Posted on 09/28/2002 9:50:55 AM PDT by forest
What does the Chairman of the National Governors Association have in common with Jimmy Swaggert? Y'all remember Jimmy Swaggert, don't you? He's the TV preacher who got caught fooling with a hooker in a motel and is most remembered for his "I have sinned" speech -- complete with plentiful crocodile tears -- on national television.
The sitting Chairman of the National Governors Association recently got caught, too. Not with a hooker, of course. He was recently discovered to have had a two year tryst with a "constituent." Except, unlike Swaggert, this governor did not pay for sex with his own money. Nope. He used taxpayer money and political favors to pay his then favorite extramarital squeeze.
Like the sobbing confession of Jimmy Swaggert, Kentucky Governor Paul Patton scheduled a tearful confession. "I didn't sleep at all Wednesday night as I prayed for forgiveness from God and for guidance and strength," Patton read from a staff prepared statement that was carried live on television stations across Kentucky last week.
Patton even went to church for absolution. "He has asked the church for forgiveness and he has asked God for forgiveness," said the Rev. Scott Weist, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pikeville, where Patton attends. "He sure seemed to demonstrate a genuine remorse."
Well . . . of course he now feigns remorse. He got caught! Did anyone really expect him to do anything less? There's a problem here, and the problem is not just Patton's extramarital activities. Heck, the real joke about Patton around the State Capitol concerns when he was Lt. Governor. Back then, Gov. Bereton Jones was injured when his chopper crashed and they needed Lt. Governor Paul Patton to step in for a while. Except, no one could find the Lt. Governor. Turns out, he was located recuperating in Florida. As the story goes, Patton got caught having an affair with a Judge Executive and her husband beat the heck out of him. So, Patton was hiding in Florida, nursing his wounds, instead of taking the helm of State government.
No, as with Clinton, it is not just Patton's sexual escapades that are the story here. His peccadilloes are but the topic opening the door to much more serious wrongdoing. But, since this particular story opens the door to Patton's corrupt personal character, everyone now gets a quick look around at the other things there.
According to this instant story, Governor Patton met and propositioned Western Kentucky businesswoman Tina Conner -- from Clinton, Kentucky no less -- at a 1997 fundraiser. Nothing dramatic there. That's what many Democratic office holders think of as "constituent service."
Except, Patton carried this constituent service just a wee bit too far, probably into the realm of what is better known as a felony offence. She admits that she met Patton for sex numerous times from 1997 through 1999. She also admits that Patton influenced state regulators concerning at least two of her businesses. Also, Patton subsequently appointed her to the Kentucky Lottery Board in exchange for sex. She also was appointed to at least two other State boards or commissions.
Conner publicly states that Gov. Patton intervened on her behalf to increase her nursing home's Medicare reimbursement rate. He also intervened with state regulators to insure she received favored status for a construction company she co-owned with her husband. She alleges that Patton provided the extraordinary state assistance to her and her businesses in return for the sexual relationship.
Never mind what that makes her. We're talking about a sitting governor here. He is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and should know better.
Later, when Conner wanted to break off the relationship with Patton, Patton took offense and tried to destroy her financially. So, Conner sued Patton and the state, claiming sexual harassment and outrageous conduct. As she tells it, Patton turned state regulators loose on her nursing home when she broke off the affair. Her nursing home subsequently lost its Medicaid and Medicare funding and has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Unfortunately for Patton, there is ample proof of these accusations. At least two bureaucrats, including the past director of the state's Office of Minority Affairs, have come forward to admit pressure to insure Conner received most favored treatment. The boards to which she was appointed are a matter of record. Also interesting is Conner's claim that she received an offer of a monetary settlement (bribe!) to keep quiet about Patton before her lawsuit was filed.
Can Gov. Patton pull a Clinton and "spin" it so he ultimately looks like the victim? Will his wife Judi pull a Hillary and hum a few bars of "Stand By Your Man"? How long will it take Patton's minions to work up enough opposition research to form a plausible story that would destroy Tina Connor's credibility -- and at least hold water until the November election?
Fact is, the General Assembly is in a bit of a quandary here. It is both a moral and political dilemma. The people of Kentucky are taking a keen interest in this matter because there is a whole lot more to it than just long- term infidelity. If Gov. Patton is guilty of these many allegations of abuse of power, he must be removed from office. His saving grace is that this is an election year for the General Assembly and, so far, no one wants to publicly "cast the first stone. " Besides, the current Lt. Gov. is a total incompetent and that frightens everyone.
A state Executive Branch Ethics Commission will investigate the nursing home owner's allegations that Gov. Patton helped her with regulators during the alleged affair and retaliated after she ended it. The commission has broad authority but has rarely done anything of substance. We look for absolutely zero action from them in this matter.
On the other hand, there are a number of very honorable Republican office holders in the Kentucky General Assembly. We happen to know for a fact that the words "hearing" and "impeachment" have been mentioned among them these past few days.
This is not a matter of "casting the first stone." Rather, for all public officials equally, this is a case of honoring one's oath of office to God and Country and doing one's duty as an elected official. Patton did not just "sin," he violated the law. Significantly.
