If you compare the policies of John Raese with those of his nearest rival, Hiram Lewis, they are not much different. Both believe in decreasing taxes and government spending, gun rights, immigration reform, and making our economy more business friendly.
From a conservative standpoint, both men would be a welcome change from Senator Robert Byrd. But when you compare their character, there is a distinct difference.
Lewis’s campaign has been spotted with unethical actions – all of it led by Hiram — that have turned would-be allies into opponents. He has consistently shown that he will stop at nothing, not even slander, in his attempt to win.
There are many examples to recount, but here are a few of the most notable:
Early in his campaign he spread false rumors that Byrd was about to retire.
He attacked Raese for having a second home in Florida; he then mocked Raese, a highly successful businessman, for having a physical education degree.
He took a play from the democratic playbook and attacked Raese for having money. “I don’t know how somebody can claim to understand West Virginia values when he never had to work for a living,” Hiram wrote. Promotion of class warfare is an unscrupulous attack that, until now, was beneath republican candidates.
Hiram implied in a press release that he had received President Bush’s endorsement when he actually had not. Pictures of him and President Bush, taken by Whitehouse photographers, were on his website and were for sale until the Whitehouse called and told him to take it down.
He was reprimanded by the RNC and NRSC for falsely claiming the lead in the race while citing nonexistent polls. “[Lewis] first said he had seen a Republican National Committee poll, then told another publication it was a Republican senatorial committee poll. Both organizations say they have not been conducting polls on the GOP race …” (Charleston Gazette, 5/3/06)
He then sent out a mailing that looked similar to the NRA’s official candidate endorsement postcard. “It is a blatant misrepresentation,” said Andrew Arulanandam, director of public affairs for the NRA. “The NRA has not made an endorsement in this race and this is a blatant attempt to mislead West Virginia voters. We think it’s a pretty despicable.” (Charleston Daily Mail, 5/5/06)
The NRA sent an email to their members, “The postcard sent out by the Lewis campaign bears a striking resemblance to the card and format used by NRA, including the “Dear West Virginia NRA Member” salutation. We can only assume it was done with the clear intent of deceiving West Virginia voters into believing NRA had endorsed Lewis in the primary election.”
His latest postcard contains pictures of him with former Governor Underwood and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito. These were used without their permission. While Capito has yet to release a statement, Underwood wasted no time: “Voters must not construe this as an endorsement from me for Mr. Lewis. It has been my longstanding policy and practice not to endorse in a contested Republican primary. I call on Mr. Lewis to make clear that his use of an old photograph, taken years ago, was never intended to be used for political purposes.” (Statement by former West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood, 5/6/06)
Hiram has consistently shown that he does not know how to carry himself as a candidate for Senate. There is no reason for us to believe he would suddenly have a change of character once elected and would then know how to muster the dignity required of a Senator.
Regardless of Hiram’s baseless attacks, Raese has consistently chosen the high road. He has refused to respond to Hiram’s attacks and just calls them what they are: desperate tactics by a desperate man.
It is easy to play nice when your opponent is as well. In the face of such baseness, Raese has shown he has the character to be the Republican candidate for Senator.
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© Copyright 1999-2007 William Stewart. All rights reserved.
Comments
Your title is interesting.
You said that John Raese is the ethical choice for Senator. Naturally, any thinking person would be curious to find out why someone is more ethical than another. So I read your post, assuming there must be legitimate reasons that support this claim. But all I found were reasons why Hiram Lewis shouldn’t be the elected candidate. Nothing supporting Raese.
Now, I want to pose the question — Does Lewis’ failure to impress necessarily qualify another candidate as the “ethical” choice?
What about the other candidates in the race? Like Snuffer? Would choosing him be “unethical?”
Based on your post, I am guessing that WVGOP believe the race is between Lewis and Raese — but I still see no citations or examples of Raese’s outstanding public character.
Anyone can wave off an attack. Does THAT make him a good man suitable for public office? If that’s all it takes to be considered ethical, then I suppose Bill Clinton should receive a medal of honor and a certificate of apology for all the attacks from the GOP.
two things on this post are incorrect to say the least, blogs are just blogs and anyone can misrepresent a qoute from the paper. We never claimed an endorsement from the president nor did the White house contact our campaign to remove the photos
Where is John Raese’s office located in Charleston?
Sarah: I hope everything is going well for you; I haven’t seen you in a while. Why are you no longer working for Hiram’s campaign?
Perhaps you should read my article again. I do discuss how Raese is the ethical choice:
“Regardless of Hiram’s baseless attacks, Raese has consistently chosen the high road. He has refused to respond to Hiram’s attacks and just calls them what they are: desperate tactics by a desperate man.
“It is easy to play nice when your opponent is as well. In the face of such baseness, Raese has shown he has the character to be the Republican candidate for Senator.”
Hiram and Raese are the undisputed front-runners. This article was a comparison of the two men. One takes cheap shots at every opportunity and the other never has even though he had multiple opportunities and even though he was attacked personally.
Even you would agree that is commendable at the very least and I would call it ethical.
Dictionary.com defines “ethical” as, “Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.”
Raese is not ethical because he effectively deflected criticism — if that’s the case, O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson are ethical as well — he is ethical because the mudslinging has only been one-sided and Raese has consistently refused cheap shots.
Phil: Your loyalty to your boss is commendable.
You did infer that Hiram had Bush’s endorsement in your press released dated 6 April. “It’s hard to believe that my opponent wasted President Reagan’s endorsement by losing to Rockefeller. I will not waste President Bush’s endorsement… ”
If the White House did not ask you to take down the pictures, why did Hiram remove them?
What about the other issues in the article? Are they “incorrect” as well?
John: 200 Hale Street, Charleston WV 25301
Seeing as how Raese has hired the same people who brought us the Swift Boat smear campaign of 2004, it will be interesting to see if he stays on the ethical “high road” during the general election (assuming he wins the primary).
I doubt it.
It’s good that Raese took the high road. If it had been me, I would have pointed out that Hiram was the treasurer of the WVGOP during Warner’s tenure. Has the State party even gotten out of the debt those two put us in yet?
If Byrd is to be defeated, the party needs to find someone who excudes that same class. Hiram Lewis is not classy. Raese is.
I am going to vote for Byrd because he reminds most of West Virginias how they see themself. Byrd is very old but I hope he wins and I hope my kids can have the success and great legacy he has had. You might not like him for some reason but I have good reasons to like him. Anyone who doesnt vote for him is crazy. I am a republican but heck I got to vote for the honorable Byrd. He gets it done and thats who we want to represent us. Please change your mind and vote for the best. Hes the kind of man you want to vote for in the future. Byrd has class and I hope he likes me as much as we in West Virginia likes him.
thank you for your work
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