Reply #48: Where's Ben? Where's Jerry? from Mark Nickolas- BluegrassReport

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Where's Ben? Where's Jerry? - by Mark Nickolas http://www.bluegrassreport.org/

Six months ago, all Democratic eyes were fixed on whether the state's two most popular Democrats -- U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (D) and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson (D) -- would run for governor this year. They both demurred, and disappointed many.

Since then, seven Democrats did join the race, and polls show that its two most baggage-laden, ethically-challenged candidates -- Bruce Lunsford (D) and Steve Henry (D) -- have been leading the pack the entire way.

However, we've not heard a peep from either Chandler or Abramson about this race.

While it's understandable why they would opt not to take sides, it's not acceptable that they've gone into hiding while noticing that the Democratic electorate seems foolishly ready to nominate either Lunsford or Henry and doom our chances in the fall, particularly if Republican manage to get their collective act together and throw Governor Fletcher (R) overboard.

The narrative of this primary season has given us three very unexpected heroes in an effort to deny either Lunsford or Henry the nomination:

Organized labor has come out in full force (with very few exceptions) to actively campaign against Lunsford;

Former Henry campaign manager Leslie Holland has endured Henry's personal attacks and smears by going public with his law-breaking ways and even filed a complaint against him;

Now Jonathan Miller (D) has dropped-out of the race and supported Steve Beshear (D) in hopes of specifically preventing either Lunsford or Henry from advancing to the general election.
So, where are Chandler and Abramson? When are they going to demonstrate some leadership and match the efforts of organized labor, Holland and Miller? Or are they determined to remain in their safe, comfortable cocoon, to hell with the Democratic Party which looks to them for leadership? Chandler's silence is particularly disappointing given what Lunsford did to him in 2003 with the millions of dollars in bogus attack ads and then the betrayal of endorsing Fletcher in the fall after previously promising to support the Democratic nominee.

It's time for Chandler and Abramson to show some leadership.

It's time they make clear that Democrats must win back the Governor's Mansion in the fall and cannot afford to nominate either Lunsford or Henry. To do so would jeopardize our hopes of winning and would ensure that the Kentucky Democratic Party will be run by the same lackluster, egocentric, and unprincipled bunch of good ol' boys led by Jerry Lundergan.

It's time to step-up, Ben and Jerry. Many of us have sacrificed. When will you? There's only two weeks until the May 22 primary. Don't let us down, again.

Update: Meanwhile, the Courier-Journal offered two editorials this morning on the race -- one praised Miller and his decision to endorse Beshear, the other blasted Henry for deceiving voters that he still practices medicine at U of L. This is the very type of leadership we need from Ben and Jerry in the remaining days.

Posted by Mark Nickolas on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 09:15 AM in 2007 Elections, Campaigns and Elections, Henry-True, Lunsford-Stumbo, Partisan Politics, Rep. Ben Chandler
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/