After Lexington businessman Joe Palumbo announced his candidacy for Congress in the Sixth District, Representative Andy Barr’s office issued a statement saying that Rep. Barr was focusing on serving the interests of the people of the district. The implication was clearly that he was not interested, or involved, in petty politics.
This is clearly absurd. I receive Rep. Barr’s weekly e-mail report, and while much of it is devoted to describing his work on behalf of his constituents (as it should be) much of it involves politics. When he describes his votes on various issues he engages in political attacks on his opponents. And he has been actively involved in fundraising, which is clearly a political act. No one doubts that elected officials have to balance their official duties with political activity. That is the nature of the beast, and no one should be naïve that it happens. So no one needs a sanctimonious lecture on how Rep. Barr is some how above petty politics.
