Election 2006
U.S. Senate Race Political Commentary for West Virginia
34 Year Old WV National Guard Captain Hiram Lewis has declared himself a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in West Virginia 2006 Election.
U.S. Senate Candidate Hiram Lewis's 2006 election web site has touted his commissioned connection with the WV National Guard in his capacity of a military officer to promote his political ambitions and leadership skills. It is understandable that a retired military officer would do this, because the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest is made void by the retired status. It is questionable if it is ethical to use ones current position with a state military organization to promote ones own political ambitions. This creates the appearance that the West Virginia National Guard endorses candidate Hiram Lewis in the 2006 Election.
The state police are not allowed to do this, is it permissible for a National Guard officer to do so? As I understand it, 34 Year Old Captain Hiram Lewis still holds an active commission in the West Virginia National Guard.
Captain Hiram Lewis's website reads more like a military resume, and Curriculum Vitae than a partisan political web site for a GOP senatorial candidate in the 2006 election.
Captain Lewis in his status as a National Guard officer is both a state employee, and a military man. The National Guard is the state military under the state Constitution, which is sometimes federalized to supplement the needs of the U.S. Army in time of war. The state of West Virginia funds the State Police, and the State National Guard from the states military budget. Mr. Hiram Lewis needs to clarify on his 2006 election web site that the WV National Guard does not and cannot endorse his political actions.
If he does not do this voluntarily, the Governor should be petitioned to order him to do so. Remember the Governor is the commander in chief of the state national guard as authorized by the state constitution. Captain Hiram Lewis needs to get it through his head that Joe Manchin is his commanding officer, prior to posting his affiliation with the State National Guard on a partisan political website for the 2006 election.
With the current situation in Iraq, and Afghanistan, there is a very real possibility that Captain Hiram Lewis may well be called to active duty in a military capacity for deployment to a combat zone...The US Army very much needs military officers with supervisory legal experience to manage the scandal laden prisons used to house Iraqi detainees. Captain Hiram Lewis is well qualified for a position as a warden there with his legal background as an attorney.
There is a very real possibility that he may be needed, because men with his combination of legal and military credentials are very hard to come by. Being a candidate for federal elected public office, would give Captain Hiram Lewis a viable exemption from potential deployment overseas for the duration of his term of office if elected. The fact that he is the GOP candidate for an elected office would give him exemption from deployment overseas until the election is over.
Traditionally, the National Guard and regular Army will not deploy its personnel overseas, if they are a federal candidate, party nominee, or holder of an elected public office out of respect for the constitutional electoral process. If Hiram Lewis advances his political capacities, it will diminish his military capacities for potential deployment.
There are several members of congress who hold commissions as national guard officers but they are not eligible for deployment overseas for exactly this reason.
That is what the military is all about, supporting and defending the constitution and the electoral process.
Mr. Hiram Lewis claims his campaign is not based on personal animosity for Senator Byrd. I wonder what his real motive for running for office is. A man of Captain Lewis's self professed military leadership skills are far to valuable to waste in public office in time of war. The war in Iraq is very unpopular among some members of the National Guard, but they are to be commended for doing their duty in spite of personal aversions to the Bush Administrations Iraqi cause.
However there are many members of the National Guard who will attempt all legal means to evade deployment to a war that they see as unjustified. I feel that the needs of the nations military are far greater than the needs of the State of West Virginia for a Republican Senator.
If Captain Hiram Lewis desires to serve the public, this is commendable. I wish to advise him to serve in the military capacity that he is most well trained and qualified. Patriotic West Virginian's cannot vote for him in good conscience, because we do not wish to deprive the armed forces with a qualified officer with scarce skills in time of war. This is simply a matter of patriotic sentiment on my part. There are several units of the WV National Guard currently in Iraq to my understanding.
Governor Manchin is the commander in chief of the WV National Guard, and our esteemed governor is well capable of making full use of Captain Lewis's greatly needed military leadership skills.
Captain Hiram Lewis has already done one tour in Iraq and he is commended for that, and if he desires to serve in a political capacity, he should follow the example of Dwight D. Eisenhower and patiently wait until the war is over to throw his political hat into the ring. General Eisenhower was a mature man who knew how to bide his time for political ambitions, and Hiram Lewis needs to patiently wait till the war in the middle east is over, before launching political salvo's at the U.S. Senate's senior democrat.
Traditionally Americans don't pass out military accolades until long after the war is over, and Eisenhower was smart enough to understand that. At age 34, Hiram Lewis has yet to reach that level of maturity. The question before the West Virginia voter is, is Bob Byrd too old, or is Hiram Lewis too young?
Robert Byrd is a fine Senator, and Hiram Lewis is a fine Military Officer with supervisory JAG Corps experience. The U.S. Senate needs Robert Byrd, and the nations military needs Hiram Lewis. Both men should serve in the capacity where they previously shown talent, and have established a proven track record. Mr. Lewis has a choice in engaging in political fighting with the democrats, or using his military talents to fight the armed mortal enemies of our nation. The question that profoundly begs an answer is "What are Hiram Lewis's priorities"? Does he even know?
