Why does John Yarmuth hate America?

Really, what was that, again, about racist rednecks not voting against President Barack Obama because he’s black? [Wonkette]

That’s right – A Kentucky Newspaper’s new paywall means terrific things for us. [The 'Ville Voice]

John Yarmuth doesn’t hate the gays: “As a strong supporter of marriage equality, I am proud that President Obama has joined the millions of Americans committed to equal rights and fairness for all our citizens,” Yarmuth said. “This is a historic day for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples and their families across our country.” [Press Release]

Even Clear Channel’s Mandy Connell knows the gays aren’t second-class citizens. [Twitter]

Not only is Damon Thayer not a conservative, he’s not an honest legislator. He’ll stab you in the back and throw you under the bus as long as you’ll give him a reach-around or scratch his back a little. [Bluegrass Politics]

How can you tell Damon Thayer is on the outs with the Republican Party? He has to rely on the horsey set to promote him. [Paulick Report]

Here’s a solid look at Sarah Lynn Cunningham, the non-establishment candidate who has spent her entire life fighting against corruption. Her role as MSD whistleblower is still major. [CN|2]

Will President Barack Obama ever sack up and fully announce his support for gay marriage instead of half-assing it? [Gawker]

Warren County has apparently become the state’s top producer of jobs. [C-J/AKN]

Now Mittens Romney wants to dismiss gay marriage and immigrants and such? How convenient. [BuzzFeed]

Everyone is just cold freaking out over President Barack Obama’s announcement that he thinks the gays should be able to get married and suffer monstrous divorces. [The Advocate]

Breathitt County Schools Superintendent Arch Turner is in jail after a judge said he violated conditions of his bond. [WYMT]

It’s an election year, so he’s gotta ramp up his appearances on the teevee.

“By freezing regulations arbitrarily, Congress would be unable to provide any new benefits for our veterans and service members – benefits they were promised and have more than earned,” Yarmuth said.

“Over the next five years, more than one million veterans will come home. I do not believe that anyone here can argue in good faith that just because the economy has yet to fully recover, members of the military and veterans are not entitled to the best and most current health care,” Yarmuth told the committee. “They deserve far better than this.”

McGarvey tries to bump woman speaker at rally for, oh dear…

Candidate Amy Shoemaker may not get to speak, or introduce Representative John Yarmuth this weekend at Saturday’s UNITE AGAINST WAR ON WOMEN rally, and you’ll never guess why. (Clue: It’s not because of a woman)

-SNIP-

His campaign called Unite organizers today complaining about McGarvey not getting to speak or introduce Rep. John Yarmuth. McGarvey’s bullies cited the Equal time rule, which um, only applies to radio and TV. (I know this because I have a Bachelor’s Degree.) But anyway, right here’s your Equal time, Morgan.

McGarvey’s bullies even tried to put pressure on Congressman Yarmuth not to let Amy Shoemaker introduce him, and instead let Morgan introduce him. Congressman Yarmuth! Hello! We do not bully our congressman over our trite little male privilege issues. We do not do this.

Unfortunately for Curt, that’s not the case. While Marty Meyer and the rest of Morgan McGarvey’s crew could have begged Yarmuth to have Morgan introduce him (Yarmuth), there’s no way he could have done so in the seven minutes between the time the press release was issued and my email to Lauren was sent. (I received a reply from her shortly thereafter)

Unite Women Kentucky shut that mess down themselves. After I reached out to them.

Not because Amy was involved but because the organization putting the event on faced potential drama from the other campaigns involved. And not just Shoemaker’s Senate opponents but those working against Yarmuth.

Lauren Meschler sent out a press release to all local media listing the following speakers:

• John Yarmuth
• Amy Shoemaker
• Mary Lou Marzian
• Jo Ann Dale
• Catherine Fosl
• Derek Selznick
• Elizabeth Sawyer

All of those individuals would have appeared on television and radio. None of the political candidates’ opponents had been given the opportunity to speak at the to-be-televised event. You’ll note that not all of those people are women, either.

