Days after spreading his folksy but empty witticisms and the gospel of Babydog at the Republican National Convention, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was back in the Mountain State for his weekly press availability on Thursday.
But this time, word began to spread that a few of the state’s biggest media outlets had been denied access to the online-only briefing.
MetroNews reporter Brad McElhinny was not granted permission to ask questions during the governor’s weekly dog-and-pony show. And, reporters for WSAZ, the state’s most-watched television station, apparently also were blocked from Thursday’s briefing.
Babydog's butt
| File photo
Granted, all reporters are required to submit the topic area of their questions for the governor in advance of the briefing. So, Justice and his staff always have had the ability to quash any questions they didn’t want to address.
But during last week’s briefing, Justice dodged a question from McElhinny and then said, “Brad, I really and truly don’t even know why we continue to take your questions.”
This week, McElhinny – a fantastic journalist I worked with for many years at the Charleston Daily Mail – submitted his question for the briefing. It was about the PEIA’s canceled pilot program for weight loss drugs. But McElhinny never got a reply from the governor’s office on his request to participate in the briefing. When he sent a reminder to ask if they had received his request, McElhinny said he didn’t get a response to that either.
Shucks, I guess we now can say the governor did follow through on at least one promise he made.
And let’s remember, this isn’t the first time Justice and his staff have lashed out at members of the media.
Semi-retired Charleston Gazette-Mail writer and columnist Phil Kabler is persona non grata on Big Jim’s weekly briefings because he had the audacity to ask tough questions to the elected leader of the state.
And just a few weeks ago, Justice’s Chief of Staff Brian Abraham screamed at a WSAZ reporter in the halls of the state Capitol as she pursued a story about the death of a young girl and how the Department of Human Services possibly could have prevented it.
“You’re not very good at your job,” Abraham yelled at WSAZ’s Sarah Sager. “You’re not doing a very good job at all.”
At the time, Abraham also said WSAZ was banned from the state Capitol. Also, a state Child Protective Services official refused to answer questions from WSAZ reporter Curtis Johnson and promptly issued a press release blasting WSAZ.
And during that same time, the DoHS told West Virginia Watch reporter Amelia Knisely it no longer would answer questions from her.
Let’s not forget the role the Justice administration played in the dismissal of Knisely from West Virginia Public Broadcasting a few years ago after she reported on allegations that state health officials had ignored signs of abuse at state-run facilities. She was fired by WVPB Executive Director Butch Antolini, who was given the job after Justice overhauled the WVPB governing board. That came after Justice tried to eliminate state funding for WVPB and to appoint his cronies to the board.
Also, most officials at the state Capitol love to tout their transparency. But, continued stonewalling to more and more questions along with all of these attacks on members of the media say otherwise.
Gosh darn it all to heck, it almost seems as if our governor and his staff don’t want the public to know the truth about anything going on with state government. But it also makes you wonder what else he’s trying to hide.
The public has a right to know what state leaders are doing. And the public has a right to ask questions, even if those questions are tough and might not show officials in the best light.
Remember, the government is supposed to be of the people, for the people and by the people.
“The entire premise of a governor refusing to allow certain reporters to ask questions is unbelievable to me, and shameful,” longtime WSAZ anchor Tim Irr posted on social media.
I couldn’t agree more.
I also wonder how Big Jim thinks he’s going to be treated if he wins the U.S. Senate seat he’s seeking. Does he think the national media will take kindly to him ducking questions and criticizing their methods? Does he think D.C. reporters won’t be harsh on him when he refuses to answer a question or tries to brush one off with one of his cornpone responses?
One phrase comes to mind. “That dog won’t hunt.”
Maybe he’ll get mad and hold another press conference – limiting who can ask questions, of course – and flash Babydog’s hind end at the camera. Or maybe he can unveil a pile of cow manure from under a cloche. And yes, he actually has done both of those things. Proof of both over-the-top photo ops are attached to this story.
Heck, he might even try to sell them a Babydog t-shirt, coffee mug or beer koozie from his Senate campaign store.
But I can say this.
I know many members of the media in this state, and I know most of them are solid, capable and hard-working journalists who only want to report the truth and inform the public. I also know all of us will continue to stand up to these types of attacks and criticisms from Justice and his cronies.
And you can take that to the bank in any way, shape, form or fashion.
Dickerson is editor of The West Virginia Record.