Because I wanted to shout at the computer screen while reading Michael LaRosa's article, titled Grimes doubles down on the "Obama" question, dated 10/14/14, same as I do at the television screen if I accidentally forget how much I dislike Chris Matthews and turn to MSNBC while he's on, I decided to have a little fun with it here. And since McConnell (who will never get a title from me again until he starts using President in front of Obama) doesn't respond to my letters anymore, giving me a chance to do my line-by-line dissections, this will have to satisfy my sick need to parse and snark. LaRosa's words will be in black and mine will be in green.
Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes doubled down on her refusal to say who she voted for in 2008 and 2012 for President, citing her role as the chief elections officer in the state and privacy at the ballot box as her reason. Thanks for reminding everyone that her job as Secretary of State does make her refusal to answer relevant. Although I think it was a ridiculous question to ask, I was disappointed in her response. I wished she had said, "I care about my country, my world, people, and survival so of course I wouldn't vote for McCain or Romney, whose party has consistently proven they will destroy everything that is dear to every living being on the planet." But, you remind me to see this from her position as Secretary of State and that eases my disappointment a bit.
"This is a matter of principle," Grimes said. "Our Constitution grants, here in Kentucky, the constitutional right for privacy at the ballot box for a secret ballot." She is correct. And, regardless of my disappointment in her answer, she still gets my vote. However, I believe that protection is meant to assist people who might lose a job or be harmed in some way by exposing their vote. If she is asking to represent me, and vote for me on things that matter greatly in my life, I think I deserve to know how she votes. (I would never vote for anyone I was ashamed to admit I had voted for.)
"You have the right, Senator McConnell has that right, every Kentuckian has that right," Grimes continued. "As Secretary of State, the chief election official, I'm tasked with overseeing and enforcing all of our election laws." Just realized LaRosa still uses two spaces between sentences. I didn't know anyone did that anymore. I wish everyone did. Okay, my emotions have swung a little closer to agreeing with Secretary Grimes.
Grimes tried (tried? I think she was successful.) to paint herself as a senator of the future versus a senator of the past, casting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as the master of partisan gridlock who has lost his effectiveness in Washington. Grimes doesn't get a title but McConnell does? Grimes didn't cast McConnell in that role; he did that all by himself. So, she 'tried' to do what she has effectively done, and 'cast' him in the position that he has bragged about being in? Biased much, LaRosa?
Sen. McConnell accused Grimes of trying to deceive the people of Kentucky about who she is. Again, McConnell gets a title but Grimes doesn't.
"My opponent has spent most of her time trying to deceive Kentuckians about her own views," he said. Where's the McConnell 'tried' to 'cast' Grimes as being as deceptive as he is?
When Grimes was asked about the difference between a "Clinton Democrat" and an "Obama Democrat", Grimes explained that it was about growing and expanding the middle class… which drew a sharp response from McConnell. Darn. You didn't need those erroneous periods. We already knew your target audience was right-winged.
"There's not a dimes worth of difference between a Clinton Democrat and an Obama Democrat," he said. Just like McConnell to skirt depth and go with money, even if it's only a dime.
McConnell (Finally, he is on the same level, as far as titles are concerned.) answered, without hesitation, that he had supported Trey Grayson over Rand Paul in the 2010 Kentucky Republican Senate Primary. (Same as Grimes stated, without hesitation, that she supported Hillary Clinton in the primary?) He was also asked about the difference between a Tea Party Republican and an establishment Republican. McConnell acknowledging [sic] that the Tea Party movement was spawned from a popular uprising motivated by the tax and spend policies of the Obama administration,[which is total bushit because they were around before President Obama was elected] producing enthusiasm in the Republican Party
(read: racists and haters). McConnell also said that intra-party contests have led to a stronger Republican Party in the general election. (Please, don't remind me that I had to root for McConnell for a few months.)
"I had a primary myself this season," he said. "I don't own this seat, I have to earn it." He hasn't earned the seat but he has earned the ugly, nasty, horrid legacy that his children and grandchildren will have to live with.
When the subject turned to health care, McConnell said the Affordable Care Act is the worst piece of legislation passed in over half a century and that "the best interest of the country would be achieved by pulling out Obamacare root and branch." There you go. The feeble fossil is clueless.
The moderator pressed the Senate Republican leader on whether he would like to see Kentucky's statewide exchange called KY-Connect, (It's actually called Kynect.) "Well it's fine, yeah, I think it's fine to have a website," he conceded. Worse than clueless – deceptive.
"Well, it also insured over 580,00 people," the moderator responded. The comma is where it belongs. There should be another zero on the end. 580,000.
Grimes said there is work to do to improve the Affordable Care Act but doesn't want to rip insurance out the hands of people who now have access to it.Thank you, Alison Grimes!
"Governor Beshear has demonstrated great courage, and over half a million Kentuckian's lives are better because of the expansion of Medicaid and KY-Connect," Grimes said.
p.s. If anyone were to ask Chris Matthews who he voted for in 2008 and 2012, I'm sure the answer would be that he wrote in Ronald Reagan.
Watch the debate here
I was relieved that Alison did not flip-flop on her answer of who she voted for, it showed her strength. She refused to be bullied. That was a stupid "gotcha" question and she was not playing the game. I might mention who I vote for, but, only if I choose to do so, I will not be hammered, it is like asking me what religion I am affiliated with. That question tell nothing about who I am. Good for Alison!
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