The Republicans had their Unity Rally on Saturday where McConnell and Grayson had the opportunity to hug Rand Paul. As covered by the Courier-Journal:
Speaking before U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trey Grayson, whom he beat for the Senate nomination, Paul stayed on message in an address that lasted less than four minutes and steered clear of his recent controversial media comments about civil rights, the Gulf oil spill and a fatal Kentucky coal mine accident..
[my emphasis]
I've been waiting for the coverage on the event because I was interested in learning what in the world they might find to say and in getting a feel for how the firestorm might be playing out locally. Popcorn time!
UPDATE: ht to scarce for video "Rally in a Broom Closet!" I smell fear.
First up, the Republicans seem to have been able to muzzle Paul, as least for the moment. He took no questions after the event, and the interesting thing was his speech was 3 minutes shorter than McConnells'.
McConnell found this to say:
"He's been talking about too much spending, too much debt, too much taxes, and that's what the American people have on their minds," McConnell said. "Nobody's done that more effectively across America this year than Rand Paul."
You have to give it to Midge that he was even able to find this much to say, while reading between the lines, I'd guess his thoughts were more aligned with the emphasis I gave his statement.
And then, there was the defeated, ostensibly more rational Republican, poor ole' Trey Grayson:
Grayson, who spoke earlier in the program, stood in the corner while Paul was on center stage.
Tears welled up in Grayson's eyes when the crowd gave him lengthy applause as he took the microphone.
"Obviously I'd rather be speaking later in the program, but the important thing is I am speaking on the program, sending a strong message of unity," he said.
Don't you hate it when they cry? And tears ... days later? Sure seems to dampen that "strong message of unity," but maybe that's just me.
With the painful, political theater over, the reviews are starting to come in, and the interesting thing is that so far, Paul is not doing so well.
Of course, there were a few like this:
Go ahead, keep calling people who are not racist - racist. You know it is a lie, who is the father of liars? Freedom is what this is about folks. A just government that stays out of our lives. Get it? Keep pushing people with lies and keep pushing you hypocrits. The truth has a way of coming to the front. What you are trying to do to Rand Paul will not work, we have heard it all before. Grow up and let real liberty apppear, not your brand!
PS For those not familiar, that bolded part was the dog whistle for Satan.
But there were an equal number like this:
What planet is he on ?? Simply stupid ?
He is toast.
Which is frankly a bit shocking since our local comment boards seem to overwhelmingly attract the most rabid of Tea Partiers.
However, my favorite comment was the following since it matches the anectdotal, water cooler conversations I've been hearing all week.
It's a shame that a politician can't speak with candor, the PC crowd will get their panites in a wad and go on the attack. Mr. Paul stands for limited government and very few understand that concept. With that said I think his chances of winning are iffy at best, it will be hard for him to convince the average Kentucky voter (who statewide is a center/right Democrat) that his views aren't somewhat radical. He may learn to chose his words more carefully and tow the party line but I doubt it. It is fun to watch him hold his ground against national media types, who in total are used to getting their arses kissed. But he may win those battles, but lose the war, we'll see.
This poster is obviously not a liberal or a progressive, and from some of buzz phrases, I'm going to guess they tune into Fox more often than Maddow. The interesting thing is that I don't see much blind enthusiasm for Rand Paul in this comment, or confidence in his chances. In fact, this voter seems almost downright dis-spirited about his chances.
FWIW, as just a person who lives in a non-liberal part of KY, I think we can go strongly local against Rand Paul and with Jack Conway.
Why?
Rand is against social security. He is against disability (THAT is big, here). He is against agricultural subsidies -- even BIGGER. He wants to do away with the Department of Education; whereas, Kentuckians are very proud of our public schools and how well we've been improving them over the last decade. And, Kentuckians do like their pork from their politicians, hence their voting for Bunning and McConnell, year after year. There was a reason why McConnell wanted Trey Grayson, and that reason was Jack Conway.
And during the unity event, I wasn't the least bit surprised to read that:
Very little mention was made of Paul's Democratic opponent, Attorney General Jack Conway, who has seized on Paul's controversial statements in recent days to criticize the Bowling Green ophthalmologist as dangerously out of touch with mainstream America.
I think the Republicans want to avoid talking about Jack as much as possible!
Jack Conway KNOWS Kentuckians. Conway was born and bred, here, and his father grew up on the family's farm in Western Ky, Union County. His father and he are both lawyers and they raise horses together, on that family farm. Jack had a horse in the Ky Derby, this year. Can't wait to see all the ads with Jack and Stately Victor, his horse. He's a really pretty horsey. (See pic of Jack kissing his horse, here.) Ahhhhhh.
If that isn't enough, Jack has already won a statewide election, and as Attorney General, he is in a position to travel throughout the state authentically listening to miners' concerns regarding their issues with mine owners in Eastern and Western Ky.
I think we can go local, and there is a enough toxic garbage for Jack Conway to go on national news shows and just mention one of them every so often for the MSM to go off on Paul to keep him on defense while Conway just keeps playing those horsey ads with one more way he's on Kentuckians' side with social security, strong public schools, disability, farm subsidies, oversight of mining company safety, concerns for family farmers and the horse industry ... which just so happens to be sponsoring the International Horse Show this Fall (Big BIG deal, here)!
I'd say the issues and visuals are with us, and our candidate certainly has demonstrated his ability to walk, talk, and punch on national TV this week.
I'm looking forward to this KY race, will be volunteering my ass off, and will certainly appreciate any and every call, dollar, and canvassing mile everyone here cares to contribute.
Let's win this one!!