Pointing out that President Barack Obama's harshest critics have praised him for killing terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, the Lexington Herald-Leader's editorial board chastised Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear for snubbing the president during his first visit to the commonwealth.Last week, Mr. Obama delivered a speech at Fort Campbell after meeting with military service members. Joined by Vice President Joe Biden, he also held a private meeting with the Navy SEAL team that assassinated bin Laden in his Pakistan compound.Beshear's office said the governor missed the president’s visit because of the short notice from the White House. The governor said he tried to change his schedule, but had to fulfill his Oak’s Day obligations.The newspaper isn't buying that argument.From the Herald-Leader:Maybe an incumbent Democrat, up for re-election in a red state didn't want to remind Kentuckians that his is indeed the party of Obama. Maybe he feared that any appearance beside the president was potential attack-ad fodder come fall.
But by skipping the photo-op celebrating the special-op, he may have set himself up for something worse: (Cue the sinister baritone voice-over) "Steve Beshear chose a horse race over the brave Americans who got bin Laden ..." (Insert grainy black-and-white photo of Beshear with Oaks winner Plum Pretty.) (Sinister voice-over:) "Steve Beshear: plum loco.
The editorial board joins prominent civil rights leaders and Democratic elected officials, who have criticized Beshear for playing political "hide and seek" with the president.