Paul blasts no-shows at forum for Senate candidates at UK
Rand Paul
Republican Rand Paul chided his three chief rivals in the race for U.S. Senate for not attending a public forum Wednesday at the University of Kentucky for next year’s U.S. Senate candidates.
Paul, a Bowling Green eye surgeon, accused Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway of “elitism and arrogance” for not appearing at the event that attracted more than 100 people.
He said he thought Grayson, a fellow Republican, may be “too busy reviewing the latest poll results” to attend the forum.
A poll released Tuesday by WHAS11/Survey USA showed Paul, the son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, ahead of Grayson by 3 percentage points in their race to win next May’s GOP primary election for the U.S. Senate.
The poll showed Mongiardo leading Conway, 39 percent to 28 percent, in the Democratic contest. It also showed that Grayson would beat either Conway or Mongiardo in next November’s general election while Paul would lose to Conway and tie with Mongiardo.
Six of the nine announced candidates for the U.S. Senate appeared at Wednesday’s forum at UK’s King Library.
Buck Ryan, director of the Citizen Kentucky Project that put on the forum, said it was designed to get young people involved in civic life.
Paul took off on the absences of Grayson, Mongiardo and Conway.
He called it unfortunate that the three elected officials “couldn’t drive the 20 or so miles from Frankfort to be at the forum” while he drove more than 100 miles from Bowling Green.
“It’s a disservice to the voters they are not here,” he said. “It should shame all three of them. I guess it is part of their elitism and arrogance.”
Paul also said he is willing to debate Grayson “any time, any place.”
Grayson’s campaign manager, Nate Hodson, said Grayson was in Frankfort Wednesday “performing his duties as secretary of state” on the first day of candidate filings for next year’s political races.
Hodson noted that Grayson did call into the forum to explain his absence – a move Ryan allowed that did not please Paul and his supporters.
Hodson also said the U.S. Senate candidates will participate in debates and that they will be at the Kentucky Association of Counties winter conference Nov. 19 in Louisville.
The KACo Web site for the conference lists Grayson speaking on Nov. 17 as a state constitutional officer but not at the Nov. 19 candidates’ forum.
Hodson said that is a mistake and that Grayson will speak at both.
Mongiardo’s campaign spokesman, Kim Geveden, said Mongiardo did not attend the UK forum because he had other campaign commitments.
Conway said he missed the forum because he had to go with his baby daughter to a doctor’s visit.
Other Republican candidates at the UK forum besides Paul were Todd County businessman Bill Johnson, Northern Kentucky consultant Roger Thoney and Oldham County teacher Brian Oerther.
The Democratic candidates present were former U.S. Customs agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price of McCreary County and Eastwood businessman Maurice Sweeney.
The forum was a chance for the candidates to introduce themselves and focus on what they think are the key issues in the race. Most focused on the economy and jobs.
–Jack Brammer
Filed Under: Daniel Mongiardo • Democratic Party • Elections • Featured • Jack Conway • Rand Paul • Republican Party • Trey Grayson • US Senate Race
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Typical… Trey Grayson is running his elected office, doing what Kentuckians chose him to do – While Rand just runs his mouth.
Paul won’t win, but he will definately keep it entertaining. His theory seems to be if you can’t win, at least draw as mutch attention as possible. Oh well.
Oh please Dr. Ellis. Why isn’t Trey running his elected when he is hanging out with big politicians in Washington, or going to those GOP events? In fact why wasn’t he running his elected office when he was calling into the forum?
Rand is winning in the polls, winning the fundraising battle, and will win the primary.
Trey Grayson is too busying hanging out with his bailout-supporting buddies in Washington D.C. on September 23rd to pay any attention to what the voters want.
Rand Paul is running his small business. Trey Grayson is just another career politician and establishment hack that the republican primary voters will reject in May.
Grayson won’t win.
You have to put out an Amber Alert to find Grayson on the campaign trail. Do searches for patrons of Kentucky stores that have recently sold fake beards. Check out bus stations and elephant caravans leaving the state.
It’s clear Paul’s running for office and Trey’s hiding for office. At this rate, Paul will win and it won’t be that close.
Paul won’t win??? Hmmm looking pretty likely actually.
The real story was the whole Grayson call-in, which can be viewed on youtube. Completely OWNED!
Paul is the real deal and draws his mojo from WE THE PEOPLE. We are coming — get out of our way! We want our Government BACK!
What a relief to have a decent non-politician to vote for in Dr. Rand. Fresh air!
I really liked Paul’s platform on limited government and what he has to say about constitutional issues. hope the good people of Kentucky will stand up and be heard. Respect & Support from Indiana-your friendly northern neighbor!
Paul won’t win? How do you know that, Dr. Ellis? Should we just throw in the towel and settle for business as usual, because you say so?
Sorry, I’m not ready capitulate to mediocrity.
-jcr
Trey Grayson is a career politician who will do anything to get elected and get his paycheck, no actual career other than professional politician.
Work as a Clinton delegate or pretend he’s a republican. Whatever it takes.
Rand Paul is a man of the people. Trey Grayson is a career politician and former Democrat that campaigned for Clinton. Enough said.
“From what I understand, GRayson\’s telephone skit was actually fairly unprofessional. And the moderator had to call him, he didn’t call in himself. He made a shout out to some girl who claims she\’s never met him, and talked about some 10th district candidate.
