We reported yesterday that Democratic Louisville Metro Councilman Jim King attended a fundraiser for Mitch McConnell the evening prior.
After taking some heat, it appears, Councilman King has said he does not support McConnell or the war in Iraq.
King now says he was present at the event (without contributing) because three of his friends/business partners were there. And because he wanted to discuss airport funding. Definitely a reason King would want to be around McConnell. But at a Republican-held and Republican-sponsored fundraiser publicized by McConnell’s campaign? That’s more than a little dangerous politically.
There are far better methods of communicating with Kentucky’s Washington core that are far less controversial for a Democratic official soon to be up for re-election.
See what King had to say in his e-mailed statement released to Page One after the jump:
“While it is true that I attended the event, I did not contribute to Senator McConnell nor will I. I was invited to the fundraiser by three close friends, and I attended at their request. I actually saw it as an opportunity to have a face to face with the Senator regarding my efforts to have the FAA implement its Part 150 study to move primary air traffic to the west runway at Louisville International Airport. Currently, most air traffic is directed to the east runway which impacts several neighborhoods in the district I represent. I only accepted the invitation to talk briefly with Senator McConnell about this and other concerns related to my district, not to support in any way his efforts for reelection. Because of the anti-war protestors outside (which by the way I made no effort to avoid) , I took the opportunity to ask the Senator to end the war.” (emphasis ours)
The release went on to say that King raised $20,000 for Steve Beshear, the details of which do not really impact this story.
Regarding the emphasis: As we reported, King and others made every effort to avoid war protesters who were present. There were at least 25 witnesses. All lighting on the property was turned off as guests left, requiring the use of flashlights. And to further press this issue, Mark Hebert reports via Gregg Wagner (one of the protesters) that King walked by refusing to answer questions about why he was there. Something a skilled politician like Councilman King could have answered and resolved on the spot and with ease.
We’re glad King has decided to clear the air but he should have done so early yesterday morning when given the chance. The story has now unfolded in a way that everyday observers see King’s movement as good old fashioned C-Y-A after appearing (appearances are sometimes everything) to be supportive by attending a fundraiser.
1 response so far ↓
1 kentondem1 // Nov 29, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Sorry, Mr. King, I’m not in the market for a bridge in Brooklyn.
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