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The Lincoln News Sentinel

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Opinions


The views expressed in our Opinion Section represent the views of the writer and not the views of The Lincoln News Sentinel. Anyone wishing to respond to a column or editorial may reply at the end of the opinion post, or call (304) 824-5101, write: P. O. Box 308, Hamlin, West Virginia 25523 or send e-mail: opinion@lincolnnewssentinel.com 



Letters To The Editor


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Failure to lead

Two major political groups had differing outcomes on election night in Lincoln County last week. One faction triumphed, with many of their candidates winning significant victories on May 8. The other group licked the wounds after the contests, with some household names not faring well at the polls this cycle.

Both the Lincoln County Democratic Committee (not to be confused with the Lincoln County Democratic Executive Committee) and the Progress, Reform, Optimism Political Action Committee deserve praise for their conduct during the campaign. Apart of the occasional skirmish over signs and rumors, there were no reports of major disharmony. Better still, last week’s election is being touted as the cleanest in years.

However, we do criticize both factions for shying away from the top of the ticket. While many in-county politicos expressed dismay that President Barack Obama was defeated in Lincoln County by a Texas prison inmate, we note that neither faction included the 44th president in their list of endorsements or “recommendations.” This may have been an oversight. However, the president’s face did appear in one such ad in 2008. 

If our county’s political leaders, and leading political challengers are unwilling to endorse the head of state in their primary election, voters deserve to know why. There were other omissions from the factions’ respective lists, but the lack of backing for the president was startling from both. 

The Lincoln News Sentinel does not attribute the president’s loss in Lincoln County to the inaction of the two factions and their respective advertisements, alone. The support for Keith Judd was likely multifactorial, and included dismay at administration energy policy, a simple lack of knowledge regarding Judd’s status as an inmate, and a small dose of racism.

With President Obama certain to be backed by his party nationally at the convention this coming fall, we urge all Democrats in Lincoln County to support the incumbent. The alternative is not an attractive proposition.

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