Campaign Ads For Senate GOP Leader Feature Convicted Sexual Harasser

The past month has not been a good one for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The candidate he endorsed in Kentucky's gubernatorial election was trounced by his Democratic challenger. McConnell himself is embroiled in a possible ethics scandal involving a $25 million earmark he secured for a British defense contractor under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. And the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is openly targeting his seat in 2008.

With polls showing his support dipping in Kentucky, McConnell this week became the first Senate Republican to launch an in-state ad campaign. But now even that is proving troublesome.

In a 60-second clip running in the Lexington market, McConnell is endorsed by Alben Barkley II, the grandson of the one-time Kentucky senator and Truman Vice President Alben Barkley.

"As Majority Leader of the Senate, my grandfather had a tremendous amount of influence and could get a lot of legislation passed which was of benefit to Kentucky," Barkley II says in the advertisement. "Sen. McConnell is a very powerful man in the Senate today. When one is in a position like that they can do great things for their state."

The message: McConnell is, like the elder Barkley, a true Kentucky leader.

The problem: Barley II is not world's best spokesperson.

Back in 1981, the Barkley grandson was convicted of sexually harassing a young secretary. According to an April 7 UPI article from that year:

"Alben W. Barkley II, [then] 36, asked his secretary, Ann Hester, to be his lover, asked to look down her dress on several occasions, once hugged her, and commented she looked 'sexy.''"

At the time Barkely was serving as the state's Agriculture Commissioner. Because he was an elected official, the Kentucky Personnel Board personnel board said it did not have the authority to punish him. The secretary said the incidents "forced her to seek a transfer to another state department."

McConnell's office did not return requests for comment.

Comments

[boylane]

I think it's time for even the most ardent republican kool aid drinker to wake up to the fact the republcian party is corrupt to the core. It's morally bankrupt; it has collaborated with the first fascist president of the United States to undermine our Constitution and the freedoms it gives us; they have financially bankurupted the nation; they have condoned an immoral war, along with quite a few democrats; it supports torutre; it supports spying on Americans; they've supported a constitutional amendment which would effectively elevate a symbol of freedom above freedom itself; they've supported a constitutional amendment which would include discrimination against a minority; suspension of habeus corpus; no bid contracts to big republican contributors; hypocrisy is the central tenant of their politiclal ideology..­.etc,etc Granted the dems haven't done a bang up job, but then again they have republicans undermining anything they try to do. It's time republcians are out in the cold for at least a generation. It may take that long to reapir the damage they done in just a few years.

[marko77]

Many Republicans consider the sexual harrassment of women as a "rite of passage" and something to be proud of. It won't hurt them in the polls at all.

[oldgringo]

Now just EXACTLY WAS the reason that MITCH-The-­Bitch-McCo­nnell was "released fromhis military service contract?
Hummmmmmmmmer, that, no?

[Ramirez]

Weird HuffPost. No source or author. Says a guy was "convicted" 25 years ago of asking his secretary "to be his lover, asked to look down her dress on several occasions, once hugged her, and commented she looked 'sexy.''"

I googled to find more on this. No luck.

I hope this isn't going to be a HuffPo trend.

[progressivepam]

This one's a non-issue. There's so many real issues out there, let's stick to those.

[TimmySlagle]

Remember this happened back in the eighties, when sexual harassment was still a crime.

We all learned in the nineties that exposing yourself, groping employees, and having sex with your interns is just "Personal Business."

[WilliePilgrim]

Oh my gosh...you mean to say that 26 years ago a guy did what a lot of guys did 26 years ago and engaged in sexual banter with a prospective partner?!! This probably ruined the victims life forever. As long as a single victim of our insensitivity is left un acknowledged and without reparations rest assured there will be people calling for justice no matter how delayed it is....This is how the progressive arm of politics gets things done...sor­ta.
But seriously.­..McConnel­l is a long past recycling in his...well­, in his everything. Let's get the future out and rolling or before you know it my grandather will be up on posthumous retro-active charges of sexual abuse for marrying my grandmother before she was of the legal age of consent with more than 10 years difference in age.

[VOTER]

Look for Chinless McConnell to resign all with the hope

of any investigations about his illegal activities being

dropped. However the voters of Kentucky want

answers and justice, so he is not going to win by

leaving. GET HIM!

[billysviez]

McConnell is an Enemy to Our Country. i think the Great People of Kentucky will see this and he will be gone soon.

[DELICIOUS]

SEEEMS THE WHOLE REPUKLICANT BASE IS NOTHING BUT SEXUAL PREDATORS. THE BEST WAY TO HIDE THIS IS IN PLAIN SIGHT AND THAT'S WHAT THE POLITICIANS ARE DOING. THEY ARE ALL INVOLVED IN AFFAIRS OR PROSTITUTION NOT TO MENTION THEIR HIDDEN AGENDA OF BEING GAY OR LESBIAN.

[foolme1ns]

But of course it does. Isn't that the republican base? I mean look at Guiliani and Kerik. Of course they are proud to be seen with criminals. It is who they are. The NEWS should be when one of them isn't connected to a criminal. But those are extremely hard to find.

[Pete Ross]

More pork for his state, eh?

[nick1936]

Isn't it funny how these Repuks are they Vote to override the Chimp's Veto of the water bill which lines their friends pockets. But when it comes to bills like Stem Cell or Children's Health Care two things that would help people they side with the Chinp in charge.

[Counterglow]

I imagine Mr. McConnell was pleased to find someone to endorse him who is both a Republican supporter and demonstrably heterosexual.

I wonder how many rocks he'll have to turn over to find another paragon of virtue to match this guy.

[Troubledwawa]

Ole Mitch is looking for a friend. For people who are in spots him, that's usually a sign that the end is near.

And he can't even do that right.

Very near.

Tick, tick, tick...