Today’s lead editorial in the Wheeling Intelligencer tells us "Capito,Portman Priorities Right"because, as the editorial sees it, they do what’s best for their constituents rather than what is best for the Republican Party.

To support the premise, the editorial describes some of their critics:

One television commentator accused the three of not being “true to their party and maybe not true to their country.” Another referred to them as “traitors.” A third asked rhetorically, “Are they going to be loyal to the Republican Party, or starting out on their own path?”

The comments questioning the patriotism of Capito, Portman, and Lisa Murkowski were made by Fox commentators like Brian Kilmeade on "Fox and Friends." Of course, the editorial tells us, Capito and Portman choose to be loyal to their constituents. But what the editorial doesn’t tell us is that this criticism was made a week ago after the three had cast critical votes against Trumpcare. Here is what Capito’s tweeted at the time which brought the wrath of the Fox News crew:

My latest statement on the Senate health care bill & planned vote to repeal Obamacare: pic.twitter.com/yAVIxgptCu

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) July 18, 2017

Yesterday Capito changed her mind, changed her course and cast the deciding vote in favor of bringing Trumpcare to the floor for discussion and a possible vote. I don’t watch “Fox and Friends” but I have no doubt that she was or will be praised by those very same critics who questioned her patriotism a week ago. The editorial tells us none of this because it wants us to believe that Capito still puts West Virginians ahead of party when just the opposite has occurred. A truthful editorial would have cited what Capito wrote immediately after the above tweet:

MORE: I will only vote to proceed to repeal legislation if I am confident there is a replacement plan that addresses my concerns.

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) July 18, 2017

We do not what the exact form the Obamacare replacement will take but we do know this:

Every Republican proposal that’s officially on the table includes deep cuts to Medicaid and other changes that would cause anywhere from 22 million to 32 million to lose insurance, according to Congressional Budget Office projections.

Capito had to know that and yet she cast the crucial vote to proceed. The Intelligencer can spin it all sorts of different ways but the fact remains that Capito lied to us.