Generally, most of the comics who practice “southern humor” are from the areas they make fun of, giving them an authority on the subject along with a credibility that they’ve probably run these jokes by their own families and friends who often appear in them. In addition, most of these comics tend to include in their routines at least some humor that lifts up those groups, or spotlights the good aspects of their character.
For all of our eccentricities, the different groups and cultural variants that make up the commonwealth of Kentucky are sincerely good people. I’m sure our comedian friend the Democratic candidate is aware of this, but as a state, we already suffer unfairly from a myriad of stereotypes nationwide which do not accurately portray our personality and character.
In spite of all of the negative stereotypes about them, the people of Eastern Kentucky are some of the hardest working, most patriotic, God-fearing, kind and giving people you will find around.
Should a man who is from the state’s largest city, admits to never being a farmer, and has made a nice living mercilessly poking fun of some of the very people he’d be representing really be the commissioner of agriculture? If he is incapable of understanding the culture, or finds it worthy of joking about, how can he properly run the office?
Even without the comedy routine, I was already questioning the qualifications of Bob Farmer for the post. It smelled like a guy looking for a new source of income and seemed like he was taking advantage of his convenient last name to seek the office.
Unlike Bob Farmer, his opponent James Comer, actually is a farmer. And I’ve heard some of his ideas for cutting waste and abuse from the office as well as innovative ways to spur Kentucky’s agricultural economy. I like him.
If you think that because you may live in a city somehow this office doesn’t affect you or your livelihood then think again. The department of Agriculture has the state’s second largest budget and Agriculture is one of Kentucky’s largest economic sectors. The money that is generated in agriculture has a direct bearing on the economies of our urban areas. Unlike Las Vegas, what happens in rural areas doesn’t stay in rural areas.
The job of Commissioner of Agriculture requires serious leadership and real world experience. To me, that’s no laughing matter.
Leland Conway is co-founder and executive editor of www.conservativeedge.com and host of the Pulse of Lexington on News Radio 630 WLAP. He can be reached for comment at Leland@conservativeedge.com.
