{"id":38645,"date":"2017-08-04T05:16:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-04T05:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=38645"},"modified":"2017-08-04T05:16:19","modified_gmt":"2017-08-04T05:16:19","slug":"west-virginia-trump-hails-conservatism-new-g-o-p-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/west-virginia-trump-hails-conservatism-new-g-o-p-governor.html","title":{"rendered":"In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor"},"content":{"rendered":"

In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor:- Bragging about keeping his promises on immigration, the economy, the environment and crime, President Trump celebrated on Thursday with a raucous West Virginia crowd as the state\u2019s Democratic governor announced that he will switch to the Republican Party.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Gov. Jim Justice by his side, Mr. Trump hailed stock market records and the growth of coal income in West Virginia. And he delivered a lengthy critique of the federal investigations of his campaign\u2019s ties to Russia, calling the matter \u201ca fake story that is demeaning to all of us.\u201d His comments came just hours after reports that a grand jury had been impaneled in the Russia investigation and that subpoenas had been issued.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost people know there were no Russians in our campaign; there never were,\u201d Mr. Trump told the crowd in a midsize rural town that drew thousands of supporters from across Appalachia, a region that gave Mr. Trump some of the largest margins of his election. \u201cWe didn\u2019t win because of Russia; we won because of you,\u201d he said. \u201cAre there any Russians here tonight? Any Russians?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The president also demanded that Congress pass a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, urging the crowd to call their lawmakers so they will have \u201cthe guts\u201d to take a vote. He vowed to reduce taxes, continue to crack down on immigrants, and rebuild the country\u2019s infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd welcomed the announcements, cheering heartily when Mr. Justice officially abandoned the Democratic Party, and repeatedly applauding for Mr. Trump, waving \u201cWomen for Trump\u201d and \u201cMake America Great Again\u201d signs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Justice said he would officially change his voter registration on Friday. \u201cI will tell you with lots of prayers and lots of thinking, today I will tell you as West Virginians that I can\u2019t help you anymore being a Democrat governor,\u201d he said. He imagined his mother, who has passed away, saying, \u201cJimmy, it\u2019s about damn time you came to your senses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The governor initially received some boos from members of the crowd who seemed uncertain why he was there. But they applauded his announcement, and he quickly wrapped his arms around the president. \u201cThis man is a good man. He\u2019s got a backbone, he\u2019s got real ideas. He cares about us in West Virginia,\u201d Mr. Justice said of Mr. Trump. He defended the president over the Russia investigation, saying, \u201cHave we not heard enough about the Russians?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After the announcement, Mr. Trump praised the governor: \u201cHaving Big Jim as a Republican is such an honor,\u201d he said. \u201cFantastic man, fantastic guy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Justice, a billionaire coal and real estate magnate, ran as a conservative Democrat and declined to endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016. But even as West Virginia has become a reliable Republican state in presidential elections and further down the ballot, a handful of Democrats have still been able to win office.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Justice, though, is said to have friendly relationships with some members of Mr. Trump\u2019s family. Before entering politics he gave money to officeholders in both parties while variously registering as a Republican, a Democrat and an independent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Justice\u2019s decision to change parties will further isolate Senator Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat and himself a former governor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Manchin has resisted the entreaties of Republicans to change parties and add to the two-seat Senate majority. Some Trump administration officials, eyeing Mr. Manchin\u2019s seat, also had hoped to put him in the cabinet, but he has declined all overtures. Now he must stand for re-election in 2018 without the help of a friendly governor.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cJoe Manchin has been and always will be a proud West Virginia Democrat,\u201d said Jonathan Kott, Mr. Manchin\u2019s communications director. Mr. Kott said Mr. Manchin was still not interested in joining the Trump cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his first months as governor, Mr. Justice, a colorful and hulking figure who stands over six feet, seven inches, drew headlines beyond West Virginia\u2019s border for bringing a plate of cow excrement into the state Capitol to express his anger at a Republican-passed budget proposal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have is nothing more than bunch of political bull you-know-what,\u201d Mr. Justice said, pulling the lid off a silver platter to reveal the scented prop atop a printed copy of the budget. But the governor, who found his fortune with coal and now owns The Greenbrier resort, continues to be dogged by the financial issues that Republicans sought to use against him in last year\u2019s campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

The state tax department has filed four liens this year against of one of Mr. Justice\u2019s companies, Tams Management Inc., citing nearly $1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties related to his coal mines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Justice scaled back his television advertising campaign late in last year\u2019s governor\u2019s campaign, telling Democratic officials that, while wealthy on paper, he had limited liquidity, according to a Democrat involved in the conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Evan Jenkins, one of the Republicans seeking Mr. Manchin\u2019s Senate seat, said he would welcome the governor to his party.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI simply couldn\u2019t be a part of a liberal agenda that was so contrary to who we are and what we believe in West Virginia,\u201d said Mr. Jenkins, who switched parties several years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shaking hands with constituents earlier in the day at a meet-and-greet near the stadium where Mr. Trump was scheduled to speak, Mr. Jenkins said he would understand if Mr. Justice felt the same way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf Jim Justice is the next to change his party registration to Republican, I welcome him to the Republican party,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Goertler, a retired consultant from Williamstown, W.V., who was at the stadium to see Mr. Trump, said he used to be a Republican but is now \u201cnonaffiliated.\u201d Told of Mr. Justice\u2019s expected announcement, Mr. Goertler shrugged and said, \u201cI could never be a Democrat myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Russell Lucas, an electrician from Kenova, W.V., who was also in line waiting to see Mr. Trump, said he would welcome Mr. Justice to the Republican Party, but added that he supported him even though he was a Democrat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter to me,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s done a lot for this state already. He\u2019s a mine owner, and I know guys that work in the mines, and all of them like him. They said he\u2019s for the people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Trump repeatedly reminded the crowd of his 42-point margin of victory over Mrs. Clinton in the state. \u201cI love your grit, your spirit,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I love our coal miners, and they are coming back strong. The change you voted for is happening every single day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

sOURCE:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/08\/03\/us\/politics\/west-virginia-governor-to-switch-from-democrat-to-republican-trump.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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