Shameful? Not if you are a Democrat. Blankenship violated no laws, except the left-wing maxim that wealthy men cannot be allowed to support conservative values. The Constitution does not diminish free speech in proportion to a citizen's bank account.
But the smears had their effect; the public, besieged by a campaign of negativity, was convinced Blankenship is the reincarnation of Rasputin, bent on replacing West Virginia's de-facto one party system with one-man rule. The straight-ticket onslaught, the herd mentality traded Republicans, fighting stagnant one-party domination, for the machine-driven Democrats, including blank slate, Alex Shook. His campaign had the sound and fury of empty, but appealing platitudes, but signifying little. This formula won nationwide.
The false characterization of Frich as a puppet served to mask a truth; it was to belie her independence and to divert attention from the slave-master relationship the Democrats have with union bosses, the radical left, and the trial lawyers. Now, the Democrats can carry on, unfettered by the conscientious presence of Frich.
To debate issues is problematic for Democrats. They need to slink and hide from them, and to demonize opponents to stay in power. Florence Merow could not take the heat, she made her career move, leaving the Republicans for the Democrats, thumbing her nose at the two-party system. This is not to find fault with her subsequent service, but to point out she betrayed the Republican Party to submit to the power and prestige of the Democratic Party machine.
lammarino segues from the insidious Blankenship-Frich innuendo to the "Clean Money, Clean Elections" scam. Let's blame the money, not the politician, the money made them do it. I would not trust a "clean money" law written by partisan fundraisers. The results will be in muzzling Republicans, while providing loopholes for Democrats. Moreover, the procedure to require signatures, along with a $5 "contribution" to qualify is reminiscent of the discriminatory poll tax. A $5 bill to the poor could be the difference between a few cans of dog food and going hungry — to paraphrase the left.
The elections at the state and local level are democracy in action; the voters have spoken; their actions will bring mediocrity, but will they notice. Democracy, in the hands of a public, beguiled by undefined messages, seduced by cardboard candidates, and huckstered into voting a straight ticket, is a double-edged sword, dangerous on the back swing.
James W. Thompson Morgantown