PrintOctober 30, 2010
Manchin scandal brewing?
News of an ongoing federal investigation of West Virginia Governor and Senate-candidate Joe Manchin breaks in a Huntington News editorial:
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.
The editorial carries with it a scent of "Yeah, he's not guilty (so far) and we probably shouldn't mention it, but we're warning you voters that you could be embarrassed if you elect this guy to the Senate and he goes down under a federal investigation."
The editorial continues:
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.
This is a last minute development that could push the race to Republican candidate Raese.
Hat tip: Richard Baehr
