This week, LEO is taking a special look at Gov. Andy Beshear’s first year in office. You think the last year was bad? The following is a made-for-print dramatization of what Kentucky might be dealing with had former-Gov. Matt Bevin won reelection in 2019. While the following is a satirical piece, it includes actual [marked] Bevin quotes that are particularly frightening given the violence we saw at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6… violence encouraged by our “leaders.”
Special thanks to Gov. Beshear and everyone who helped him. We were only 5,000 votes away from this abyss:
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin escalated his criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and pledged “zero freedom-suffocating masks” in a social media video over the weekend. The video was posted as the state’s COVID-19 cases surged past one million and the death toll surpassed 20,000, aligning Kentucky with much larger neighboring state, Illinois.
In the video, Bevin accuses Fauci of, “engaging in a physical and psychological warfare against freedom-loving patriots not seen in history’s most ruthless tyrants.” He even repudiated fellow COVID-misinformation theorist Sen. Rand Paul for his continued support for herd immunity.
“Herd immunity,” Bevin said, “is the false narrative that there is any scientific influence driving this virus, when it is, in fact, God’s way of instructing us to return to our Judeo-Christian, founding freedoms.”
Bevin reiterated his objection to any restrictions or calls to wear masks. He did offer thoughts and prayers to small businesses that have suffered from the “liberal-Democrat elites who have conspired to undermine the unprecedented economic growth of Kentucky.”
The video was Bevin’s first since his accounts were restored, after recently being suspended by Twitter and Facebook. The suspension stemmed from several recent posts, including videos Bevin posted of his appearance at the pro-Trump rally in D.C. on Jan. 6, just before the crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol.
(Records indicate Bevin flew the state-owned private plane to D.C. and back on Jan. 6, and was not part of the crowd that entered the Capitol.)
“I warned America years ago what would happen if we allowed the candle of American freedom to go out on our watch,” said Bevin in his remarks before introducing President Trump.
“The roots of the tree of liberty are watered by what? The blood. Of who? The tyrants, to be sure, but who else? The patriots.” [A real quote.]
“Whose blood will be shed?” Bevin exclaimed to the raucous crowd of thousands. “It might be that of our children and grandchildren. I have nine children. It breaks my heart to think that it might be their blood that is needed to redeem something, to reclaim something that we, through our apathy and our indifference, have given away.” [Also a real quote.]
Many legal experts have speculated Bevin may have potential legal liability for inciting the violence. In addition to the aforementioned quotes, Bevin is cited as saying, “America is worth fighting for ideologically … I want us to be able to fight ideologically, mentally, spiritually, economically, so that we don’t have to do it physically. But that may, in fact, be the case.” [Also a real quote.]
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he doesn’t see any reason to investigate, however. “The governor was simply representing the people of Kentucky, who overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump and have concerns the presidential election was not legitimate. And they have a right to be heard.”
The same legal experts indicated they have no idea what legal argument Cameron is making.
Another concern for Bevin might be his future on social media, now that tech industry giants have recognized their outsized role in perpetuating false and misleading information, conspiracy theories and how they’ve contributed to the overall deterioration of American society.
Bevin said in another post that he’s only concerned about the threat to the First Amendment and free speech. [Editor’s Note: This has nothing to do with the First Amendment.]
He also indicated that he’s focused on the state legislative session, from which he expects to pass a one-year budget that includes corporate tax cuts, investments in charter schools and aluminum plants, along with major cuts to public schools. Plus, new abortion laws and pension reform.
He has not indicated whether or not he will lift his work requirement on those out of work due to the global pandemic who are seeking federal COVID-relief funds.
