Afflicting the comfortable : journalism and politics in West Virginia / Thomas F. Stafford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stafford, Thomas F.

Series:

West Virginia and Appalachia ; 4.

West Virginia and Appalachia ; v. 4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stafford, Thomas F.

Journalists--United States--Biography.

Journalists.

Press and politics--West Virginia--History--20th century.

Press and politics.

Scandals--West Virginia--History--20th century.

Scandals.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (362 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Morgantown, W. Va. : West Virginia University Press, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1990, the "New York Times" wrote, "Government corruption was not invented in West Virginia. But there are people who contend that West Virginia officials have done more than their share over the years to develop state-of-the-art techniques in vote theft, contract kickbacks, influence peddling and good old-fashioned bribery, extortion, fraud, tax evasion and outright stealing." While investigating such events as the Invest Right scandal, Thomas Stafford, a former journalist for the Charleston Gazette, would find himself in a very precarious position. As a reporter he felt obligated to tell the whole truth, and he believed in the need to serve the public and those West Virginians who were being abused by a political machine. In "Afflicting the Comfortable," Stafford relates such tales of the responsibility of journalism and politics in coordination with scandals that have unsettled the Mountain State over the past few decades. His probing would take him from the halls of Charleston to the center of our nation's ruling elite. Guided by his senses of duty, right, and fairness, he plunged head first into the misdeeds of West Virginia's politicians. His investigations would be the preface to the downfall of a governor and an adminstration that had robbed the state and the citizens of West Virginia for years.

Contents:

Front Cover; Cover Flaps; West Virginia and Appalachia Series Page; Dedication; Contents; Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction: Three Words; Part One; Depression Politics; A New Battlefront; Editorial Influence; A Byrd's Eye View; A Man for Another Season; Political Shake-Up; ""One Brief, Shining Moment""; Part Two; He Never Used the Broom; ""Run It Up the Flagpole; The Ripple Effect; Uncharted Territory; A Sense of Passion; ""I've Got a Proposition""; The Threat of Libel; Striking Gold; Going to Press; A Promise Curtailed; ""It Wasn't Any Pleasure""; Storm Warnings

The Party FaithlessImage Gallery; Part Three; The Strength of Their Convictions; Why?; Judicial Remedy; Moore Controversies; A Lifetime Commitment; Third Time Around; Three Words Again; Part Four; Caperton's Inheritance; Once Too Often; Afterword; Index; Back Cover

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781935978077

1935978071

OCLC:

923514577

Publisher Number:

2027/heb08887 hdl