With Coronavirus, Kentucky GOP Leans on Lost Freedom, Fear

When it comes to Kentucky, one political party has defended the unthinkable, all in a matter of weeks. State Representatives have defended racism. They’ve countered advice from medical professionals and in what we in the GOP reluctantly accept as our new normal – we’ve witnessed an elected leader imply that the death of senior citizens in nursing homes isn’t as bad as the quarantine meant to save their lives.

GOP leaders follow the path of President Trump – making it seem as if only Democrats and those who are “afraid” would wear a face mask. The strategy is one that supports political bullying instead of supporting unity and education. In the mind of the politically connected, a great way to rake in campaign cash before the election.

We have a sitting State Representative defending racism with her comments to the press and a sitting State Representative accused of trying to kill a woman by strangulation. Weeks have gone by and all our House Speaker can do is release a statement denouncing the activity. It was too difficult to call for their resignation. That would hurt the party – maybe even the President.

We have seen the spread of hate sent directly from the White House. We have watched as our local GOP has continued that spread. On Coronavirus, our party has failed to ease the minds of Kentuckians – we have made it worse. It makes me wonder …could we defeat the aftermath of terrorism, as we did post 9/11, with a unified response and calm, somber reflection? I honestly do not know.

One thing is clear – our State GOP, in current form, is unable to unify the Commonwealth. We will not be able to until we vote out those who support racism, authoritarian ideologies and the radical right-wing agenda set forth by the likes of Rand Paul, Thomas Massie and Savannah Maddox.