UPDATED: Mysterious phone ad causes stir in governor's race

   LISTEN TO THE CALL

UPDATE: LISTEN TO THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN'S RESPONSE

Both candidates for governor say they have nothing to do with a mysterious automated phone call being made across the state today that purports to be an endorsement of Democrat Steve Beshear by the "homosexual lobby."

The call does not identify who paid for the message, a potential violation of state election laws. It directs people to visit the web site of the Fairness Campaign, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered individuals.

Although the Fairness Campaign's political action committee has endorsed Beshear, the group says it had nothing to do with the call.

"For the first time in 20 years the homosexual lobby proudly endorses a candidate for governor, Steve Beshear," says the call. "Beshear is receiving major support from out-of-state gay activists."

Anne Ferguson of Danville, who received the phone message, said it is clearly designed to discourage people from voting for Beshear.

"They shouldn't be able to get away with something like this," Furguson said. "This is the ugliest thing I've heard in an election probably in my lifetime."

Darryl Weaver of Lexington called the message "a dirty trick."

The message says Beshear is "publicly committed to same-gender relationships; employment of more homosexuals in state government, including teachers; and support for homosexual adoption of children."

"If you believe these rights are fair, vote for Steve Beshear for governor," says the ad.

Spokespeople for Beshear and Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher said they were not responsible for the call and do not know who is responsible.

UPDATE 1:10 p.m.: Here are the reactions from the different sides.

The Fairness Campaign, in Louisville, which runs the Web site referenced in the call: "It is not us. We are trying to find out who is making these calls and where they're coming from. We think the calls are a sad attempt at this late moment to change the vote using a fear tactic," said Darnell Johnson, organizational manager.

The Beshear campaign: "Obviously it's panic time for the Fletcher camp," said spokeswoman Vicki Glass. Beshear "welcomes the support of all Kentuckians," but he has stated that -- according to his religious beliefs -- marriage is between a man and a woman, and he would not give special preferences to any group as governor.

The Fletcher campaign: "I don't know who would be impersonating the Fairness Campaign," said spokesman Jason Keller. "Obviously we wouldn't support anybody misrepresenting themselves in a call." Having said that, Keller added that the Fairness Campaign's political action committee did endorse Beshear, and "certainly there's a fair question to be asked there."

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Beshear's campaign has put out an automated phone message responding to the anonymous ad.

"Ernie Fletcher is spreading lies to scare you," says Rev. John Dunaway, a retired Baptist minister who has volunteered in the Beshear campaign. "Don't fall for the last-minute dirty tricks."

- John Stamper and John Cheves

Comments

[JW]

Wouldn't only be dirty politics if the claims were untrue?

I guess Ernie Fletcher thinks we're all just that stupid.

Oh, my....

From "Weekend at Ernie's" to Ernest goes to jail.

Somebody's going to jail, and Ernie can't pardon any more crooks when he's been thrown out of office for being a crook.

[P2]

Why doesnt Beshear come out and admit where he stands though. He favors all of whats in the call, yet he tries to distance himself. So much for the "You'll always know where I stand!" pledge.

Back to the good ole days of democrats controlling everything and runnin the state into the ground! You know for a second I almost got used to the feeling of progress!

Ernie Fletcher ala Fred Phelps = "God Hates Fags"; that's the message here.

Just goes to show there's no level too low that these republicans won't sink to. And this what we get for letting Ernie Fletcher allow Larry Forgy, Brett Hall, Brian Goettl and Marcus Carey to set the message.

Ugly and despicable, but not surprising.

1:22 - Steve Beshear would never stoop low enough to take this disgusting bait.

PJ:
You must have a real misunderstanding of what progress is! Shame on you and anyone who endorses such tactics. Nixon is alive and well.

It's telling that the Fletcher campaign didn't condemn this kind of shameful and probably illegal campaign tactic. Instead, they appear to be using it to their advantage. There's no ignorance, intollerance, hate or criminal activity they won't endorse and exploit if they think it will help them.

[RobertCumming]

Some more of that nasty "Unbridled Spirit" unleashed in Ernies last ditch campaign.

This should have started months ago and it should have been nastier. Probably three weeks too late

if you play the message backward, you can distincly hear someone saying "my name is brett"

[Beshear4Sure]

Your self-righteousness disgusts me, 2:03PM. It is judgmental, holier-than-thou humans, such as you, who will be judged the harshest when this earth of ours comes to an end. We are all God's children, regardless of race, creed, religion, or sexual orientation. God says so, as does our United States Supreme Court. Nastier will get you nowhere, and, actually, I cannot imagine how much nastier you and yours possibly could get. And you have the audacity to call your candidate a man of God. He is neither a man of God nor a man of the people. Come 6 p.m. tomorrow evening, neither will he be Governor.

I have said it before I'll say it again. Fletcher gives church folks a bad name. However there is a place for Republicans who only use the church to get votes. It is call Hell.

