Matt Gunterman November 11th, 2007

Let’s see. So, Sen. Mitch McConnell’s ultimate goal in 2008 must be to everything within his power to destroy the legacy of Alben W. Barkley (D), a man who served his nation as Senate MAJORITY leader (a title that Mitch McConnell will never bear) and as vice president.

Earlier this year, McConnell was yet again attempting to dismantle the Tennessee Valley Authority, all in the name of free markets, which in Republican parlance means rigging the system to enrich their fat-cat buddies. Fortunately, McConnell’s fellow Republicans in the Senate put a stop to that nonsense. But, at least Mitch can grovel at the feet of his donors and say he tried.

Now McConnell is smearing Barkley’s name by linking himself — one of the least popular figures nationally in one of the most unpopular Congresses in history — with this great Democrat in tens of thousands of homes across the commonwealth.

Worst of all, however, is that McConnell has brought Barkley’s grandson, a convicted sex harasser, in on the game. Alben Barkley II features prominently in McConnell’s new ad.

Oh, Mitch, what a way to honor a great Kentuckian. Smear him by association. I guess McConnell figures he has nothing to lose. After all, he’ll be remembered as the Capitol Hill lapdog of the nation’s worst administration. History books, if they recall him at all because he’s achieved so very little aside from staying in power, will record him as the embodiment of turn-of-the-century corruption in Washington. He will be the poster boy for money-grubbing, influence-mongering, and hyper-partisanship during this miserable little era (that’s about to get much more miserable thanks to the coming Bush recession).

Someday, Mitch, when you’re six feet under a generation or two in the future, campaigns will be waged to wipe your name off every artifact in Kentucky that bears your name.

You’ll be remembered as a hate-monger and a feckless man.

Senate2008Guru has a wonderful suggestion, by the way. Call McConnell’s office and complain about the senator’s smears on Alben W. Barkley.

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Kentucky: The star of Mitch McConnell’s new ads, Alben Barkley II, was convicted of sexual harrassment back in 1981 while Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner. Two thoughts. First, the parallels to McConnell’s support for the corrupt Ernie Fletcher abound. (Does McConnell, who himself is no poster boy for ethics, hang out with anybody who hasn’t been indicted or who doesn’t abuse the power of his political office?) Second, will McConnell pull the ads starring a convicted sexual harrasser? Ask Mitch’s office: 202-224-2541.

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• 2008 KY U.S. Senate Race , Mitch McConnell , TVA Privatization
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