Saturday, July 31, 2004

Kentucky has always had an image problem.

To some, most recently The Tonight Show host Jay Leno, we are considered backward, uneducated, slow and inbred.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher didnt take the insults sitting down and went on the show Tuesday evening to defend the commonwealth.

We commend him for defending the people of this state and their image.

Fletcher appeared on the show with a full-sized Louisville Slugger baseball bat and said that he would attempt to keep Jay in line. It was later presented to Leno.

Fletcher has recently been trying to pick a new state slogan, which is expected to be revealed in the next few months.

This was a butt of Lenos jokes in mid-July when he offered the following slogan Kentucky: Got Teeth?

Although Lenos remarks were insulting to all Kentuckians, he is, after all, a comedian.

Fletcher offered Leno some slogan ideas for Los Angeles.

L.A.: Come for the silicone, stay for the botox.

L.A.: Married, divorced, remarried in about an hour.

After one of Fletchers jokes bombed, Leno said that comedy is harder than it looks.

Ill stick to politics, Fletcher said.

At least Fletcher was a good sport and made a good case for our state.

Whereas Californians look at us in this way, we look at them as them as Hollywood elitists and kooks. Stereotypes on both sides miss the mark.

The people of Kentucky and other southern states are at least as refined and intelligent as those in other parts of the country.

We havebeen mislabeled for too long. At least Fletcher tried to set the record straight.

Thank you, governor.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700