[Beshear4Sure]

Absolutely the most hilarious comment I have ever read on this blog, 2:07 p.m. Disgusting, unethical political practices, such as the "mysterious" phone calls, are right up old Brett's alley.

[haven't we heard this one before???]

Shades of Carl Rove!

[Henry Riekert]

This is a typical, desperate and dirty Republican tactic. And, of course, not the first time a Republican candidate has used this strategy. Remember how our esteemed president used a similar phone message to smear John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina presidential primary? The recorded message said that McCain had fathered a child with a black woman. This stuff is sooo Republican. Only a Republican would be stupid enough to fall for this crap.

The general assembly is going to see a prefiled bill very soon that will allow same sex marriage in ky.

Oh and I guess a Democrat would never never never never do any thing so low!!!!
YOU MAKE ME SICK!!!!!!!

[J. Newkirk]

Pitiful. Just pitiful. That's all you can say about this. Ernest MUST be taught a lesson, and this proves it.

Oh, he's probably just barely smart enough to avoid getting directly implicated in this robo-call, but this just reeks with the stench of Brett Hall.

That's OK, though. The more of this vicious crap they spew, the hotter the fire will be when Ernest and friends get to Hell.

No, quite honestly, I can't think of anything this low any Democrat has ever done in a vain attempt to win an election. Democrats aren't the party of hate and intollerance, after all, so that doesn't really leave them with much to use that appeals to the lowest, most ignorant faction. No, this is a uniquely Republican tactic that, from what I can tell so far, is working against Fletcher. No one like a crybaby or a candidate who can't fight like a man.

Fletcher, you're losing this election because you've lost the support of us Republicans. Fletcher, Remember when you said the voters should decide the casino issue? That's when you lost us!

[Henry Riekert]

Along with "The Boy Governor" we can add this tag: "Dirty Ernie."

[.Martha]

May God bless Ernie Fletcher tomorrow, because he is not a crook as the Bashear people say he is. He was indicted because Stumbo wanted to make him miserable. Did not work. He was not convicted on any count.
My vote is for a wonderful Kentuckian!

Since when is telling people the truth dirty politics? We are in big trouble when that day comes.

Just log onto the Fairness campaign website and see for yourself.

Beshear has promised them that he will veto any "anti-fairness" legislation.

Now THAT'S a commitment!

http://www.fairness.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56294

"Martha" - what about hatemongering is "wonderful" ?? Care to elaborate?

This faux christian crap Fletcher and his supporters pander is so hateful and deceitful.

[AmericanAmerican]

I am a registered republican and I received this exact call and have the number on my caller id, why would I get this if it were sent by Fletcher?, Thats a smoke screen to blame anyone but the party who did it, it could very well be anyone.

AmericanAmerican - let us know the number so we can find out who sent it.

If it were the truth, why not identify themselves as operatives of Fletcher instead of lying about who the calls are from? It's just like pleading the Fifth and then claiming you have proof you did nothing wrong. Just tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. I agree with the poster above who pointed out this is not the way men fight. This is the way insecure bullies and weak, petty little sissies fight. Who wants someone that lame leading this state? My prediction is fewer than 30 percent of the voters.

If it's "the truth" why do the calls use a fake group as a cover? If the callers and the Fletcher campaign are so supportive of these calls - the truth, as you say - why not own up to them and claim them? LIke the previous poster said, this isn't the way a man fights. This is the way an insecure bully or a weak, petty sissy fights. No one wants a bully or a sissy (much less someone who is both) leading the state. Kentuckians are sick of this kid stuff. Time to get back to the grown up business of helping the people of Kentucky - all the people.

[Oh My]

I guess we have found out Ernie's graven image he worships. It's the Governor's seat. Old Dirty Ernie and his cronies has proven they's do anything to keep the office. I hope satan is stoking the fire real hot for old Ernest and his crew, they deserve it.Tomorrow can't come soon enough. Vote STRAIGHT Democrat!

[Oh My]

I guess we have found out Ernie's graven image he worships. It's the Governor's seat. Old Dirty Ernie and his cronies has proven they's do anything to keep the office. I hope satan is stoking the fire real hot for old Ernest and his crew, they deserve it.Tomorrow can't come soon enough. Vote STRAIGHT Democrat!

I swear, if St. Ernie was here right now I would wash his feet with my hair.

[Seth Hall]

This is a dirty tactic of the Republican party taking it's last breath of air in Kentucky. The Republican party should be ashamed of itself for segmenting out a part of the population (gays) and legislating hate against it. That in and of itself is a american moral violation that has come home to roost. There will be equal rights for American gay families one day.

[John]

Whatever spin you want to put on this story, the truth is a vote for Beshear is a vote for the endorsement of gay marriage. THIS IS NOT what Kentuckians want. Not in the least. Governor Fletcher is the ONLY MAN IN THIS RACE in line with Kentucky values. American values. VOTE FOR AN HONORABLE, DECENT KENTUCKY...VOTE FOR OUR GOVERNOR FLETCHER!

