Louisville Courier Journal Editorial Sees Fancy Farm As "Glenn Beck On Steroids". OUCH!
Editorial | Fancy Farm: Not so fancy
Back in the days when it was organized — around 1880 — events like the Fancy Farm picnic were common across America. In those days, before the advent of radio or television, it was the best way for voters to connect with candidates. And often the speeches were stemwinders, lasting an hour or more.
What Fancy Farm has turned into in recent years is discouraging. Politicians who speak struggle to be heard over the jeering of the crowds, organized by political opponents to shame and unnerve. Outlandish costumes and sometimes cruel humor are the meat of the afternoon. At times it seems like Glenn Beck on steroids.
This year, the most notable speech was Gov. Steve Beshear's effort to wrap himself in the flag by shunning political talk and instead saluting U.S. soldiers. The Governor just returned from a tour of Afghanistan and Iraq.
There was not much wrong with what he had to say, though it is a stretch to suggest that his role as Governor is to send National Guardsmen “into harm's way.” That is, unless you consider an ice storm or flood akin to a battle zone in the Middle East.
But like Mr. Beshear's other ham-fisted efforts to ingratiate himself with conservative voters (support for the Ark Park, condemnation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the government in Washington), it rings hollow. And it irritates many of his supporters who firmly believe in separation of church and state, strong environmental rules and federal aid for a state that needs it so much.
Without question, his two opponents — Republican David Williams and independent Gatewood Galbraith — got the better of him. Mr. Williams praised the Governor for his trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. “Congratulations, you did the right thing,” he said. “You did the wrong thing when you wouldn't leave the (Kentucky) Oaks to go to Fort Campbell.” Mr. Beshear apparently wanted to avoid being seen with President Obama, viewed as unpopular in Kentucky, when the commander in chief came to Fort Campbell in May to honor thse Navy SEALS who helped find and kill Osama bin Laden.
Mr. Galbraith was harsher: “For you to go over there and try to hide behind the bodies of our young men and women in the military. … I've got an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines and I was highly offended by it. …
“And the reason you did that was because you were too damn cowardly to go down there and congratulate the Navy SEALs at Fort Campbell,” added Mr. Galbraith.
None of this really has much to do with being Governor. Which makes us wonder whether events like Fancy Farm really have outlived any usefulness in the 21st Century. If it's barbecue and theater that people are after, there surely are places closer to home for that.
Update:
Back in the days when it was organized — around 1880 — events like the Fancy Farm picnic were common across America. In those days, before the advent of radio or television, it was the best way for voters to connect with candidates. And often the speeches were stemwinders, lasting an hour or more.
What Fancy Farm has turned into in recent years is discouraging. Politicians who speak struggle to be heard over the jeering of the crowds, organized by political opponents to shame and unnerve. Outlandish costumes and sometimes cruel humor are the meat of the afternoon. At times it seems like Glenn Beck on steroids.
This year, the most notable speech was Gov. Steve Beshear's effort to wrap himself in the flag by shunning political talk and instead saluting U.S. soldiers. The Governor just returned from a tour of Afghanistan and Iraq.
There was not much wrong with what he had to say, though it is a stretch to suggest that his role as Governor is to send National Guardsmen “into harm's way.” That is, unless you consider an ice storm or flood akin to a battle zone in the Middle East.
But like Mr. Beshear's other ham-fisted efforts to ingratiate himself with conservative voters (support for the Ark Park, condemnation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the government in Washington), it rings hollow. And it irritates many of his supporters who firmly believe in separation of church and state, strong environmental rules and federal aid for a state that needs it so much.
Without question, his two opponents — Republican David Williams and independent Gatewood Galbraith — got the better of him. Mr. Williams praised the Governor for his trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. “Congratulations, you did the right thing,” he said. “You did the wrong thing when you wouldn't leave the (Kentucky) Oaks to go to Fort Campbell.” Mr. Beshear apparently wanted to avoid being seen with President Obama, viewed as unpopular in Kentucky, when the commander in chief came to Fort Campbell in May to honor thse Navy SEALS who helped find and kill Osama bin Laden.
Mr. Galbraith was harsher: “For you to go over there and try to hide behind the bodies of our young men and women in the military. … I've got an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines and I was highly offended by it. …
“And the reason you did that was because you were too damn cowardly to go down there and congratulate the Navy SEALs at Fort Campbell,” added Mr. Galbraith.
None of this really has much to do with being Governor. Which makes us wonder whether events like Fancy Farm really have outlived any usefulness in the 21st Century. If it's barbecue and theater that people are after, there surely are places closer to home for that.
Update:
Labels: Kentucky politics, News reporting
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 9:59 AM
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