Unmasking the WV Democratic Party's Post-Manchin Grassroots Facade
The Tangled Web of Power, Politics, and Selina Vickers: Echoes of the Old Guard in a New Era
The Illusion of Change in West Virginia's Democratic Politics
A subtle yet seismic shift is occurring within the West Virginia Democratic Party (WVDP). As Senator Joe Manchin prepares to exit the US Senate and his influence fades within the party after decades as a central power broker, a new day seemingly dawns. Marked by the ascent of WVDP leaders like Chair Mike Pushkin, the days of the so called "Manchin Machine”, a name given to the political power Senator Manchin and his allies wielded in the state, were seemingly numbered. The general sentiment was that the old guard was out and a new, progressive era was blossoming.
However, beneath the surface of this apparent progressive takeover lies a more complex and potentially troubling reality. There is one figure that remains largely unseen by the public at large who has been consolidating power and silencing opposition within the party. Through cunning maneuvers, like establishing a PAC to target members of the WV State Democratic Executive Committee on which she serves, and alliances with political power players, like former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and DNC official Harold Ickes, Selina Vickers rise within the ranks of the WVDP is marked with a trail of allegations of racial discrimination and procedural misconduct.
Selina Vickers' rise within the WVDP, marked by allegations of misconduct, questions the true nature of the so-called progressive shift in power.
Selina Vickers currently holds a number of key positions in the WVDP. She is the Chair of the Affirmative Action Committee, the Women's Caucus, and the Rules and Bylaws Committee, and is a voting member of the WV State Democratic Executive Committee (WVSDEC). She is also the founder of A New Day PAC which seems to operate to influence the internal working of the WVDP.
A closer look at the financial activities of A New Day PAC reveals Selina Vickers, a central figure in the PAC, made significant contributions totaling over $5,000 in 2022. These funds were strategically directed towards specific Democratic candidates and party organizations, illustrating the focused nature of the PAC's influence. Of particular interest is the PAC's donation to Elliot Pritt, who later controversially switched to the Republican party after voting against transgender youth. This pattern of targeted expenditures, including to figures like Pritt, underscores the strategic nature of the PAC's operations, aligning with Vickers' rising influence within the WVDP.
In just a few short years, she's become a central figure in the WVDP. She has positioned herself to write the rules and to interpret them in meetings. Her maneuvering within the party, however, raises questions about the true nature of the progressive shift in power. Is it a genuine move towards a more progressive and inclusive party, or is it a cleverly disguised continuation of the same power dynamics, albeit with a different face?
The assertion is that Vickers' rise represents not so much a changing tide but a rebranding of the same stale schemes that have seen the WVDP lose significant influence and power in the state since the 1990s. The departure of Manchin leaves a void filled by a seemingly more aggressive and less nuanced approach. Vickers, with her deep entanglement in the party, her opaque PAC, and her connections to prominent DNC officials like Harold Ickes appears to be waging a war on diverse voices within the WVDP, echoing the operations of the Manchin Machine.
Same Problems, Different Day
The narrative unfolding within the WVDP under Selina Vickers is not one of transformation or progressive revolution. It is a familiar tale of power consolidation, manipulation, and the sidelining of democratic principles. The promise of a "new day" in West Virginia's Democratic politics increasingly appears to be merely a rebranding of old ideas, leaving the party grappling with the same problems under a different name.
A New Day PAC, under Vickers' tight control, operates with a laser-focused agenda: to mold the WVDP into a reflection of her vision. The PAC's activities paint a picture of a tool crafted not for broad party support but for specific, targeted influence. The PAC has donated to the Party ensuring they are viewed favorably among the leadership, hosted training workshops for WVDP enticing in party members with the allure of educational support, only to bring them into the fold, hosted gatherings for members of the WVSDEC prior to strategically important WVSDEC meetings masked as social events, and has utilized party resources to gain influence.
Examining the operations of A New Day PAC, under Vickers' direction, reveals a startling truth: this is a PAC built not on the ideals of supporting a broad range of party activities but on the singular goal of cementing Vickers' power within the WVDP.
It’s Working – The Machinations of the New Old Machine
As we've seen with Selina Vickers' calculated use of A New Day PAC and her influential roles within the WVDP, her approach to party politics is not just about leadership but control. This becomes even more evident as we examine the intricacies of the September 2023 WVSDEC meeting. This meeting, a crucial juncture for the party, serves as a clear illustration of the techiques employed under Vickers' growing influence.
