Kentucky Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson is taking a hit for calling the annual Fancy Farm picnic outdated, but he isn't the first elected official to share his distaste for the raucous event.
As Frankfort Bureau Chief Kenny Colston reported, Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer scolded Abramson for his comments and skipping the event. He also scored some political points by highlighting that the lieutenant governor is the former mayor of Louisville.
On his Facebook page, Comer wrote: "The border of (Kentucky) extends far beyond the city limits of Louisville, something the Lt. Gov. will hopefully realize before the end of his term!"
But two years ago, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who is from Bowling Green, criticized Fancy Farm when he told Fox New's Sean Hannity that he worried the onlookers would shower him with beer. And his northern Kentucky predecessor—former Sen. Jim Bunning—threatened to boycott Fancy Farm after complaining about how elected leaders were treated.
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Comer's point about Abramson's Louisville ties also overlooks that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is from Louisville, revels in the showmanship of Fancy Farm. Observers could chalk the comment as an attempt to add put in another dagger to any Abramson 2015 gubernatorial hopes.
It certainly plays up Abramson's liberal and urban background, but criticism of the picnic appears to have more to do with the sensitivity of the elected official than what part of the state they come from.
Copyright 2012 89.3 WFPL News Louisville
