In push for Senate, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has lost his moral compass | Opinion
Moral compass
If U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., is beginning his senatorial campaign with terms like “No warm fuzzies for the hard-core liberals, and DEI will DIE,” what message is he sending to the electorate of Kentucky? If you believe in acceptance, tolerance and equal rights for all or that diversity, equity and inclusion is right, he doesn’t need your vote. If this is his platform, does he believe that Daniel Cameron as Attorney General or Justice Pamela Goodwine of the Kentucky Supreme court were DEI candidates? Or is “Saving America” achieved by supporting the agenda of President Donald Trump? Does he support DOGE which is allegedly making the government more efficient by firing veterans, civil servants, or de-funding essential agencies? Is this what Barr stands for or it is just a plea for Trump’s endorsement? If you are woke or a diehard liberal, he doesn’t need your vote. My moral compass does not align with his platform, so he won’t miss my vote either.
Cheryl Keenan, Lexington
Barr’s Weakness
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-KY, launched his Senate campaign with hate-filled rhetoric and servile appeals to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
His opening video was skimpy on policy detail other than to say he is “100%” in support of the Trump/Musk agenda.”
Barr’s inability to think for himself has always been his weakness but now that threatens the health of the people of Kentucky. Kentucky has one of the highest cancer death rates in the United States and in the past Barr has appeared to be a supporter of the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center — showing up when congressionally appropriated research grants were handed out.
But now he supports cutting millions of dollars from both cancer research and Medicaid which one in three Kentuckians rely on to pay for their health care including cancer screening or cancer treatment.
In his effort to secure Trump’s endorsement and Elon Musk’s money, Barr has twisted himself into the indefensible position of supporting measures that are, in effect, pro-cancer.
Barr’s behavior is irresponsible and not worthy of a U.S. Representative… or Senator.
Terry Gabbard, Versailles
Anti-Christian Barr
Every eligible Kentucky voter must know of U.S. Rep. Andy Barr’s, R-Ky., anti-Christian-biased stand on crucial issues.
Barr has made it clear that he: supports Trump’s crime and corruption; supports President Donald Trump’s treasonous alignment with Russia in betrayal of our allies; supports Russia’s destruction of democracy in Ukraine and elsewhere; no longer supports and defends the U.S. Constitution; prefers dictatorship over democracy; approves the use of extortion to control universities, governors, law firms, and more; approves of the illegal annexation of Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Gaza; approves of higher taxes for the middle class than the top one percent; approves Musk’s illegal violation of our governing agencies; approves of extreme tariffs that cause inflation, economic decline and the collapse of Kentucky industries; supports illegal imprisonment of immigrants in El Salvador; supports arresting immigrant children at or on their way to school; supports Trump’s defiance of federal judges’ orders; approves of ICE agents entering homes without a search warrant; supports ending USAID for impoverished starving children in the world; approves of revoking visas and deporting legal war refugees and international students; and, will hide in his office refusing to meet with his constituents.
Totally anti-Christian!
Beverly C. Johnson-Miller, Lexington
Beshear for Senate
Dear Gov. Andy Beshear - Many Democrats, including me and my wife, would ask you to please consider changing your mind about running for Senator next year.
We believe that you would have a significant chance of winning that race. Changing the majority in the Senate is a great incentive and would be a great help in keeping a check on the present horrible administration.
Even if you lost, you would remain governor for one more year and then could decide on future aspirations. Please run for U.S. Senate.
Phil Hoffman, Lexington
Barr and Trump
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., is apparently going to be President Donald Trump’s lackey along with most of the Republicans these days. We had two senators at one time that were quite outstanding. John Sherman Cooper was one of the first senators to come out against the Vietnam war. Marlo Cook was apparently quite independent: apparently supporting a Democrat named Walter Dee Huddleston against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and supporting U.S. Sen. John Kerry against President George W. Bush for reelection. The only two politicians I can think of currently in Kentucky that actually try to do the right thing is Gov. Andy Beshear and Ky. Secretary of State Michael Adams. The governor obviously is a Democrat. Adams is a Republican but handled the 2020 election bravely and has actually brought Kentucky in line with most of the rest of the country by implementing some sort of early voting.
Roy Holt, Alexandria
Barr and the truth
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has trouble with the truth and his constituents.
As I read David Miller’s editorial, I kept thinking who Barr thinks he represents. Since my childhood, I can remember my uncle receiving care from the Veterans Hospital facility in Lexington. Probably the single largest economic driver in my lifetime, was the building of the Toyota manufacturing factory 20 miles from Lexington. And the Ford Motor Company, the American company that established the world’s auto manufacturing, has a large truck manufacturing plant outside of Louisville.
