All Entries in the "Barack Obama" Category

Beshear salutes Kentucky veterans at Frankfort ceremony

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT– Gov. Steve Beshear recognized the “monument of service and the ocean of sacrifice” by Kentucky’s military veterans in a ceremony Friday morning on the front steps of the Old Capitol attended by about 300 people.

Besides honoring the more than 335,000 veterans in the state and the 12,000 Kentucky soldiers now serving in the Middle East, Beshear announced that the state plans to put up a bronze plaque in the Capitol to recognize the 59 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Kentucky.

That group includes Dakota Meyer, a Marine sergeant from Greensburg, who received the medal in September from President Barack Obama. Meyer, who is now in the inactive reserve, charged into heavy gunfire in Afghanistan in 2009 and saved the lives of 36 people.

Williams, Beshear launch new TV ads

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The two main rivals in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race have new television advertisements out this week.

Democratic incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear’s new ad uses news clips showing Beshear touring the state after major disasters, such as an ice storm that knocked out power to much of the state in 2009. The advertisement also uses a moderator who says Beshear has been a calm presence during the state’s natural disasters over the past three years.

Beshear has said that 10 federally-declared states of emergency have been declared since he took office in December 2007.

Senate President David Williams features his running mate, Richie Farmer, the agriculture commissioner and former University of Kentucky basketball star, in his ad. The 30-second spot tries to tie Beshear to President Obama, who is unpopular in Kentucky. Farmer claims that Beshear cannot support Obama and be pro-coal.

“A vote for Beshear is a vote for Barack Obama’s war on coal,” Farmer says in the ad.

Beshear has said in interviews that he supports Obama but does not agree with him on all issues. His administration has sued the Environmental Protection Agency over coal regulations.

Chandler urges support for Obama’s jobs plan

By John Cheves
jcheves@herald-leader.com

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler said Wednesday that he supports President Barack Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan, although the Republican-led House is not expected to vote on the plan soon, if ever.

Chandler, D-Versailles, said he approves of the plan’s mix of payroll tax cuts for businesses, infrastructure spending and aid to local governments to avert the layoffs of teachers and emergency workers. He said the plan would offer $1,330 in tax relief to a typical Kentucky household and save or create 12,000 jobs in the state.

“There is no time to waste,” Chandler said in a prepared statement. “Congress must act now to create jobs, strengthen our middle class and expand our economy.”

Chandler, who is expected to face a tough re-election battle in 2012, did not return calls seeking comment.

Claim that Beshear supports EPA’s coal regulations false

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

The Herald-Leader will fact-check claims made by the candidates for governor and their surrogates leading up to the Nov. 8 election.

The statement: “Beshear supports Obama’s EPA plans that will drive out our coal jobs by driving up our energy costs.”

— Restoring America, a group supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams, in a television ad this week attacking Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

The ruling: False

The facts: Throughout this fall’s campaign for governor, Republican nominee David Williams has tried to tie Gov. Steve Beshear with Democratic President Obama, who is unpopular in the state.

Obama calls out McConnell on jobs bill from Ohio River bridge

By Jack Brammer and Kelsey Sheridan
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

CINCINNATI — Standing before an aging bridge that links the home turf of top Republicans in Congress, President Barack Obama touted his $447 billion jobs bill Thursday as a way to help repair the nation’s infrastructure.

Obama called out by name Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, as he spoke near the Brent Spence Bridge that carries I-75 and I-71 over the Ohio River.

“Mr. Boehner, Mr. McConnell, help us rebuild this bridge,” Obama said. “Help us rebuild America. Help us put this country back to work. Pass this jobs bill right away.”

P’Pool’s new ad ties Conway to Obama

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — In his third TV ad, Republican candidate for Attorney General Todd P’Pool compares his opponent to President Barack Obama, who remains unpopular in Kentucky.

The new advertisement begins with a frowning photo of the president and an announcer saying “Barack Obama is destroying America.”

The ad claims that incumbent Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway has “done nothing to stop him in Kentucky.”

The ad says P’Pool will fight “Obama care” and will work to protect the coal industry. It says Conway shares Obama’s “pro-choice” stance.

Conway, who has a double-digit lead over the Hopkins County Attorney in recent polls, has yet to run any television advertisements.

Beshear seeks meeting with Obama during president’s Cincinnati visit

By Jack Brammer

jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT –Gov. Steve Beshear wants to meet with President Obama when the president travels to Cincinnati next week to urge Congress to approve his $447 billion jobs bill.

“We are reaching out to the White House to see if Gov. Beshear can meet with President Obama to discuss several issues that are of importance to Kentucky families,” Beshear’s director of communications, Kerri Richardson, said without elaboration when asked if there were any plans for Beshear and Obama to meet.

The White House announced Thursday that Obama will travel to Cincinnati Sept. 22 to deliver remarks at the Brent Spence Bridge across the Ohio River that connects Ohio and Kentucky. He will be in the backyard of House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Williams uses new TV ad to accuse Beshear of failing to create jobs

By Jack Brammer

jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT – Republican David Williams’ campaign for governor started airing its second TV ad Tuesday, accusing his rival, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, of failing to create jobs and his allies’ running a “negative, nasty campaign to cover it up.”

Williams’ new ad, called “A Better Plan for Kentucky,” also says Williams will stand up to President Obama, who is unpopular in Kentucky.

Oklahoma attorney general will campaign for P’Pool

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Republican attorney general nominee Todd P’Pool will get an assist in his campaign from Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has garnered national attention in his fight against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

P’Pool, the Hopkins County attorney who faces Democratic incumbent Jack Conway in the Nov. 8 general election, said Monday that Pruitt will campaign with him in September.

Pruitt grew up in Lexington and earned a baseball scholarship at the University of Kentucky before attending law school in Oklahoma.

Earlier this year, Pruitt filed suit against the federal EPA for trying to shut down coal-burning plants in Oklahoma. He also has joined in a lawsuit against health care reforms pushed by President Barack Obama.

Pruitt is the latest in a series of leading Republicans to announce they will assist P’Pool this fall in his election. Others include Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and former UK basketball star Travis Ford.

–Jack Brammer

Beshear denies accusation that he misled public about Obama visit

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — 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.