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Capito: Protesters unlikely to sway senator

U.S. Sen. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., was the focus of national attention as she considered her vote on — and efforts to improve — the Senate’s version of a proposed healthcare overhaul. All that attention did nothing to change Capito’s focus, but it says a lot about the folks who were hounding her.

Monday, six people were arrested after a sit-in at her Charleston office where they DEMANDED she announce she would vote against the proposal. They were from organizations such as Rise Up West Virginia, the West Virginia Citizens Action Group and the Kanawha Valley Democratic Socialists of America.

They were left alone to exercise their First Amendment rights … until they refused to leave the building when it closed at 5:30 p.m. They said they would not leave until Capito declared her opposition. The idea that such a tactic would do anything to change Capito’s mind is laughable.

Equally laughable was the botched stunt by the feminist group UltraViolet, which flew a banner over Charleston the same day that read “Sen. Heller Keep Your Word: Vote No on Trumpcare.” UltraViolet had announced earlier in the day they planned to target Capito. Dean Heller is a Republican Senator from Nevada. Whoops.

As the Charleston newspaper editor who snapped a photo of the banner pointed out, “Charleston, WV, looks to the sky and asks: ‘Who’s Senator Heller?’ Probably not the reaction organizers were seeking. …”

But that is how little thought goes into these efforts, once the far Left has decided to bully those they view as the opposition.

Capito is not the type to be bullied. She is the type to consider what is best for West Virginians and all Americans; to put in the hard work of reviewing the legislation and seeking solutions to potential problems.

In fact, Capito did announce Tuesday she opposes the current Senate health care discussion draft, saying “I will only support a bill that provides access to affordable health care coverage for West Virginians, including those on Medicaid and those struggling with drug addiction.”

Her harassers may get pats on the back from their liberal ringmasters for carrying on the usual sideshow antics, but the chuckle she got out of their banner mishap was probably the most thought Capito gave them.

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