Despite efforts by national interests to turn the West Virginia Senate race into a reaffirmation of support for President Donald Trump, West Virginians must first and foremost select a senator who represents the ideals of the state’s people.
The goal of this election can’t be to re-demonstrate the state’s strong support of Trump and some of his policies. It is an election to select the person who is most likely to represent what is best for West Virginia and the nation.
And when you look at it from that perspective, the obvious choice is to re-elect Sen. Joe Manchin.
A centrist Democrat who has voted with the Republican-led Senate a majority of the time, as well as supported the majority of Trump’s nominees, Manchin is a West Virginian from birth.
He has demonstrated in his years of public service the ability to bring differing sides to the table and to broker solutions to trying situations. His willingness to cross party lines has been consistent throughout his days, first as West Virginia’s secretary of state, then governor and now as its senior senator.
His work in Washington, D.C., has led to better policy for West Virginians and the nation. And he is a true champion of West Virginia’s role in the national energy policy, with an eye toward the future.
He, probably more than any other senator in Washington, understands the importance that coal still plays in electricity generation, but also that natural gas is the wave of the future.
Also, he is realistic enough to know that renewable resources must be cultivated to make them more affordable and that one day — probably not in most of our lifetimes — things like wind and solar will be the prevailing power sources.
Manchin also has shown strong leadership in the state’s renewed fight against opioid addiction, working with fellow West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, as well as First District Congressman David McKinley, another Republican, to provide more federal money.
To Manchin, the goal of public policy shouldn’t be to make one political party or candidate look better — it’s to truly help the people that government serves.
Manchin’s opponent, Patrick Morrisey, also espouses some of the same policy goals as Manchin, such as with the ultimate goal of the Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare.”
Manchin has supported the concepts but has said the ACA needs to be improved. He acknowledges the ACA has some issues but also knows it has done some good, especially in West Virginia, where more people have insurance coverage than every before.
Morrisey favors killing what Republicans like to call “Obamacare” but still find ways to help the most in need.
It is a clear policy difference, one that is highly debatable and controversial.
In the end, though, as much as we know the Affordable Care Act has caused some businesses and individuals financial pain, we also know the previous system wasn’t doing enough to help those most in need, including those with pre-existing conditions.
And while the ACA hasn’t done enough to keep premiums and health-care costs in check, the previous system was as bad or worse.
Manchin’s more centrist views on this are an example of a learned approach, one that weighs many sides and continues to look for the best solution somewhere in the middle.
We’re also troubled by Morrisey’s past relationship with major drugmakers as a lobbyist. Some of those firms were those that profited greatly at West Virginians’ expense during the ongoing prescription pill addiction epidemic.
And Morrisey’s lack of regard for transparency in government remains troubling, both in his service as the state’s attorney general and a potential U.S. senator.
Morrisey has refused to provide information requested by various media and members of the public through the Freedom of Information Act. The most recent example involved a request from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which was seeking correspondence between Morrisey and drug manufacturers in regards to his relationship with them.
He also declined to participate in a public debate featuring respected journalists from five of the largest and locally owned newspapers in West Virginia, including this one. Such a debate was designed to give residents a better idea of candidates’ positions on key issues, instead of the political attacks and negative advertising that have come to dominate this and far too many other campaigns.
It troubles us when those who want to hold public positions of authority opt to control their message rather than answer fair questions of accountability from credible, independent news organizations.
With these factors in mind, the choice is clear for West Virginians looking to make the Mountain State better: Re-elect U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
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