CAN KENTUCKY BE THE VOLUNTEER STATE?
By Ray Paulick
I know I’m setting myself up for ridicule here, but early in 2008, before the first primaries were held for that year’s presidential election, “yes we can,” the slogan of then Democratic longshot candidate Barack Obama, had real meaning to the tens of thousands of volunteers like me who worked on his campaign by raising money, making phone calls to voters, or knocking on doors and handing out campaign literature. We believed we could make a difference.
Whether or not you like the results of the election that made Obama the 44th president of the United States, you should at least recognize that the grassroots campaign he ran blazed new trails in the use of technology and the Internet in the electoral process.
But even with the smartest and Web-savviest team behind him, Obama still needed boots on the ground to help get his message out by telephone or personal contact. Every campaign needs volunteers who believe in their candidate.
Members of Kentucky’s horse industry should believe in veterinarian Andy Roberts, who is running in the Republican primary for the 12th Senate District against incumbent Alice Forgy Kerr. Despite having Keeneland and many horse farms in Fayette County in her district, Forgy Kerr has proven to be nothing more than a puppet and rubber stamp vote for Republican Senate President David Williams, who has repeatedly blocked legislation aimed at helping the industry. Unlike Williams and Forgy Kerr, Roberts knows all too well the challenges the horse industry is facing with competition from surrounding states, and if elected he pledges to do something about it.
The primary is one week from tomorrow, and Roberts needs your help. Today.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Phone banks are one of the nuts and bolts used in campaigns to help educate voters about a candidate and to encourage them to get out and vote on election day. Although he would like to talk to every potential voter one-on-one, Roberts can’t do it. That’s where you come in.
I know, we’re all too busy this time of year to volunteer. That message came through on Saturday when only a handful of people showed up to help Roberts in the sprint to the May 18 primary. But just about every farm office I’ve been to has someone answering the phones throughout the day who might be able to put in some time making calls on behalf of Andy Roberts (and you don’t have to be in the 12th District to volunteer). Those calls will make a difference.
So can Andy Roberts, if we do enough to help send him to Frankfort to represent the 12th District. But if we do nothing, if we “let someone else volunteer,” we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.
There has never been a better time to oust a longtime incumbent like Forgy Kerr who is a notoriously do-nothing legislator. People of all political stripes are tired of not being heard and so it is clear to me that Andy Roberts is running the right campaign to unseat this enemy of our industry.
Volunteering is easy. Contact Roberts directly at his personal email address (docsrocket@msn.com) and say you’ve got someone on your staff who can make phone calls to help his campaign. You can also email me at ray@paulickreport.com and I’ll fax you some of the names on the list of voters I’ll be trying to call before next week’s primary.
All great movements didn’t happen because of one rally or one election. To get the horse industry over the finish line, it is incumbent on every one of us to contribute in some way. Again, assign some of your staff members to make phone calls during the day in this slow period. Organize a door-to-door day for all non-essential staff. Be creative in your approach but at least take an approach.
At this point, the most important thing to do is get your boots on the ground and fight for our industry. Andy Roberts can’t do it alone.
Copyright © 2010, Paulick Report
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Tags: alice forgy kerr, Andy Roberts, barack obama, david williams, Keeneland, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick
May 10th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
A reflection of the upside world of today, that in Kentucky it is the Republicans that seemed determined to trash the racing industry and in Maryland it has been the Democrats. Good luck to Andy Roberts!
May 10th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Good going Mr. Paulick. Takes guts to throw politics in here. My admiration.
May 10th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Ray,
Considering how that “Hope and Change” is working out I wouldn’t brag to much about that volunteer work. Personally I voted for a Curlin / Harp Spun ticket, yes I really did, on the write in section.
May 10th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
As someone who very much dislikes what Obama stands for, I’d say that it’s precisely the fact that his campaign was a well-orchestrated smoke screen that proves Ray’s point, although I am certain he didn’t intend it. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any campaign and the effectiveness of Obama’s volunteer network kept many from seeing the holes in his armor. In my humble opinion of course…
As someone who has been hired in the past to coordinate volunteers, it would mean the world to the Roberts campaign to have people from farms all across Kentucky to sign up and help Andy win.
Brad Cummings
May 10th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Win what? He is still a Republican and will be under the sway of Senator Williams. If Senator Thayer can’t break away from the herd, how does a new Republican Senator with no seniority? Seriously? No question that he represents a more enlightened approach than the incumbent, but he will still be a member of the majority. Lets not make this harder. Let a very competent Democrat defeat a tired, weary and wounded Republican. The goal is to change the Senate, not change one representative. While I’m certain we all trust Ray with our lives, the fight for our livelihood can not be left to Republicans. If it could, it would have been. If the Farish family cannot bend Senator Williams, then only a Democrat-majority can.
May 10th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Ray, well once again you remind me of what I truly like about you…unadulterated courage. Let there be no doubt that the campaign Obama ran was absolutely brilliant. To convince some of even my most moderate, right leaning friends to vote for that hope and change, yes we can BS, still amazes me to this day. Of course they have all come to their senses and deeply regret their foolishness. Fortunately, I know a Marxist when I see one so I could not ever fall for his BS. However, there are great lessons to be learned by this regime and the Ky horse industry should take note of your point. The point is not that Ray worked and voted for Obama, but that if enough volunteers get out and pound the pavement for Andy Roberts , the horse industry will finally have someone that will go to bat for them. Not someone who continually breaks the bat over their heads.
Great job Ray!!
May 10th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I agree w/MDC above. My only issue is do we trust Ray’s judgement about Roberts after he’s confessed on more than one occasion about being for Obama and the Dems?? Roberts could be a RINO….what do we know about the man, his character, etc.?? It’s not the party…it’s the person, the individual. All politicians make promises…that’s their MO. But which politician can we believe?? I certainly would trust a person w/the R after his name than any w/the D…the D’s are no longer Dems…they are socialist Marxists who are destroying this country. Tough call….good luck to the folks in KY…hope they get this one right!
May 10th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
That sound you here is the bingo parlor and church busses firing up. Yes they can! PS Obama is Urkel..Did I do that?
May 10th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I’m against destroying horse racing Ray.
Buddy
May 10th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Si, se puede.
May 10th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I voted for McCain, I’m a registered Democrat, and I know Andy Roberts well. He is the best candidate for breaking the deadlock in Frankfort. I unequivocally support him. He has the right ideas and is a brilliant out of the box thinker. I hope Ray’s plea is successful and we can get out the vote for the KY horsemen.
May 11th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Perhaps if we can get Andy Roberts to unseat Forgy-Kerr in the primary, the Dems will hop on the bandwagon and get somebody who is for thoroughbred racing to run against him, resulting in a win-win situation for the thoroughbred industry. Go Andy.
May 13th, 2010 at 4:00 am
Couldn?t be written any better. Reading this mail reminds me of my out of date margin copulate! He each kept talking around this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he resolution maintain a satisfactory read. Thanks an eye to sharing!