In summary, for all of the above reasons and more, Governor Paul Patton has proven conclusively that he is corrupt and does not deserve the trust associated with any public office. The only way the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky can again restore trust in the Government of Kentucky is to remove Paul Patton from office as soon as possible.
Felony is involved. In exchange for sex, Patton influenced regulators and appointed her to at least 3 boards or commissions.
Very honorable Republican office holders in the Kentucky General Assembly are talking hearing and impeachment.
And are the voters of Kentucky as stupid as the voters of New York who gave the wife of a sex addict a United States Senate seat because she had suffered so much?
No one is removed from office because others wish it. Neither are they removed just because they did things that would get ordinary citizens jailed. They get removed by a process that has to be begun, tended, and carried through to a solid conclusion.
What is that process? And where are the legions of radio talk show hosts to lead the charge of their "constituents."
Congressman Billybob
Click for "Til Death Do Us Part."
Make no mistake, she is a whore. Like any other whore she had sex for money. As a mater of fact I have more respect for a "regular" whore than her, most of them will admit to being one.
Patton is merely following in the steps of the "Big Dawg" so the dems love him in Ky.
Patton doesn't give a sheeeet what anyone thinks of him. I guarantee he wont step down and they wont boot him out.
Doug, excellent essay!
Two questions:
1) Is it true that his current wife was his former secretary?
2) How did his current wife's husband die so that Patton could marry her?
This is delicious.
1) Is it true that his current wife was his former secretary?
2) How did his current wife's husband die so that Patton could marry her?
There are all sorts of rumors about the death of Judi Patton's first husband. I suspect some investigative type who wants to do a book (or get a journalistic award perhaps) will dig into this.
The Dems are in a spot here. They know more revelations are coming (other women, for example) so how much damage are they willing to absorb before they throw Patton to the wolves?
I give this about a week before Patton does resign "for the good of the people of Kentucky, sob, sob!" He's got to go and the sooner the better.
He won't resign. Honor -- "doing the right thing" -- is simply not in the playbook of the arrogant, selfish leftists.
Generally speaking, I do not wish to delve into the "personal" lives of politicians and so did not use some of the juiciest stuff about Patton. Rather, all I wanted was to use just enough of that type of information to shine a little light on his particular level of corruption, abuse of power and negligence.
News accounts will break shortly about his present mistress but, at the moment, there is no interesting abuse of power information associated with that story. So, there was no constructive reason for it to be related. As the story goes, though, this new babe is a bit miffed at Patton right now -- could be she didn't get as much pay-back as the last one.
I imagine his wife was a bit upset, too, when she learned of yet another infidelity in the background. I hope the Governor has a faithful dog, because he definitely has women problems!
Anyway, if we want to talk about really significant corruption in office, someone should bring up those 2,000 over-paid patronage positions the Governor appointed. The total bill to the Kentucky taxpayer is about one-hundred-million bucks a year and most of them never show up for work. They do, however, kick back a portion of their "wages" to political campaigns of Democratic candidates. But, again, that is not unique to just this governor. It is part of the criminal institution known as the Kentucky Democratic Party.
All this, and we didn't even get into their vote fraud schemes yet -- of which Patton was a major participant. . . . . .
So much material. So little time. :-)
So, OK, this is how politics works and the guy's a competent politician; how come you want to remove him?
I agree, of course -- but maybe for more devious reasons.
If the hearings started right away, Republicans would be a shoe-in to keep the Senate and may well capture the House, too. Wouldn't that be a real historical hoot!
It appears that, next year, baring any unforeseen major scandals or problems, Kentucky will elect the first Republican governor in well over 20 years. Which means, Kentucky could very well go from solid Democratic to solid Republican within just five short years!
So, two bits says that some well positioned Senators we know are probably wondering if they really want to toss Patton out at this time or not. Personally, I think they should -- even though the Lt. Gov. is an incompetent fool. But, I can also make a good case for leaving a very damaged lame-duck governor in office for another year. After all, Republican candidates wouldn't even have to mention the corruption of the Democrats, just smile and snicker a little. If I were running a campaign for the Republican candidate, it would be helpful to keep Patton in office for a couple rather significant reasons:
First, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission will start an investigation in a month or two and that information will turn up a number of interesting facts. Of course, they will also take their good old time about it and probably run out the term of Patton's office. But, that is good for Republicans. Because, it means that the information will play in the news for months to come.
Second: This will leave the Lt. Governor looking like his incompetent self and would also not allow any other Democrats with their eye on the governorship to come off looking like stars in the media. The Attorney General comes to mind here. He needs to stay muzzled.
I guess my point is, while we know that Patton should be removed from office immediately, I can also see politically useful reasons for letting his disgraced carcass dangle in that position for yet another year. His last public use would be to help the Republicans capture the whole of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky -- for the first time in history.
Such could very well be the legacy of Paul Patton.
There's good and bad in everything, eh?
She left Frankfort and went to Pikeville right away (after he finally confessed to her and the family) - and it is reported that she feels totally betrayed and humiliated by her husband.
I do believe that there is a LOT more to come on this.
Stay tuned.
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