, as do the pension plans for state employees, etc. etc.
Manchin needs to put his ego and ambitions aside, appoint a decent stand-in for himself, and finish out his term. Then, if the people believe he has done a good enough job as a two-term Governor to reward him with the U.S. Senate seat, he is as entitled to run for it as anyone.
But finish what you started, Governor. And don't imagine that the AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce speak for the vast majority of West Virginians.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
