Matty the Rat?

By BERRY CRAIG

AFT Local 1360

Gov. Matt Bevin was featured on a slew of signs and tee shirts at Fancy Farm.

None of the imagery was complimentary.

But Bevin’s close encounter of the worst kind might have been that big black inflatable rat just east of town on highway 80.

“BEVIN” said the  sign in front of the rearing, red-eyed rodent. (Down the hill was a triple sign urging, “Go Andy Go!”)

Bevin must have spied the bewhiskered, beclawed rat, its front teeth bared as if the critter was spoiling for a fight. Highway 80 links Fancy Farm with Mayfield, where he spoke at the GOP breakfast.

The easily peeved Bevin could have already been bilious at all those Beshear signs along the roadway. 

I don’t know if Bevin got the rat symbolism, other than it wasn’t flattering.

Building trades unions often use such inflatable rats to call attention to nonunion or “rat” contractors. “Rat,” like “scab,” is an old term for a strikebreaker, too.

Bevin is possibly the most antI-union governor in Kentucky history, though I can think of some other Republicans who could give him a run for his money. Ernie Fletcher comes to mind.

In 2017, Bevin pushed to passage a “right to work” law and a measure to repeal the prevailing wage. Since, he’s been all in for gutting the state workers compensation, unemployment insurance and worker safety and health programs.

He’s turned the labor cabinet into the anti-labor cabinet.

Bevin’s idea of “free enterprise” is union free.

The rat at Fancy Farm featured what is supposed to look like weepy scabs on its mangy belly. Hence, such inflatables are sometimes called “Scabby the Rat.” (The rat at Fancy Farm looks like one made by Big Sky Balloons, a company that has trademarked “Scabby the Rat.”)

“Matty the Rat” seems to work just as well in Kentucky.