By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1630
“Don’t let your mouth overload your behind“ is old expression in my neck of the western Kentucky woods. (Okay, we use a shorter word than “behind.”)
Anyway, Matt Bevin’s motor mouth is the gift that keeps on giving to the Democrats.
The other day, the governor sent letters to lawmakers pushing his version of state pension “reform.” Critics say Bevin’s plan won’t fix the pension system and would likely end up costing the state a ton of money.
Skeptical state Rep. Jeff Donohue, D-Louisville, has seen this rodeo. So he scribbled “return to sender” on the envelope.
A savvy pol would have ignored Donohue’s dig. But Bevin naturally popped his cork and double dissed Donohue in a video and on Twitter.
I’ve never met Donohue. But if he was trolling Bevin, the governor swallowed the sucker bait, hook, line and sinker.
No matter, Donohue must be loving the latest example of Bevin’s predictable petulence.
Of course, Kentucky Democrats pounced on Bevin’s dyspepsia.
An email flew from Party HQ in Frankfort framing the envelope flap as the latest example of Bevin’s pettiness. It’s also more proof of his inevitable ineptness at parrying political thrusts.
The email included a statement from state Democratic Party spokesperson Marisa McNee, plus Bevin’s video attack against Donohue and the Falls City legislator‘s response.
Poor Matt. You‘ve gotta know you’ve stepped in it when the enemy so easily turns your guns on you.
“As usual, when Governor Bevin’s inability to govern catches up with him, he tries to blame someone else and starts making things up,“ McNee jabbed. “Just a few days ago he ridiculously claimed he’s never insulted educators, then he claimed he didn’t regret insulting them. And now this governor is so defensive about opposition to his attacks on pensions for working families that he’s lashing out over an envelope. It’s just more of the same dysfunction that’s defined his time in Frankfort and exactly why he will be a one-term governor.”
Bevin’s bloviating reminds me of wise words attributed to Abraham Lincoln (and sometimes to Mark Twain): “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
Meanwhile, the Democrats are doubtless banking on Bevin to keep blabbing.