Surely, he knows that President Donald Trump desire is to cut veterans’ benefits. There has been a prolonged agenda of privatization of veterans’ benefits — which is a polite way of saying, “We are doing away with the Veterans Administration.”
Trump standing in front of a Tesla auto and promoting it as a “beautiful American-made car” is an insult to his own constituents who go to work each day to make American-made cars and trucks, in the state, who also elected Barr.
Could it be that Barr has just been in Washington, D.C. so long he has forgotten where he came from?
Sam K. Brown, Lexington
Do your job
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., do your job.
Instead of letting Elon Musk and DOGE decide how to spend taxpayer money, hold that power of the purse closely, and you decide. Instead of abandoning Ukraine, resume your place by its side, where you stood for years. Oppose these devastating tariffs and defend national security, instead of leaving it to other Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, to do so.
The number of good Republicans looking for a Republican to do the right thing is being overshadowed by extremists. Step away from the fringe. But you must act now and lift up a few friends from the House to stand with you. If you wait, and only follow the Republicans who do stand up, you will continue to look like a sheep and continue to earn the outrage of your constituents, scorn that is growing every day. The best path forward is to do the right thing: Stand up, speak up, and do the job you have now.
Anne Chestnut, Lexington
Necessary libraries
Libraries are vital to communities. Their doors, books, and resources are open for all residents. Community meetings, classes and workshops take place there. Librarians provide multiple services to the community there. Learning and fellowship takes place there. I would not want to live in an area without a library.
Yet, the current administration in Washington, D.C. wants to cut federal funding to our libraries. It is critical that each one of us write and/or call our members of Congress and tell them how much we appreciate our libraries and that we want our federal tax dollars to fund our libraries across the country.
Tell them not to cut library funding!
Steve and Barbara Plymale, Lexington
Ukraine attacked
In February of 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine with a brutal attack by thousands of soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft. The invasion has been going on for over 3 years now. Untold thousands of Ukrainians have been murdered, and Russia now occupies 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory as well as Crimea.
President Donald Trump claimed that he would settle the war within 24 hours of being elected president. Many of us said that the only way he could do that was to give Putin everything he asked for and now we see that was his plan all along. He proposes that Russia be allowed to keep the 20 percent of Ukraine that he stole, as well as Crimea. He further states that Ukraine must give up all hope of joining NATO and that the thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia must remain in Russia.
In short, Ukraine must give up everything to its invader, Russia, which gives up nothing! Not surprising Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected this “offer” only to be castigated by Trump for his intransigence.
Why Trump serves as Putin’s interlocutor and advocate is beyond understanding but that is where we are.
Jim Porter, Danville
Secretariat needs more space
John Clay wrote an excellent article about Secretariat and why his records may never be broken. I would like to offer another possible reason. Both Secretariat and Sham set a record in the Kentucky Derby, and it was learned much later that both had a heart muscle over twice the size of a normal racehorse. Many tributes have made for this Secretariat, but I have never understood why his statue was placed on a very narrow, very busy country road. Over $1 million in tax dollars paid for the site which is a safety and traffic hazard. It’s traffic accidents prove that point. It has a “Scenic Overlook” which is difficult to find and in need of better maintenance. It has 18 kiosks, but not a word or picture about Secretariat’s history or race record. Very sad.
Tom Dixon, Lexington
Enough!
What is it going to take for the people in Washington, D.C. to start looking after us and not their own wallets? They don’t even have the guts to meet with us face-to-face with their constituents. Our democracy, or what’s left of it, is spiraling into oblivion and all the so-called “leader of the free world” only cares about is himself and his vision for his kingdom.
Americans are losing their freedoms and anyone who speaks out is subject the whatever the “king,” President Donald Trump, wants to do with them. His attending the Pope’s funeral is ludicrous since he is the very antithesis of what the Pope stood for and practiced - care for the common man.
The kingdom Trump is creating is only for the rich, white male and no one else deserves consideration. He wants to get rid of immigrants - legal or not - saying they are a threat to our country. What’s next? Women and children?
The only threat to our country is him and his minions! They should all be sent to prison. TRULY ASHAMED TO BE AMERICAN AND NOT AFRAID OF HELL-WE ARE LIVING THERE RIGHT NOW!
Sara Wellnitz, Lexington
Tariffs 101
For those of you trying to understand President Donald Trump’s tariffs perhaps this will help:
You put the tariff on/Then you take the tariff off/
You put the tariff back on/While you yell and shout/
You do the tariff pokey to jerk the world around/
And that’s what it’s all about.
It’s really quite simplistic, isn’t it?
Jay Hopkins, Frankfort
Edited by Liz Carey