WLEX’s Lee Cruse mulling a run for Congress
By Scott Sloan – ssloan@herald-leader.com
Lee Cruse
Lee Cruse, a comedian and popular WLEX-TV correspondent and host, has been approached about running for Democrat Ben Chandler’s U.S. Congress seat.
“I am considering it, but I’m nowhere near a decision,” Cruse said Tuesday.
Cruse, a Republican, declined to identify the people who approached him.
He said they probably did so because of his “name recognition” and perhaps because of entertainer Al Franken’s success in Minnesota.
“It’s an honorable thing to do to serve your country,” Cruse said. “But I’m not sure I’m willing to make that big a sacrifice.”
“The usual politician turns out to be a lawyer or doctor. Someone in my profession would have to quit.”
Bruce Carter, news director for WLEX (Channel 18), said the station is aware of the situation and “we would take appropriate steps if he decides to run for office.”
News outlets typically have strict rules about staff members running for political office.
Cruse has been at WLEX for more than a decade and continues to perform as a comedian. He previously was in the Lexington radio scene, working primarily for Z-103.
Cruse described Chandler as “one of the Kennedys of Kentucky” based on his “name alone.”
“I don’t want to get myself in hot water at the station by talking about policy unless I decide I’m a candidate,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Chandler did not immediately return a call for comment.
Others have talked about running against Chandler, and one person, Matt Lockett, has announced his candidacy as a Republican.
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
jacob freeman | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Lee,
Not only will I vote for you I will also send your campaign some $. You will give us a real chance at unseating this self serving politician.
special delivery | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Palin, Mark Sanford, Mark Foley, Ensign, Larry Craig,Vetters, Fletcher, Forgy now Cruse, is that all the republicans have to offer? I can see why they are the party of the past.
reader | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Al Franken has a political science degree from Harvard. He is no ordinary celebrity.
Miranda | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Don’t do it Cruse. If you thought comedy (and stupid newsroom politics) were tough just try politics. Besides, no one is going to beat Chandler for at least the next 8 years and KY needs to keep our strongest democrat rep. in office to help us get healthcare for all.
Darren | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Please! What a joke. Just another example of what little the republicans (especially in Kentucky) have to offer.
Independent votes crat | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
For 6 of the last 8 years it used to be that the Democrats were a joke and has been in politics. Seems the Republicans have stepped up to the plate to claim the title.
Lee is better off working as moring co-anchor after Dia Davidson goes on materinity leave with the other guy who tends to come off as goofy.
I remember when lee was on Radio. He was a real goofball (compliment) so I cant take him seriously as a canidate. Al Franken has been on news shows talking politics in between his comedy routine. Put Lee on Ky newsmakers againts Gatewood and lets see how that turns out.
GinaL | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
You have got to be kidding! Who in their right mind would vote for Lee Cruse for anything.
GinaL | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
You have got to be kidding. Who in their right mind would vote for Lee Cruse for anything.
daniel | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
This is a blood sport, but I may have to vote for Lee after Unhappy Chandler’s vote on raising my home electric bill and killing the coal industry..
KYThinker | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Reid, Pelosi, Clinton, Gore, Franken, are you kidding me…? Is this the best the Dems can do?
kprice64 | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Either he is a manbo or he is working up a new bit for his comedy routine. Is this seriously the best KY has to offer??
paul kelley | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
reader: America does not need another intellectual inbred from Harvard like Franken in Washington. Our last four inept Presidents and cabinets were from the Liberal left wing Norhteast schools of Harvard, Princeton and Yale. We need another Reagan
Skidtrek | Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
Paul Kelly,
Reagan is dead, just like the Republican party! Get over it. Lee Cruise is an idiot plain and simple. He couldn’t win dog catcher of fayette county!
dinguscajero | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
I’d vote for a monkey’s nutsak before Ben ‘Obamateur’ Chandler. The chocolate messsiah’s affinity for overspending by a trillion or so per year might turn off a few independents….might be enough to tip the scales toward a fiscally conservative candidate.
Bill Adams | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Cruse may not be the best candidate, but the Fayette County Dog Catcher would represent Ky better the Ben Chandler. His vote to kill the Kentucky economy pushed me over the edge. An extra 1200 – 1600 per year per household will cause a lot of people to go homeless. Good vote.
Yin-Yang | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
This is the most posts I’ve seen in a while… Hilarious that this is what KY politics represents but maybe you can add some interests to Bully Williams BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! You should run for Bully Kerr’s seat!!
The right thing | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Channel 18 should let him go now.
Hamlet | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Don’t quit your day job. The “lesser of two evils” thing.
Thunder Storm | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
The USA is Fubar. We have professional politicians, who we keep sending back to DC to blame. Wait, WE keep sending them back so really it’s our fault.
Would Lee Cruse or Al Franken or Sonny Bono do any worse? I don’t think so. Why not try something new. I’m ready to shake our whole political world to it’s knees. It’s time to vote them all out.
Skidtrek | Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
dinguscajero,
The financial mess we are in right now is due to the 8 years of uncontrolled republican spending by the Bush Administration. Remember, the last Democrat in the White house left Bush a Surplus! Obama is just trying to right the ship so don’t go blaming him for the mess we are in now. Blame the Republicans.
Les | Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
Third grade excuse. Equivalent of “did not”.
special delivery | Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
to kythinker: well the Dems keep on winning. we had eight years of peace and prosperity with Clinton and eight years of hell under Bush. but for Cruse to think he could beat Chandler, what is he smoking? I want some!
Joey DeSausaghe | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
skidtrek sure is quick to start calling people he doesn’t even know names. Must be over compensating for a personal lack of self esteem, probably brought on by a desperate need for Erectile Dysfunction products.
Cheap Jordans | May 5, 2011 | Reply
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