The good works being done in fighting cancer at the Brown Cancer Center are certainly worth noting. The University of Louisville’s Dr. Donald Miller, I know from personal experience, is a marvelous doctor who is doing amazing work in his chosen field.
So it’s too bad he’s become embroiled in a mini-controversy after appearing in a commercial for Sen. Mitch McConnell. We questioned the appearance of Miller and his colleague, Dr. Larry Cook, in the :30 spot, which is getting plenty of airplay, thanks to McConnell’s massive war chest.
So did Ray Crider, a Jefferson County Democrat, in a letter to the C-J Jan. 10, which said Miller and Cook were “prostituting themselves” for McConnell by appearing in the ads. Today Miller and Cook get some love from a history professor at U of L, Thomas C. Mackey, in a response letter.
In it, Mackey claims the U of L docs are free to support whomever they choose, that their work is valuable, and that the federal money McConnell helped bring to U of L should be acknowledged. But guess what? The letter prompted a stream of online comments, including some from local anti-war activist Harold Trainer. In one response, Trainer claims he spoke to Miller, and that Miller disavowed the ad and that for that reason it is no longer running.
Now I think it’s time for some sharp media member to ask McConnell if he pulled the ad featuring Miller and Cook, and if so, did he do it because of concerns by Dr. Miller?
5 responses so far ↓
1 Joe Sonka // Jan 15, 2008 at 12:20 pm
It takes some intestinal fortitude to wade into the scum of the C-J forum, Rick. Nice work.
2 NKyObserver // Jan 15, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Wasn’t this ad on the air for a really long time? I just found it on Mitch’s blog as early as December 7th.
Was he supposed to leave the same ad up forever???
http://blog.teammitch.com/blog/_archives/2007/12/7/3396760.html
3 Jake (not the owner of this web site) // Jan 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Miller and Cook have caused real damage to U of L and violated guidelines on academic freedom from the AAUP (the closest thing to a union that university professors have hereabouts). Miller claims he was unaware that the video was for a McConnell commercial. He should state it publicly if he wants to set the record straight.
4 Marty // Jan 16, 2008 at 10:42 am
Here is a letter I wrote to the good history professor…..
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Professor Thomas Mackey,
History Dept.,
University of Louisville
Dear Professor Mackey,
I must take issue with your letter in the Courier-Journal on 1/15/08 entitled…”Political Ad Defended”. You are I’m sure aware of the constitutional importance of a neutral and truthful media. This however was a partisan political advertisement favouring Senator Mitch McConnell. Taking into consideration the terrible influence of pork barrel spending on our deficits, and the proclamation that Republicans are demanding fiscal restraint in the federal budget, the moneys funneled to the institutions in this ad was a flagrant violation of these policies by the Senator. The Cancer center is very valuable, and funding within the federal budget would be laudable. But we are running a tremendous federal deficit, and the fact that McConnell has helped bring home federal largesse would not make him different for any representative we could have in government….who would do the same thing.
The doctors involved have every right to be personally partisan if they want Mitch to remain in office. HOWEVER…they used the IMPRIMATOR and PRESTIGE of the University of Louisville to promote their partisan choice. There are many doctors and staff(I am one) who resent this usurpation of the community’s highly respected institution to promote his election campaign.
We want to rid our state of this most terrible of Senators, and we have a right to not be included in Dr. Martin’s and Dr. Cook’s propaganda.
You entirely missed this pivotal point. I am frankly amazed.
Yours truly,
Asst. Clinical Professor,U of L.
5 Vicki // Jan 17, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Excellent letter, Marty! Be sure to send a copy to the editors at the C-J.
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