KY-1: Ryan depicts Whitfield with paper bag and McConnell with sock in new Web video

By Trey Pollard, PolitickerKY.com Reporter

The Ryan campaign's presentation of U.S. Rep "Ed Whitfield" (R-Hopkinsville), right, and U.S. Senator "Mitch McConnell" (R-Louisville)

Heather Ryan's (D-Ryan) low-budget campaign effort in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District has taken a turn for the theatrical with the unveiling of two internet videos depicting her opponent, U.S. Rep Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville), as a paper bag puppet. One video even features a cameo appearance from "Mitch McConnell," in the form of a sock puppet with half a set of dentures.

The two videos - entitled "Reprezentin" and "Fancy Farm Fandango" - are the first installments of the planned "Bag Eddie" series. While lacking in technical flair, the videos are a satirical effort to highlight some of the criticisms Ryan has made of Whitfield's voting record.

"Reprezentin" features the paper-bag "Whitfield" - given a gravelly, vaguely Eastern European accent by a puppeteer - lauding "big oil" and pharmaceutical companies in no uncertain terms.

"I represent ‘big oil' because they make me very, very rich," says the puppet. "I also represent pharmaceuticals because they make me very, very happy."

In the past, the Ryan campaign has labeled Whitfield as "Exxon Eddie" for his voting record and personal investments, asserting he was too aligned with large energy companies.

With admittedly few resources to work with, the video also features some rudimentary special effects, including a horse attached to a stick, meant to symbolize Whitfield's favoring of legislation impacting Kentucky's horse industry.

For the campaign, the videos are an attempt to garner attention in a race where the odds are stacked against them, given Whitfield's large campaign warchest and his hold on the 1st District since 1994.

"It's no secret we have no budget. The best way we can address issues is to address them in a satirical kind of way people will remember," Ryan told PolitickerKY.com.

Ryan said the videos - given their presence on internet video portal, YouTube - were obviously targeted for a younger audience, but hoped the appeal would be widespread.

"We hope they are funny, but we hope people realize these are serious issues," said Ryan. "We hope people will talk about them."

The title of the second video -- "Fancy Farm Fandango" -- is a reference to the legendary political forum at the annual western Kentucky barbeque, "Fancy Farm," famous for its rowdy audiences and verbal lambastings.

In that installment, "Whitfield" is joined by the sock-puppet "Mitch McConnell" -- a mock-up of the commonwealth's senior Republican U.S. senator -- for a conversation about concerns over Ryan's candidacy, including the potential that Ryan will target both at Fancy Farm.

Ryan has been earning acclaim in some Democratic circles for her speechmaking. She said she had "big things planned" for her Fancy Farm speech.

"If I don't, I'm going to be disappointing a lot of people," said Ryan. "It should be our premier event."

The video also includes a plug for donations at Ryan's campaign website.

McConnell is also a favored target for the Ryan campaign, with the candidate asserting it was McConnell's influence led to her termination from her position at a Paducah non-profit organization, after she confronted the Senator about the war earlier this year.

McConnell's office denied involvement in that incident.

The videos are not the first time Ryan's campaign has aimed for the outlandish. Earlier, her campaign dispatched an email alert declaring that "everytime someone votes Republican, a cute baby cries."

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