A familiar face at that. Heather Ryan, the young woman who videotaped her encounter with Sen. Mitch McConnell in Paducah just days ago has announced her candidacy against the First U.S. Congressional District’s Ed Whitfield (Republican).
While Heather may not have a shot in the dark, it’s always nice when any a politician draws opposition. Allowing a candidate to run unopposed is a bad move in our book.
How do you feel about it? What’s your take? Does this remove any shred of credibility Ryan had in her claims against McConnell? Will it be chalked up to a publicity stunt? And what makes her qualified to receive our support?
We’d like to hear what you have to say.
12 responses so far ↓
1 The Dude // Jan 28, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Whitfield is a shameful “representative” of his district. He hasn’t lived there in many years and only owns a vacant lot. He claims his parents’ residence as his own, although he has owned several homes of his own around the nation over the years. He even flies into Nashville and rents cars to drive into his own district on the rare occasions he deigns to visit (i.e., election years).
Problem is that these problems have been brought out in nearly every single race against him (usually not very well, I will admit) and he keeps getting re-elected overwhelmingly.
Democrats’ best shot was to get Sen. Jerry Rhoads in the race. He’s flirted with it for years and has decided not to make the race this year.
The 1st district is one of the most pro-incumbent districts you will ever find. Just look at the damn thing on a map sometime. It takes hours and hours to drive from one end to another. You have to run television in Cape Girardeau (MO), Nashville (TN), Evansville (IN), Paducah, Bowling Green, and even Louisville to get all of the counties. That doesn’t even count the numerous radio stations in the district and scads of local newspapers you would have to play in. It is so cost prohibitive that only an incumbent can really reach everyone.
I sure hope Ms. Ryan gets ushered in on a wave of anti-republican sentiment, but that may not happen in the 1st.
2 Cyberhillbilly // Jan 28, 2008 at 8:08 pm
God what a drama queen. I actually think she believes she can wage a race against “Exxon Eddy”… how cheesy.
3 leaveoffwiththesexistbullsh-t // Jan 28, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hey Cyberboy: Whatever else you have to contribute to this discussion, please cut out the sexist crap. We have a state full of miserable male candidates and elected officials. However, we rarely refer to them in such dismissive and derogatory ways. I’d be glad to listen to anything substantive you have to say about her as a candidate – but first you’ll have to clean up your act.
4 jake // Jan 28, 2008 at 10:36 pm
How is what Johnathan said the least bit sexist?
5 Judy // Jan 28, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Thanks Heather, for your courage in entering the race against Whitfield. Anyone who doesn’t know Heather will be impressed with her strong leadership skills, which you’ll see during this campaign. It’s time for a change in Kentucky and in DC. Heather will serve us well in the HR.
6 Tyler // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:01 am
She’s already getting more attention than Barlow ever did in his many runs at this seat. She’s a great Democrat and perhaps the state party will remember the first congressional district exists again.
7 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Jan 29, 2008 at 1:09 am
Heather made her employer look bad and got fired.
Would she make her district look bad in Congress too?
Come on, Democrats, this is the bottom of the barrel here!
8 mike // Jan 29, 2008 at 7:34 am
I’ve lived in this dist. for 37 years and never seen the “no show Whitfield”.why don’t you check out his voting record!!
9 Clarity // Jan 29, 2008 at 10:53 am
So that’s why the encounter with McConnell was deleted from YouTube.
14:57 remaining, Heather. Enjoy it.
10 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Note: My comment above was not an endorsement of Whitfield. I was merely saying that Democrats can find someone better to run against him.
11 jake // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:49 pm
The KDP can’t get anyone to run for anything.
12 Anony // Jan 29, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I watched the deleted video and noticed that Heather yelled, “Senator, what are you hiding?”
Regarding why the video was deleted my first thought is, “Heather Ryan, what are you hiding?”
Why delete that video? Does she now think it shows she is a kook?
Heather Ryan must not know that deleted videos from youtube can still be viewed.
I agree with Magruder, Ryan is the bottom of the barrel.
Leave a Comment