Painting with Primary Colors and Potluck Politics – “The Sunday Political Brunch”

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

 

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PHOTO: file

So many different things are going on in the world of politics this week. One state was holding a few key primaries, while other states were trying to sort out their abortion laws. And all are doing so with an eye toward November. Then there’s that Thursday prime time hearing from the January 6th Committee. Let’s “brunch” on all that this week.

 

“Primary Season Marches On” – After two weeks of no primaries or runoffs, election season resumed this week in the lone state of Maryland, with some interesting results. Since Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is term-limited, in the primary race to succeed him, Hogan backed his cabinet member Kelly Schulz. Former President Donald Trump, often a target of Hogan’s wrath, backed Delegate Dan Cox. With all but the absentee and mail-in votes counted, Cox has a commanding 56 percent to 40 percent lead. Once again, it appears the “Trump Factor” prevailed. But keep in mind Maryland is a “blue state,” Republicans only prevail if they are moderates like Gov. Hogan. We’ll see in November, when Cox faces Democratic nominee Wes Moore.

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“The Abortion Proportion” – Up until a few weeks ago, I predicted Election 2022 would be about the economy, the economy, and the economy, especially as gas prices and overall inflation surged. I still argue it will be the main issue, but issues about abortion rights, gun control, and school safety have surged to the forefront as violent events and court decisions have changed the conversation. All of a sudden, topics off the table, are back on the table in a big way.

 

“What Are States Left to Do?” – The Supreme Court’s 6-3 vote to overturn the 1973 decision on Roe v. Wade was really no surprise, given a draft decision leak from months ago. The decision left abortion rights up to individual states to decide, but this part is not easy. Here in West Virginia, for example, is a law from the 1840’s designating abortion as a felony by both provider and recipient. However, other laws or policy changes since the Roe decision bring that into question. A Circuit Court Judge this week ruled that old statute was unenforceable and said abortions could continue in West Virginia, absent action by the legislature. Patient bookings are being made as we speak. A state Supreme Court appeal is pending.

 

“Who is Giving the Public Clarity?” – Look, no matter which side you come down on regarding abortion rights, people are downright confused. For example, here in West Virginia, the governor is calling a special legislative session to begin at noon Monday to deal with… not abortion, but to talk about cuts to the state’s income tax. Governor Jim Justice agrees abortion needs to be addressed, but not just yet. “It may take a month, maybe take two months or whatever it may be but then all this will get worked out,” Justice said. “We do need a special session to clean that up.”

 

“The Minority Speaks” - Democrats, who are now a small minority in the Mountain State, were angry the governor chose to focus on a tax cut issue instead of the abortion issue. “The obvious issue for this election is going to be abortion and all these guys campaigned that they are going to eliminate abortion. And you notice, they are avoiding it like the plague. They will address it, but it will be after the election. They don’t want to lose any votes. They don’t want to lose any people, which shows that all of this is about politics. It has nothing to do about abortion or the income tax. It’s all about keeping power,” said House Delegate Jim Barach (D) West Virginia.

 

“Back Home in Indiana” – West Virginia is not alone, most states are grappling with what to do about abortion. Indiana’s legislature, in a reliably red state, is considering an abortion ban, but with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Some of that impetus was prompted because a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio recently sought to have an abortion in Indiana. My point is that certain situations and events may prompt states to act in different and unexpected ways. Again, as with many states there is speculation the legislators may talk, but not act until after the November elections. Stay tuned.

 

“Do Something!” – We’ve heard the rallying cry of families from mass shooting incidents for lawmakers to, “Do something!” to abate the violence. The main theme of Thursday evening’s Congressional hearings on the Capitol riots, was why it took then President Trump so long, to try to tell the rioters to stand down, while the violence went on for three-plus hours. The testimony indicated that various White House advisors urged President Trump to go to the briefing room and make a nationwide TV address to stop the violence as soon as it began. The voices included Trump’s own daughter Ivanka, and son Donald Jr. Instead, Mr. Trump sat in the Oval Office dining room and watched the TV coverage for hours, before finally addressing the nation after 4 pm. “For 187 minutes on January 6th, this man of unbridled destructive energy could not be moved,” said January 6th Committee Rep. Bennie Thompson (R) Mississippi.

 

“Prime Time Hearings” – I’ll admit my bias up front. As a former Congressional staffer, and a member of the Washington, DC, and White House Press Corps, I am so proud of Congress and the national media, to accommodate and present some of these hearings in prime time, on all networks. You have no idea the millions, and millions in advertising revenue the media lost. But truth is more important than profits. It’s important that people, (most of whom work during the day and can’t watch C-SPAN), get to see this ugly incident raw, unedited, and unvarnished in prime time.

 

“Final Thoughts” – Last week I was in the U.S. Capitol for the first time since the riots to cover World War II hero Woody Williams lying in honor as the last living Medal of Honor recipient from that war. As I recalled the touching, bipartisan goodbyes to an authentic American patriot, it made me physically ill to think of what took place in that hallowed building, just 19 months prior. No matter where these hearings lead... may the nation stand strong.

Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and the entire Washington, DC media market. He is also a MINDSETTER™ contributing political writer and analyst for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.


 

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