Mongiardo wants Conway to apologize for profanities

Updated at 10:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3

The U.S. Senate campaign of Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo wants Attorney General Jack Conway to apologize for the use of profanities in his speech Saturday at the Fancy Farm political picnic in far Western Kentucky.

“Daniel feels that the attorney general’s profanities on the grounds of St. Jerome Parish with church leaders and families there were completely inappropriate and he should extend an apology to everyone who was there,” Mongiardo’s campaign consultant Kim Geveden said Sunday.

But Conway’s campaign manager, Mark Riddle, said there would be no apologies and Mongiardo should “apologize to Western Kentucky for distortions about Jack’s family, record and vision of Kentucky.”

During his Fancy Farm speech, Mongiardo described Conway as being with “the silver spoon crowd” and said Conway supported federal cap-and-trade legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions and allow companies that release less to sell their credits to more polluting companies.

Conway countered by saying he would never do anything to hurt Kentucky coal.

Mongiardo and Conway, the two top Democratic candidates in next U.S. Senate’s race, provided the most political sparks at the 129th annual Fancy Farm picnic sponsored by St. Jerome Catholic Church.

Conway, saying he was quoting former U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford of Owensboro, described himself as having a tough hide and was “one tough son of a bitch.”

He also said Mongiardo “sure as hell can’t speak the truth” and vowed never to take any “crap” from Republicans.

Several Fancy Farm officials and audience members said the language was inappropriate.

Geveden said Sunday he often has been to Fancy Farm “and never heard such language there.”

He also said he has heard and read that Wendell Ford referred to his “tough hide” but never called himself “a son of a bitch.”

“If Ford said that and they are quoting him, Conway and his people should produce it,” Geveden said. “I’ve talked to a lot of Democrats today and no one could recall that.”

Efforts to reach Ford for comment Sunday were not successful.

Regardless, Geveden said, “Conway’s remarks at a church picnic were not appropriate for someone who wants to serve Kentucky in the U.S. Senate.”

Geveden issued a news release Monday morning, formally asking for Conway’s apology for his language.

“We can passionately disagree on issues, but under no circumstances is it ever acceptable for anyone, much less the attorney general to scream profanities at a picnic on church grounds where church leaders and children are present,” Geveden said.

“Attorney General Conway should be setting an example of good behavior and good language, not stooping to use such inappropriate language. Jack Conway made a mistake. He should do the right thing and apologize,” said Geveden.

Geveden noted that The Paducah Sun reported that Mark Wilson, chair of the Fancy Farm political event and a St. Jerome parishoner, said, “A lot of people have come up to me and are upset about it. I wish he would have used better judgment and I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Asked if Conway will be using profanities on the campaign trail, Riddle said, “This campaign will come down to who has fought more and is the best on the issues. That is us.

“There were elevated comments from everyone at Fancy Farm, which is traditional.”

–Jack Brammer

Filed Under: Daniel Mongiardo • Democratic Party • Elections • Featured • Jack Conway • US Senate Race