Why doesn't a popular progressive governor of a red state get any media attention?

[Wanderlust988]

I'm talking about Kentucky's finest...Gov. Andy Beshear! He's young, progressive, crystal clean background, carries himself well in interviews and speeches. He checks a whole lot of boxes. However, because he is not out spouting crazy stuff or doesn't come from a big media center, he is ignored as a national candidate. It makes virtually no sense at all. Our party seems to be only consumed with candidates from the coast, which is part of our problem. Unlike Buttigieg, Beshear has won a statewide race.

[Progressive Jones]

1. I've been thinking about him. He could be very effective in flipping both Senate seats in KY.

I think he can bring people to see what they're State needs in terms of leadership in Washington.

[brooklynite]

7. He didn't flip McConnell's; he won't flip Rand's.

People vote for State offices on different principles and issues than Federal ones.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I doubt that Beshear is considered to be a progressive

by voters that are to the left of where he stands on legislation like a statewide Fairness Ordinance to protect LGBT members in relation to employment and housing opportunities.

Furthermore, is Beshear a liberal or is he a progressive? Beshear does not appear to be making any effort to dismantle capitalism and the word "progressive" is almost ambiguous in meaning.

I admire Beshear's record as a governor and would vote for him without reservation, but I view him as holding down the fort in a hostile environment. His tenuous situation in Kentucky doesn't provide much opportunity to be a trend setting progressive which means that while he is in the middle of the pack, there won't be much media attention shown to him, especially when there are other Democrats at the national level who are available.

[betsuni]

3. Yes, dismantling capitalism is part of the new definition of "progressive."

Last edited Mon Dec 13, 2021, 06:42 AM - Edit history (1)

Like the "progressive" leader who vowed to break up the big banks and when asked how, didn't know. Just break them up! Ban billionaires! Populist bullshit.

[pnwmom]

4. Dismantling capitalism is a policy that isn't supported by a majority of voters.

If we want to have the level of support of someone like Jill Stein, sure, go ahead.

[JohnSJ]

5. Well said

[JI7]

6. He is liberal for Kentucky . You can't expect a Democrat in Kentucky to be like a Democrat from

California or NY or even Georgia . Kentucky is a VERY red state and a southern state but with low black population. And black people are the base of the democratic party so it's a low percentage of base support to start off with .

It was also a close race against someone that was corrupt and unlikable. He would probably have lost a Senate race because people would have seen voting for him as voting for Democrats to control the Senate .

But I do like him very much and think he would do well in a national election even though he would most likely lose his own state.

[Calista241]

8. Manchin is in a similar situation, and the daily rage at him on DU astounds me sometimes.

[kentuck]

9. In my opinion, he is a pragmatist.

And under the circumstances, he has done a very good job. Not that long ago, there were many more Democrats in Kentucky than Republicans. The Party probably changed more than the people?