To see exactly how this is playing out in the WVDP, let’s examine the September 2023 meeting of the WVSDEC. This meeting serves as a case study into the tactics being utilized against the membership of the WVSDEC. This meeting was important because there were elections for several officer positions on the WVSDEC. The issues observed in this meeting, most notably the controversy surrounding proxy voting in the WVDP, are less a sign of postivie change and more an echo of past power dynamics. Despite the departure of Senator Joe Manchin and the perceived ushering in of a new era with leaders like Mike Pushkin, the mechanisms employed remain worryingly familiar.
The ascent of Selina Vickers, entwined with the controversial maneuvers of A New Day PAC, reveals a disturbing trend of power consolidation at the expense of the party's core values and its grassroots base.
At this pivotal meeting, the WVDP's decision to disallow virtual participation, breaking from the inclusive norm established during the pandemic and ignoring outcry from WVSDEC members before the meeting, set the stage for a deeper issue: the manipulation of proxy votes. Several members arrived to the meeting each holding multiple written proxies for other members. Due to its potential for abuse and to avoid concentration of power in one member, the practice of holding multiple proxies is against WVDP bylaws and advised against in Robert’s Rules of Order, the standard guidelines for parliamentary procedures used by political committees and organizations. This decision, influenced by Selina Vickers, swayed critical election outcomes and mirrored strategies reminiscent of the so-called “Manchin Machine.”
A New Day PAC's involvement in these events, particularly the pre-meeting luncheon held for WVSDEC members the day of this meeting, adds to the sense of déjà vu. This strategy, ostensibly a social event, hints at an attempt to steer the meeting's outcomes. A cabal of members seemingly knowing that multiple proxies would be allowed, despite previous precedent and rules against such a decision, hints at some coordination. However, due to the opaque nature of A New Day’s activities, concrete evidence remains elusive.
Revealing the Cost of Power Plays in West Virginia's Democratic Politics
Vickers' dominance in the WVDP, particularly her influence over the Rules and Bylaws Committee, allows her to shape party operations to her liking. The chilling effect of her leadership is evident: opposition to her views risks marginalization, and the once-celebrated diversity of the party now seems under threat. The unchecked power she holds, bolstered by the operations of A New Day PAC, has led to a chilling effect within the WVDP. Members find themselves navigating a landscape where opposition to Vickers' views can lead to marginalization or outright exclusion. The diversity of thought and representation, once the bedrock of the party, is now under threat, overshadowed by the looming presence of Vickers and her PAC.
This is more than just a tale of internal politics; it's a cautionary narrative of how the ambitions of a few can overshadow the needs of many. The ascent of Selina Vickers, entwined with the controversial maneuvers of A New Day PAC, reveals a disturbing trend of power consolidation at the expense of the party's core values and its grassroots base.
The ethical and legal questions surrounding Vickers’s and A New Day PAC’s actions, particularly the PAC-sponsored meetings and use of party resources for personal gain, are just the tip of the iceberg. These actions represent a deeper erosion of transparency and democratic principles within the WVDP. As party members and the public digest these revelations, there's a growing realization of the true cost of such power plays: a party drifting away from its mission to represent and advocate for all West Virginians, especially the most marginalized.
This is not just a loss of democratic ideals; it's a betrayal of trust. The WVDP, once a bastion of progressive values and community support, now risks becoming a mere shadow of its former self, caught in the grip of a few individuals whose actions threaten to undermine the party's integrity and effectiveness.
As we look to the future, the WVDP stands at a crossroads. The ongoing grievances and legal challenges are more than procedural battles; they are a fight for the soul of the party. The outcomes of these challenges will determine whether the WVDP can reclaim its role as a champion of diverse voices and progressive causes or continue down a path of diminishing relevance and fractured unity.
The time for complacency is over. For those who believe in the ideals the WVDP once stood for, the call to action is clear. It is time to reclaim the party from the clutches of narrow interests, to rekindle the spirit of grassroots activism, and to rebuild a party that truly reflects the aspirations and values of all West Virginians. The cost of inaction is too great — for the party, for the state, and for the democratic principles we hold dear. This is a moment for courage, for standing up against the tide of manipulation and control, and for igniting a movement of renewal and hope in West Virginia's Democratic politics.