‘Entirely off limits.’ Beshear reacts to daughter’s image used in governor’s race attack ad
Days after a new attack ad criticizing the Kentucky governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic drew Democratic ire for including footage of his daughter, Gov. Andy Beshear weighed in, saying the commercial “violates human decency.”
“I’ve always believed that candidates’ children are entirely off-limits,” Beshear told The Herald-Leader Thursday in Louisville. “It violates human decency, and it’s just wrong. I’ve never — and will never do it. I’m never going to negatively comment on anyone else’s kids, much less a politician or someone in a race.
“It’s just totally over the line, and once people start crossing these lines, my worry is that you’ll see it more frequently. And that might not impact me, but I don’t want anybody else’s kids to appear and things like that.”
The 30-second spot is from Protect Freedom PAC — which is affiliated with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY — features three small business owners criticizing Beshear’s COVID-19 closures.
About halfway through, the video cuts to Beshear holding a mask in one hand while his daughter, Lila, stands in front of him wearing a mask. At the same time, one of the business owners says Beshear brought Kentucky to “a standstill.” If the clip is from 2020, the height of COVID restrictions, she would have been around 10 years old, as she’s 13 now.
The video was first posted by AdImpact, an organization that tracks political advertising, and later shared to the PAC’s website and YouTube page.
The Kentucky governor’s race is the most expensive contest in the nation this year, as Beshear seeks a second term against Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron. According to AdImpact, ad spending has exceeded $46 million in the general election cycle.
Cameron and Beshear have both released commercials featuring their children this week.
Cameron’s new football-themed ad posted online Wednesday includes his toddler, Theodore, as the candidate says he’s “leaving it all on the field so the next generation” inherits a better Kentucky.
Medium Buying reported Thursday that Beshear had a new ad, too, which struck a similar note.
“We all want our kids to have a future here in Kentucky,” Beshear says as he’s seen throwing a baseball with his son, Will, and playing with the First Dog, Winnie, alongside the whole family, including wife Britainy and daughter Lila.
Beshear drew a sharp distinction between his family joining him in the public sphere and what the PAC did with its choice of video.
“We all do that. My opponent has his child in one of his new campaigns, which is great. People want to show people their families,” Beshear said. “But putting them in a negative ad, meant to hurt their parent, it’s just wrong. It’s just wrong, and it’s very different.
“We all like to spend time with our kids and when this is your job, one of the ways you spend time with your kids is by them going to events with you. I believe in that video, Lila wanted to help me, and when your daughter offers to help, now, it warms your heart. You get excited about it. And of course, you say yes.”
The Herald-Leader did not receive a response from Protect Freedom following a Tuesday evening inquiry.
The Democratic Governors Association and Beshear campaign manager Eric Hyers both called on Cameron to condemn the use of Lila’s image.
The Cameron campaign did not respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Thursday.
Protect Freedom PAC is an independent organization and not affiliated with the Cameron campaign. Legally, the campaign is not allowed to coordinate with Cameron.
