While we are always glad to see our elected representatives paying their respects to Marshall University, what a shame when they seem to forget who is footing the bill for any grants or other expenditures even at such a worthy institution.
West Virginians have been treated to many such incidents where U.S. Senator Robert Byrd "has given" a local project a federal grant. If someone didn't tell our schoolchildren that this was some of their parents' own federal tax dollars, those same students might be forgiven if they thought that Byrd had written out a check from his own personal checking account. Byrd the philanthropist!
But it's not his money at all, and he's not a philanthropist. He is doing what every other elected leader in Washington tries to do from time to time, namely to bring back federal dollars for worthy projects back home.
In short, every U.S. Senator does it and in every state in the union. But because we have such a poor economy after fifty years of Senator Byrd's economic vision, every crumb received is magnified.
Something else has become magnified over time: Byrd's ego. After hearing his sad performance here recently upon having yet another building named for him -- how much is enough -- one gets the distinct impression that Byrd thinks rather grandiosely of himself. Certainly, here was not the humble servant leadership of a Jennings Randolph or a Cecil Underwood.
Instead, here was Byrd's ego on full display, sounding incredibly a bit like an amateur rapper of some sort. But one without much rhythm:
"Yeah man," said Byrd. "You're looking at Big Daddy. Big Daddy!"
The fact that "Big Daddy" had to read this line about himself from a prepared text was interesting. Who wrote it for the poor fellow? Clearly, Byrd's staff and Byrd himself are trying a little too hard to make Byrd look spontaneous and young at heart. They sure weren't convincing that day.
In most families, there is someone who is charged with the unfortunate responsibility of telling Granddad when he can no longer use the more dangerous tools in his wood shop or drive his Oldsmobile. Because Granddad has lost the ability to know when to gracefully let go of some of these activities.
Each West Virginia voter this year is that family member, charged with the unfortunate duty of deciding whether or not to take the keys away from Granddad Byrd. Increasingly more are coming to the same sad conclusion:
"Big Daddy" is beginning to embarrass himself and the family.