A Student blog has his impressions of the event here.
http://kypolitics2010.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/rand-paul-invades-uk/
Dr. Ellis – Georgetown | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Typical… Trey Grayson is running his elected office, doing what Kentuckians chose him to do
Dr. Ellis aka Trey Grayson. What a freakin joke. Grayson = Bankster bailouts you’re next Mcconnell
Grayson is corrupt and is in bed with the king of corruption, Mitch Mcconnell….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W_aHAm2Qvw
I cant vote for Rand Paul but he sure can vote for me! Rand Paul is the ONLY choice for US Senate!
I can’t vote for him but I live on the border of Kentucky and I will be helping with his fight for senate. Dr. Paul is for the constitution. Something that no other in DC with the exception of his dad has a clue about. I know this guy is the real deal. I just hope people in Kentucky will wake up and vote for America and the constitution before the dems ruin this country with all their stupid spending of money that our great great grandchildren will not be able to pay for.
Run Rand Run.
Send him to the oval office next.
Rand Paul embraces his record and stances…Trey Greyson runs from it. Rand is a breath of fresh air with his bold stances and honest talk. Trey is just another elite who has been planning and strategizing his run for Senate step by step since he was 16. Time for some honesty and integrity. Time for Rand Paul!
Trey Grayson has stooped to an all new low. He has a guy that is paid to follow around Ran Paul. You know that corrupt Grayson is shaking in his boots because if he wasn’t concerned about Paul he wouldn’t sic his goons on Paul….. The cameraman’s name is Chandler Jenkins. Do you really want to elect a person to senate who uses these dirty campaign tricks…. Rand Paul is a breath of fresh air…. Check out the video below…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USIeMexudBE
You all crack me up with your “save us Paul” comments. You’d think you all were sleeping with the guy.
Before it is said and done he’ll be in bed with all kinds of out-of-state lobbyist using the McConnell political business plan and working more for big business outside of Kentucky then for inside it.
No proven record on ANYTHING but that’s okay; we see what Williams has done for us and the same will happen here.
This isn’t an “all new low.” Campaigns have done that for years. Beshear did it to Fletcher. That’s how George Allen’s “macaca moment” came to light. This is just a fact of life of modern-day campaigning. I’ve got no problems with any campaign doing it.
It may not be an all new low but it is the same old crap that has gotten this country in the shape that it is in. Why doesn’t Grayson win on the issues instead of having a goon follow Paul around getting footage so that they can run a dirty smear campaign?
Trey Grayson cracks me up because he has no substance. All he talks about is being a 8th generation Kentuckian? Who gives a sh*t? I could care less how far his Kentucky roots go back, I want someone that is going to make the right decisions when they are in congress. Paul wants to talk about real issues, Grayson wants to talk about being related to Daniel Boone. That ought to tell you something about how shallow of a candidate Grayson is…..
The Rand supporters make me physically sick. First, you critize his opposition for having someone follow him around with a camera. That’s funny….because Rand started that game at Fancy Farm by having some of his folks follow Trey with a camera. They charge that Trey is a career politician. If that is the case, Rand’s father shouldn’t be a Congressman because he was first in congress DECADES ago. Then, no one ever critizes Rand for leaving his patients behind. He apparently is too busy driving all over Kentucky, being paid for by non-Kentuckians campaign dollars, and isn’t back in Bowling Green taking care of his patients. Trey is known for being open and accessible, for going out and being with the people. So make your mind Rand Paul supporters. What do you want him to do: do his job and less campaigning or more campaigning? You can’t have it both ways. I think he is doing an excellent job balancing it all. Why can’t Rand Paul win on substance? Why do you guys have to belittle a good man like Trey Grayson. I am ashamed of Republicans who will belittle each other like this. If the Dems win the election in 2010, its because of Rand Paul and his supporters dividing the party. Ronald Regan would be so disappointed.
Then, to make matters worse, Trey Grayson pays a guy to blog under the name of “Rand?” in an attempt to convince everyone that only democrats should have a primary. Republicans, on the other hand, should “unite” behind the hand-coronated, er, “picked” candidate of Mitch McConnell.
HAHAHA!. If you knew your history you would know that Ronald Reagan campaigned regularly for Rand Paul’s father Ron Paul…. Here is what Ronald Reagan said about Ron Paul…..
“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.”
-Ronald Reagan
I think Ronald Reagan would be disappointed where the Republican party has ended up. It is no longer for Reagan’s conservative beliefs but rather a party of corruption. I know full well about Trey Grayson and I know how corrupt he is, he likes to act like a little alter boy but I am concerned about some of his big money banking connections…. That is NOT what this country needs.
It seems that Rand supporters are everywhere. Including among the ranks of White Supremacists. Why do Neo Nazis identify with the likes of Rand Paul? I’ve always found these far right/left types to be pretty knowledgeable about their politics. Maybe they know something about Rand we don’t. Hmmmmmm.
See TooKookyforKentucky for more or PageOneKentucky
KookyTracker,
LOL! You’re dripping with desperation. By the way, what’s up with all the NAMBLA supporters and wife beaters over at TooKookyforKentucky? Maybe they know something we don’t. LOL! See how easy it is to play your stupid game.
Keep doing what you are doing, KookyTracker. We can’t loose with opponents like you.
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