Before the auction started, the sellout crowd of 1,600 people were served a Kentucky Proud Breakfast as they listened to speeches from top elected officials, including Governor Matt Bevin, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We follow the law”, Haney said, drawing applause. It was a change from recent years when the state’s largest farming organization would question candidates directly, highlighting how Paul and Gray have yet to debate each other with a just over two months remaining before the general election. Before that was the early ’80s, Haney said. “We’ve got to have tolerance on both sides”.
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In his initial remarks, Gray jumped on Paul’s request not to appear with the mayor. He answered some questions by offering that he would work to bring people together to reach compromise on the issues, something he says Paul is unwilling to do.
“To be clear, Kentucky Farm Bureau does not discriminate”.
Paul says one big problem facing farmers is a new set of regulations handed down by the Obama administration. “Not ashamed to talk about the sanctity of life, not afraid to talk about the traditions that really bind and hold us together as a civilization”. Gray is scheduled to address the group later Thursday afternoon.
A Democrat, Gray is openly gay and running against Republcian Sen. “You don’t say carte blanche that we’re going to throw the baby out with the bathwater”.
Paul said regulation from the federal government has overstepped its bounds.
“You don’t want the government telling you that you can’t make reservoirs and ponds to irrigate your land”, Paul said.
Kentucky’s only Democratic congressman did not eat the ham on Thursday.
“Kentucky has benefited from trade, there’s no question about that”, Gray said.
Jim Gray, Paul’s Democratic challenger, has criticized Paul for not voting for the farm bill.
On labeling genetically modified foods, Paul was dismissive.
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“You’ll have less illegal immigration if you have more legal immigration”, Paul said.
