Mongiardo criticizes Beshear in profanity-laced recording

FRANKFORT — Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo used profanity as he criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and his support of Mongiardo’s U.S. Senate candidacy in a recording posted last week on the Internet.

In the recording, which was placed on YouTube by someone using the name “senrace2010,” Mongiardo is heard saying he is so frustrated with Beshear that he is “close to saying f— it all. I do not need this job. I do not need the U.S. Senate.”

Mongiardo is also heard saying that Beshear, who has endorsed Mongiardo, will be remembered as the state’s “worst” governor and that a “blowup” is coming.

Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden said the audio tape was “edited” and that Mongiardo “strongly supports” Beshear.

“He supports him now and he supports him for reelection in 2011,” Geveden said in a statement. “He believes Governor Beshear has provided strong leadership and a steady hand during some of the most difficult times in our Commonwealth’s history.

Geveden declined to answer specific questions about the veracity of the tape, including when and where it might have been recorded.

Earlier Monday, the Mongiardo campaign released a video of Beshear praising Mongiardo at a Sept. 23 fund-raiser in Northern Kentucky.

In that tape, Beshear called Mongiardo “the next United States senator,” praised his knowledge of health care issues and lauded his work on an adventure tourism project.

The U.S. Senate campaign of Attorney General Jack Conway, Mongiardo’s chief rival in May’s Democratic primary election, said Monday that Mongiardo “has a lot of explaining to do to the governor and the people” about the anonymous tape.

Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton said Monday evening that “the Governor continues to strongly support Lt. Gov. Mongiardo’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate.” He declined to comment on the YouTube recording.

This is not the first time profanity-laced statements have caused problems in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Conway apologized last month for using profanity during statements he made at the annual Fancy Farm political picnic in Graves County.

After Conway’s campaign first said he would not accommodate Mongiardo’s call for an apology, Conway reversed himself two days later and apologized for saying that he had a tough hide and was “one tough son of a bitch.”

In the recording of Mongiardo, he is heard saying “the only difference between (former Republican Gov. Ernie) Fletcher and Beshear is Beshear has not had a blowup yet. But it is coming.”

Mongiardo is also heard saying he has “zero loyalties with Beshear” and criticizes Beshear for raising funds for his 2011 re-election campaign while Mongiardo is trying to raise money for his U.S. Senate campaign next year.

“He (Beshear) is screwing me every way possible … and what do I get out of it … We finally begged him to show up for one in Northern Kentucky. He is not going to lift a finger, he is not going to do a damn thing, he is just going to show up and his name is going to be on the … listen there is no love.

The YouTube video and a transcript of the taping appeared Monday on a blog called “Ky Revolution” at www.kyrevolution.blogspot.com.

The blog criticized Conway, Mongiardo and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Trey Grayson and predicted that Kentuckians will support “a real doctor with a white coat from Main Street.” Republican candidate Rand Paul is an eye surgeon in Bowling Green.

David Adams, a spokesman for the Paul campaign, said he was not familiar with the blog and had “no idea” who is behind it.

Here are the videos:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This audio recording contains profanity.

- Jack Brammer

Filed Under: Daniel Mongiardo • Elections • Jack Conway • Rand Paul • State Government • Steve Beshear • Trey Grayson • US Senate Race