Oct. 29, 2010
EDITORIAL: Manchin's Federal Investigation: A Growing Concern
A growing number of media outlets across West Virginia are beginning to cover the federal investigation involving Governor Manchin and his administration. This is a significant development in and of itself.
After all, many media outlets are reticent to cover a potentially criminal matter in the midst of a candidate's campaign for Governor, lest they look like they are "attacking" the candidate unfairly. Plus, we live under the dictum that a man is innocent before proven guilty. That is especially true if there are not any indictments in the matter as yet.
Yet for all that, another stream of truth enters this churning river of an election season, and it deserves to be aired out, too. Given West Virginia's national embarassments over the years from high government officials being caught in criminal acts, voters clearly wish to have no repeats on that score.
And while enduring a former officeholder's public disgrace is sad enough, having one led away in chains while still serving us in office would be even worse for the state's image, as well as our own self-image. We try to joke away the line of corrupt figures in our state's politics over the years, but the truth is that it's a negative image for our young people to live down, especially any who might wish to make a career in public service.
So voters are within their rights this year to pause and to ask themselves whether the smoke around Governor Manchin and his administration is causing them to hold back their support for him on Election Day. True, we understand that he has not been personally served by the federal prosecutors. However, now that the state's aircrafts, used primarily by the Governor, are the subject of a federal subpoena, voters are understandably nervous about the whole business.
The state's aircraft records are now being closely examined by the federal
prosecutors. The state's helicopters and airplanes are to be used strictly
for state business. The Governor has already been caught once before
in using the state airplane to go fetch his personal yacht to bring it back
to West Virginia. Only after being called on that did he reimburse the state.
If Governor Manchin has abused his high privilege of serving the people of West Virginia by using the state aircraft for any political or personal efforts, he could be in deep waters then. The feds will not be forgiving of a man who has used the state aircraft for pleasure once before, only to do it again.
If Manchin is our U.S. Senator when such a charge is levelled at him, then here we go once more in that merry-go-round of terrible national publicity for the Mountain State.
We deserve better. A new broom sweeps clean.
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EDITORIAL: Manchin's Federal Investigation: A Growing Concern
A growing number of media outlets across West Virginia are beginning to cover the federal investigation involving Governor Manchin and his administration. This is a significant development in and of itself.
After all, many media outlets are reticent to cover a potentially criminal matter in the midst of a candidate's campaign for Governor, lest they look like they are "attacking" the candidate unfairly. Plus, we live under the dictum that a man is innocent before proven guilty. That is especially true if there are not any indictments in the matter as yet.
Yet for all that, another stream of truth enters this churning river of an election season, and it deserves to be aired out, too. Given West Virginia's national embarassments over the years from high government officials being caught in criminal acts, voters clearly wish to have no repeats on that score.
And while enduring a former officeholder's public disgrace is sad enough, having one led away in chains while still serving us in office would be even worse for the state's image, as well as our own self-image. We try to joke away the line of corrupt figures in our state's politics over the years, but the truth is that it's a negative image for our young people to live down, especially any who might wish to make a career in public service.
So voters are within their rights this year to pause and to ask themselves whether the smoke around Governor Manchin and his administration is causing them to hold back their support for him on Election Day. True, we understand that he has not been personally served by the federal prosecutors. However, now that the state's aircrafts, used primarily by the Governor, are the subject of a federal subpoena, voters are understandably nervous about the whole business.
The state's aircraft records are now being closely examined by the federal
prosecutors. The state's helicopters and airplanes are to be used strictly
for state business. The Governor has already been caught once before
in using the state airplane to go fetch his personal yacht to bring it back
to West Virginia. Only after being called on that did he reimburse the state.
If Governor Manchin has abused his high privilege of serving the people of West Virginia by using the state aircraft for any political or personal efforts, he could be in deep waters then. The feds will not be forgiving of a man who has used the state aircraft for pleasure once before, only to do it again.
If Manchin is our U.S. Senator when such a charge is levelled at him, then here we go once more in that merry-go-round of terrible national publicity for the Mountain State.
We deserve better. A new broom sweeps clean.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
