Illegal Transfers from Wise Campaign to State Democratic Party Creates an Opportunity

Gary Abernathy reported last week that last year, then Governor Bob Wise illegally transferred $20,000 from his state campaign fund to the state Democratic Party's federal fund in violation of both state and federal law. Under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform that has proven so effective in getting the big money out of politics, this act should result in a federal prison sentence of up to 5 years for those who broke the law by transferring money from a non-federal account to a federal account in this quantity.

This case gives us the perfect opportunity to prove the Ruling Party's newfound commitment to law and order in election and ethics laws. Given their outrage over the allegations lodged against Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Charnock, I am sure state Democratic Chairman Nick Casey will do a whirlwind tour of the state tomorrow calling for the appointment of special prosecutors at both the state and federal levels and for those who have committed crimes in this case to be burned at the stake. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen, for it will merely cause you to assume room temperature and qualify to vote in Lincoln, Logan, and Mingo counties.