Nasty works, I do not care what you people say, look at what the dems did to the governor, nasty works and it will always work. I used to think that you could go out and debate the issues clearly and simply state the differences between you and your opponent. People do not want to hear any of that. Nasty is the word of the day and it works. People want to hear the name calling, they want this type of battle because it is hard for them to think. If the Nasty had started earlier it might have worked for the Governor. After watching this race and the last 4 years I would advise anyone running for Governor to be as Nasty and Mean as possible, that is what we demand. The facts and reasoning do not matter, it is all about perception which is reality.

An honest and ethical campaign spokesman and his candidate would disavow and condemn anonymous hate mongering such as this robocall. But Mr. Keller embraces it as a "fair question". Well I have a fair question for Mr. Keller (and it's one that can be answered "yes" or "no"): Did the robocaller use a phone listing supplied by the Republican Party or anyone associated with it? And one more question: How does Ernie feel about that "Love your neighbor as yourself" commandment?

[4:52 p.m.]

Unbridled McConnell!

Let Ernie have is last hurrah. Ernie's legacy is being written right here in the last few days of the campaign. I've been around a while and Ernie will be known as having run the most poorly organized and the most poorly managed campaign in major politics in Kentucky. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised to receive a call at 2 a.mm. from this desparate bunch of flunkies. Someone posted that "this should have started three weeks ago." Ernie should have started his campaign 2 1/2 years ago by stating the truth and moving forward. He's about 2 1/2 years too late. The truth about this act of desparation will eventually be told. Once this election is over, we will find out just how little we know of how this administration has operated state government. My prediction is that the findings won't fare very well for many in Ernie's administration. People don't use these kinds of tactics unless they are desparate to cover up what they have done. Apparently, there is a lot to cover up and they need four more years to do it. They won't get four more years and a few more days is a few more days too many.

4:52. You're about to see mean and nasty tomorrow beginning at 6 a.m. You richly deserve it.

Every politician that wins, wins with Nasty. We ask for it.

5:04. Not this time.

[Wright]

Look out, Democrats! Ernie fletcher has a very good chance of winning, and it won't be because of these phone calls. It is because Democrats have once again misjudged their electorate. The Dem faithful are being mislead by their own generated polls, and are beginning to themselves believe that four years of Beshear will somehow be different than four years of Patton, or the long train of Democrats preceding him. It is simple. The 'mess' in Frankfort was created by Democrats. Do something for Kentucky and vote for Fletcher.

5:18. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better or helps you to sleep better tonight. That's a major part of R problems--you keep lying to yourselves. If we were in a casino, I would give you odds on that. Like the saying goes, you can fool some of the people all of the time.

It was probably someone from Beshears office that did this just so they could blame Fletcher. When I got home an hour ago, there was a voice mail for me telling me not to believe the lies that Fletcher is spreading, ... what nerve Beshear has to spread that when he has no clue. It Probably was Beshears people, just to make Fletcher look bad!!! Beshear is disguisting and evil!!

[Wright]

We'll see tom night, huh? Beshearstumbopatton might just pull it off. It'll probably be like the old days of stuffing boxes, when nobody even questioned the Democrats in Kentucky. Ahhh, memories.....

[West of I-65]

A new low by the RPK and the lack of talent running the show. Can't wait until Tuesday to get rid of these idiots, and I am a Republican, and I am not so sure Mitch and Ed Whitfield don't need to go as well!!

[daniel]

One sweet day, science will be taught in Kentucky schools.

Until then, the X-tians and the GOP may very well use whatever tactic to spread their brand of facism. We'll see.

[Sweet Rob]

Anyone familiar with Carl Rove's "whisper" campaigns will be unable to miss the fingerprints of "Bush's Brain" on this one. I'm with those refer to the the Fletcher adminstration as "Unbridled Corruption"!

Using the pulpit and the ten commandments to elevate oneself instead of GOD is a disgrace. The religious right have seen the actions of our Governor and tomorrow they will voice their disdain for his actions.

Thou shall not bear false witness, Ernie. Too many times we heard the lies and we are ashamed that our Governor has a problem with the truth. You and your staff have "noodled" too many lives in the past 4 years. While you down played your actions as "noodling", you were disrupting honest wage earning peoples lives. Just because you can "noodle" and "pardon" that doesn't give you the right to do it. After all, if you hadn't created such a partisan atmosphere you wouldn't be in this mess you created.

[NurseTeacher]

I don't understand what all of the commotion is about. Steve Beshear did happily accept their money and their endorsement, and so he shouldn't have a problem with the truth being known. I listened to the tape, and it is just stating facts.When someone endorses a candidate, doesn't that mean they have similar beliefs? Beshear did go to some fundraisers that were hosted by by the Gay community.