Had Unite Women Kentucky allowed Amy to speak – she requested the chance to speak, according to Meschler – the organization would have opened itself up to potential problems with her opponents. As with opponents of Yarmuth and anybody running against Mary Lou (though, she’s running unopposed). Opponents that could then demand equal airtime from the television stations covering the event. And since the opponents weren’t invited, it could give them the opportunity to claim it was a political/campaign event. Meaning the candidates would then have to pay for everything so it didn’t seem like the organization was supporting them or making contributions. (At least, they could allege it and you know some of them would. Many of their campaign people have done as much in the past in similar situations.)

While not technically illegal, that’s a potential campaign finance nightmare for an organization that’s new and that has no money. So why make it a political event?

Meschler, of Unite Women, informed me that the decision was made to stop candidates from speaking because that would mean they have to offer the opportunity for all candidates to speak. Their timeline doesn’t allow for that. She did say that any candidate present would be recognized – and that includes any candidate who attends.

Morrison is blowing things out of proportion either intentionally or without knowing what he’s talking about.

And just like that, the Mittens Romney revisionism begins. He’ll completely reinvent himself and whitewash everything. Just as his campaign staff said he would. [NY Mag]

Here’s a good look at why the nation’s children are getting dumber and dumber. It’s dineysore museum and ark park nuts like this guy. [HuffPo]

Americans – Kentuckians included – hate SuperPACs. But will they vote against them? [WaPo]

Whaaaat? ALEC and ExxonMobil push loopholes in fracking chemical disclosure rules? Surely not. [Pro Publica]

If the health care overhaul goes down, could Medicare be soon to follow? Republicans would eat that up. [NPR]

A House Republican divide in Warshington is keeping the lid on highway projects. Like the Brent Spence Bridge in Northern Kentucky. [Reuters]

Dubya’s visit to Richmond has been postponed and no make-up date has been decided upon. Ruh ro? No one seems to know why. [H-L]

Speaking of Richmond, you can’t even drive around there these days without being robbed while stopped at a traffic light. [WKYT]

Churchill Downs has been freaking out lately any time a local business uses the word “Derby.” But it sure doesn’t hesitate to attach its name to things everybody else just rolls their eyes at. [The 'Ville Voice Here & Here]

This has absolutely nothing to do with Kentucky but it kind of reminds us of Steve Henry. Tareq Salahi is trying to run for governor of Virginia. [Wonkette]

At this point, any media outlet taking Brooks Wicker seriously needs to check itself. The amount in his campaign war chest is less than Frankfort folks spend on hookers in a given five-minute period of time. It’s just sad watching his campaign. Sad. [WFPL]

In 2009, the life expectancy in Kentucky 73.3 for men and 78.6 for women. [HuffPo]

Thank goodness for Floriduh! That godforsaken state occasionally makes Kentucky look borderline genius on the educational front. Check this mess out. [Forbes]

Clay County is the land of amazingly bad awfulness, to say the least. Just look at this terrific child porn doctor who practiced medicine in Manchester for years. [WKYT]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much outrage is the mainstream going to feign over Faux News and its misquoting of President Barack Obama? Like this is a major surprise. [HuffPo]

Today, Congressman Yarmuth attends the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities series at the Kennedy Center, where Kentucky historian, writer and conservationist Wendell Berry will be recognized. The Jefferson Lecture is the highest honor the federal government bestows for distinguished intellectual and public achievement in the humanities. [Press Release]

Bad omen for the 2013 legislative session in Frankfort? You bet your rear end. [WKU Public Radio]

Officials touted Lexington’s new $18 million Locust Trace AgriScience Farm as a unique learning place for agriculture students as the school held its grand opening on Monday. [H-L]

Lawwwd, you can’t even have teenagers these days without them going crazy and stabbing each other over a man. This man must be pretty magical, right? [WLEX18]

Churches, bathroom stalls and NAMBLA can take a well-deserved five. The GOP circus is coming to Tampa and the city’s finer purveyor of tittay are hauling them out and boosting them up in preparation! [Wonkette]

The mainstream just realized a Kentuckian named Jim Higdon wrote a fancy book. [C-J/AKN]

Orange Man John Boehner says there’s a ’1 in 3 chance” Republicans will lose control of Congress. [HuffPo]