Published: October 16, 2008

Lunsford says he will get chemical weapons destroyed

Bill Robinson
Register News Writer

Speaking at the Madison County Fairgrounds, just a stone’s throw from the Blue Grass Army Depot, U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford said he will have the necessary clout in Washington to get the depot’s chemical weapons destroyed in a timely fashion.

U.S. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., “has been in Washington 24 years, and he still hasn’t got the job done,” Lunsford told a crowd of more than 400.

Buoyed by recent polls that show him in a dead heat with McConnell, the Senate’s Republican leader, Lunsford worked the crowd energetically before taking the podium.

“The Democrats are going to rule the day on Nov. 4,” Lunsford said in an interview before the rally sponsored by the Madison County Democratic Women’s Club. “A lot of new Democrats are going to be elected to the Senate this year, increasing the party’s majority. I already know all the members of what will be the freshman class pretty well. I’m also well connected with the Democratic leadership. Together, we’re going to have an opportunity to accomplish a lot.”

Lunsford predicted that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will be elected president.

“If Mitch McConnell is re-elected, he won’t be able to work with the governor of Kentucky or the new president of the United States.

“I’ve got a lot of friends here in Madison County,” Lunsford said. “I can assure you that getting rid of the chemical weapons will be one of my top five priorities, and along with President Obama and the Democrats in the Senate, we will get it done.”

Lunsford called McConnell’s claim of effectiveness a “McCon job.”

“McConnell is now promising to have the chemical weapons destroyed by 2017,” Lunsford said. “If that happens, it will be 31 years after he was first elected to the Senate.”

The state’s senior senator has been generally ineffective, the Democratic nominee said.

“The federal money that McConnell brought home last year comes to about $30 for every Kentuckian,” Lunsford said.

“When you compare that to the $1,800 per person that Kentuckians paid in taxes, plus $1,400 for everyone’s share of the debt, $2,100 for their share of Iraq War and $2,300 for their share of the bailout, it makes that $30 look like chump change.”

Lunsford blamed the recent turmoil in the financial markets on policies promoted by the Republicans since George W. Bush became president.

“They fed the greedy and starved needy,” he said.

Lunsford left the rally early and headed to downtown Richmond where he shook hands along Main Street during the Madison Central High School homecoming parade.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.

-1669, Ext. 234.