FANCY FARM, Ky. ― In an afternoon dominated by Republicans, candidates delivered fiery speeches that touched on race, social issues, COVID-19, immigration and the economy in speeches at the annual fall convention. of politics in western Kentucky.
Republican spokespeople have repeatedly addressed hot-button social issues such as COVID-19 policy and the rights of transgender children.
“I believe it’s wrong to allow biological boys to compete against girls in women’s sports,” said Ryan Quarles, the state’s agriculture commissioner who is running for governor. He also proclaimed “I’m a Christian,” I’m pro-life and I’m pro-gun.
Quarles is one of four Republicans running for governor in 2023 on stage at the St. Jerome Catholic Church hosted Fancy Farm as part of its annual picnic.
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Another, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, had to yell at protesters who mocked his handling of the investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot by Louisville Metro Police in 2020 during an investigation. copy
“Say her name, Breonna Taylor!” protesters chanted throughout Cameron’s speech.
Federal authorities on Thursday announced charges against four Louisville police officers in connection with the search warrant used to raid Taylor’s home. Cameron’s investigation resulted in only one officer being charged with shooting at a neighboring house, and he was acquitted.
GOP spokesmen repeatedly mocked the lack of Democratic turnout, including absentee Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who for the second year in a row skipped what Auditor Mike Harmon, the son of Republican candidate for governor, called “Super Bowl of politics.”
“The people I can’t say ‘hi’ to today are the elected officials of the Democratic Party across the state,” said State Treasurer Allison Ball. “Where are you guys? Maybe if we’re lucky next year, by the end of next year there won’t be any elected officials left. “
Kentucky Republican senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul also did not attend, due to a delay in the Senate vote on Saturday in Washington.
Beshear said he had planned to miss Fancy Farm for a trip to Israel but canceled that to stay in Kentucky because of the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky.
Republicans don’t have it.
“The governor would actually rather be 6,000 miles away on another continent than Fancy Farm,” said Secretary of State Michael Adams.
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Republicans have also criticized Beshear’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit Kentucky in 2020 and prompted him to order emergency measures such as banning public gatherings and wearing face masks.
“Andy Beshear is the shutdown governor,” Quarles said.
One of the two Democratic candidates at the forum, Charles Booker, a Democrat running for the US Senate against Paul, a Republican, criticized Paul for staying in Washington.
“Kentuckians showed up, so that’s why it shouldn’t be a surprise that Rand Paul didn’t get it,” Booker said.
Colmon Eldridge, who as the leader of the Democratic Party was invited to speak on Beshear’s behalf, continued to promote Booker, who is Black.
“Imagine being so afraid of a Black man from the West End of Louisville that you’re not going to show up for a debate,” Eldridge said.
And Eldridge, who is also Black, didn’t hold back when his comments drew boos.
“Booing a Black Man in Kentucky; you yelling doesn’t scare me,” he said.
But Kelley Paul, Rand Paul’s wife, who was invited to speak in his absence, shot back in his defense, calling most of the national and social issues on the Democratic candidates, describing them as liberals. for Kentucky.
“Maybe it’s time for the Democrats to go from promising a chicken in every pot to a drag queen in every school,” she said.
And one GOP spokesman after another reminded the crowd that Republicans earlier this year outnumbered Democrats as voters, starting with emcee David Osborne, speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
“For the first time in history, registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats,” Osborne said to roars of enthusiasm.
As usual, many people shouted, giggled and jeered every time the speeches were made, but it was even worse when Cameron got up to speak.
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Cameron had to scream at the chants of “Breonna Taylor, say her name!” throughout his four-minute speech..
Early Saturday morning, Cameron said his office is responsible for investigating possible charges against states while the US Justice Department is conducting its own investigation into civil rights violations.
“From the beginning, this has been about our office looking for state violations,” he said.
Taylor’s family has been vocal in their criticism of Cameron’s handling of the case.
Savannah Maddox, the Republican / libertarian candidate who is running for governor, is the only one who turned directly to the GOP opponents, describing herself as the only “mother” on stage who understands Kentuckians.
“These people?” She said about Cameron, Quarles and Harmon. “They are the least men in politics.”
Saturday’s political speech marks the 142nd year for the annual lights-out in St. Jerome in the small Western Kentucky town of Fancy Farm.
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The heckling started early and often, even leading to a few boos as Owensboro Bishop William Medley opened the meeting with a prayer.
Medley prays with optimism that “wisdom directs speech.”
“Let charity win here today,” he said.
The 2022 event comes as western Kentucky tries to rebuild from last year’s devastating storms and continues to recover from record flooding in Eastern Kentucky that killed 37 people.
Osborne acknowledged that in his opening remarks, saying “our hearts are heavy” over the loss. But he said Fancy Farm should continue following the tradition and support of the event.
Groups supporting a variety of causes used the speaker’s booth, ranging from those seeking term limits in Congress to bipartisanship on a ballot amendment that would write abortion access into the Kentucky constitution.
Members of the US House of Representatives are not discouraged by their presence at an annual political convention where many candidates may oppose term limits.
Their best bet is to reach out to the public instead of trying to convince politicians, said Aaron Dukette, regional director.
“It’s like looking for chickens to vote for Colonel Sanders,” Dukette said. “They will end up on the menu.”
Nearby, supporters and opponents of the 2nd Amendment, to ensure the constitution of Kentucky does not have the right to abortion, work in the crowd from the shade under the trees.
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Adia Wuchner, executive director of Kentucky Right to Life, said the political group Yes for Life, which supports the measure, hopes to find support in western Kentucky.
During his three days in the area, ending at Fancy Farm, Wuchner said people were “very welcoming.”
But at a nearby table, members of Protect Kentucky Access, a group that opposes the measure, said they are also getting support from Democrats and Republicans in the red zone.
Two Kentucky laws currently under legal challenge allow abortions only to save the patient’s life or prevent injury with no exceptions for rape, molestation or serious fetal harm.
“A lot of people from western Kentucky don’t understand that there is no exemption,” said Tamarra Wieder of Planned Parenthood.
Reach reporter Deborah Yetter at dyetter@courier-journal.com or on Twitter @d_yetter.
