2LT Joshua Nelson back in the news
A few weeks ago we wrote about LT Joshua Nelson, a Guardsman in the West Virginia Air National Guard when he took on a knife-wielding thug in Walmart. Today in the Stars & Stripes we read how he is a state legislator in West Virginia and he’s trying to win a second term as a politician, despite the fact that he’s hardly around for those duties because of deployments;
Nelson is a fresh graduate from flight school at Laughlin Air Force Base. While in Texas, the Republican missed this year’s entire 60-day legislative session, including 494 votes. Last year, he wasn’t around for 367 of 460 votes due to Guard service.
It’s not a deal-breaker for some in Nelson’s district, which includes most of Boone County, a tight-knit mining community struggling in Appalachian coal’s downturn.
Nelson, a coal miner himself, has served in the Marines. He has been training on C-130s for the Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing.
“Anyone who’s willing to go out and take a bullet for his country deserves to be in office,” said Nancy Smith, of Madison.
Allen Dotson, a coal miner and Democrat from Danville, said he is irked by Nelson’s absence, even though he appreciates his service.
“He chose to be a pilot,” Dotson said. “I don’t think he even has the right to be on the ballot.”
Well, of course he has a “right” to be on the ballot, Al, but that doesn’t mean that you have to vote for him.
Nelson has collected $15,000 in legislative pay, plus $625 each month outside of session besides December, all of which he said he has donated to charitable causes.
His opponent, Democrat coal miner Barry Brown, has used Nelson’s absence against him in the campaign, which I suppose is legitimate, but the voters will get the final say. There are certainly a lot of Democrats (as well as Republicans) who miss a bunch of votes at the national level and no one seems to mind.
Category: Veterans in politics
Yep. “Acceptable for me, but not for thee.” Seems to be the DemoCheats bylaw.
It’s not a deal breaker but it is an issue if the guy misses half his job. BUT, the other guy would have to convince me that he could do better.
Considering all the damage that politicians do when they do cast ballots, I think the rest of our elected officials should spend a few years deployed and vote on nothing. If all politicians would vanish for a few years, our economy might be able to make a real recovery
I can see the point of people talking about his absence for the entire legislative session. He’s not doing much good in the West Virginia State Legislature if he’s not there for sessions.
However, this guy … Marine, Air National Guard Pilot, takes on knife wielding thugs, coal miner … is EXACTLY the kind of people that we actually need in political office. Instead of people like Pelosi, Reid, et al, that have been suckling on the public teat for so long that they’re now multi-millionaires.
If I were in West Virginia I’d vote for Nelson.
Yes. Seems to be the type of guy that accomplishes whatever he sets his mind to. Just doesn’t have the time for everything. Don’t like him missing all of his other job, but his training is important. And relevant. And yea, I’d vote for him on principle, work ethic, and accomplishments. Not too many politicians have that whole accomplishments thing in the bag.
Well, it’s sort of a WV tradition. Before he died, US Senator Byrd was pretty much a celery stalk. I was wondered who was actually working for his salary.
I was wondered? Jeez. Another cup of joe. I’m no good before 8-10 cups.
LOL It’s all good brother … pretty sure most of us read typo-ese by now.
Wait another hour before coffee and you might reach the Twist level of anti-spelling and grammar.
Considering how many Democrats are “phoning it in” when it comes to presence on the floor for debates and votes, this Barry Brown has no traction with his argument. Barry, look at Obama’s voting record when he was in Congress and then take Nelson to task, if you have the gall to do so.
Interesting. Especially since there are other members of the legislature who are also reservists and miss sessions. It doesn’t seem to be an issue until it is the guy with the unmitigated gall to call himself a Rep?
What about the Dem teachers who continue to draw their salaries as they sit in the legislature? Is that not the same thing?
Ultimately, it is up to the voters in his district to decide. Rather like the voters in other counties have done with their legislators who weren’t there when they were deployed.
Or how about the salaried Federal employees who do union work full time? And then there’s the obama types who get elected and then commence campaigning for the next office while collecting a full salary. Heck, the more I think about it, the more I tend towards liking absentee legislators. The less time they are there, the less damage they do. At least Nelson is doing something worthwhile in his absence from Charleston.
Twain said it best: “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
Never heard that before, but damned if it isn’t true.
Missing a legislative or congressional session due to a Guard, Reserve, or similar obligation is one thing. Missing because you’re on a taxpayer-funded five-star vacation or just didn’t show up is another thing entirely. The former is legit, though some may debate the merits of doing one at a time. The latter is just being a shitbag.
Nelson protects our country! How lame for the for the other runner to point out that Nelson misses votes. At least Nelson has the balls to serve! I will be voting for Nelson. .a true proud West Virginian like me!
I was told if you lived in Iowa you were allowed to vote in WVA, if thats the case, “Mr. Nelson, you have my vote”.
I’m torn on this. Two of my kids are in the Air National Guard, and of course I expect their employers to accommodate their ANG needs. However, this guy was elected to represent his constituents, which he certainly can’t do if he’s not there. It’s not like he can have a substitute do his job, can he?
Maybe, since this is the age of the Internet, he should be allowed to do his job remotely. My son is deploying soon and he will be taking online classes during his downtime. I and my co-workers mostly work from home. There’s no reason he can’t keep tabs on things, especially during training.
At the very least, he should allow taxpayers to keep his salary, not give it to charity.
My understanding, from folks who know folks so may or may not be entirely correct, is that he was awaiting a school date when he initially ran. Did not have one, so it was a crap shoot if his training would impact his service in the legislature.
It looks like he just graduated, so if reelected, he should be able to serve without interruption in the next legislative session. In January.
A few years ago they needed the vote of a deployed state senator to get a piece of legislation passed. So, they hooked him up on Skype, or some such, and let him vote.
And I’am a Demacrat Taboot
How can he vote ‘Present’ if he is not there?
If they stay away from the office, they aren’t bothering us with new laws. Not seeing an issue with this.
I laughed
WV Coal Country
After Obama’s ” War on Coal “. Democrats don’t have much ground to stand on in the coal fields of WV. So it doesn’t surprise me one bit that Brown is going after Nelson’s tribute to serving our nation.