Beshear's opponent this year, David Williams, smells blood and finally, two months later, Beshear is going on the record to say that President Obama wisely never even invited Dinosaur Steve to the ceremony in the first place, invariably to save him from having to turn down being seen with POTUS in a state where his approval ratings are in the mid-30s at best.
Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday that he did not mislead the public when he said a scheduling conflict prevented him from appearing with President Barack Obama at Fort Campbell in May.
Although the White House did not extend a formal invitation for Beshear to attend Obama's appearance, Beshear said he would have been there to greet the president if his schedule had allowed it.
"We learned of the president's visit about 36 hours before it was to take place," Beshear said during a Capitol news conference called to discuss an education grant. "There were apparently no formal invitations sent, but I feel as governor it is always my responsibility and privilege to welcome a president of the United States."
At the time of Obama's appearance, Beshear said he was already scheduled to meet with executives at Churchill Downs on the friday before the Kentucky Derby.
Beshear was criticized by many, including Republican gubernatorial challenger David Williams, for appearing to snub the president and the troops Obama was honoring who were involved in the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
But the Associated Press reported on Wednesday that a series of Beshear administration e-mails showed Beshear was never formally invited to attend the event. Williams, the Senate president from Burkesville, accused Beshear on Wednesday of lying to the public about why he didn't attend the event with Obama.
President Obama is not popular in Kentucky, and that's putting it mildly. He lost the state to McCain-Palin in 2008 by 16 points. Out of 120 counties in the Bluegrass State, Barack Obama won eight of them, and that was before the economy got worse. So yes, the President was smart enough to not invite Beshear in the first place, so that he could happily make up whatever excuse necessary to not be there within 100 yards of the President. It's the worst-kept secret in Kentucky politics. Beshear himself is enjoying 60%+ ratings and will most likely cruise to an easy win in November, but literally the last thing he wants to do is be seen with POTUS in this state.
It's the ugly truth here in Kentucky, but there it is. New tag: Dinosaur Steve.
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