McConnell fundraiser: Wives have 'obligation' to sleep with husbands

From The Hill:

A conservative talk-radio host who has argued wives “ought to consent to at least some form of sexual relations as much as possible,” regardless of their “mood,” will co-host a Wednesday fundraiser for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Dennis Prager, a prominent conservative author and talk-radio host, is slated to host a luncheon fundraiser for McConnell on Wednesday in California, along with talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt, Salem Communications CEO Edward Astinger and California insurance executive John Nelson.

...Writing on TownHall.com in December of 2008, Prager compares a man’s obligation to go to work, regardless of his “mood,” to a woman’s obligation to have sex with her husband.

McConnell meets the press

A great editorial in today's Courier-Journal:

Staff for Mr. McConnell — who is seeking a sixth U.S. Senate term — had a Louisville Metro Police officer bar a reporter with LEO Weekly, an alternative magazine in Louisville, from a campaign press conference Monday.

When Joe Sonka, LEO news editor, attempted to enter the room at Louisville's Hilton Garden Inn with other reporters gathered for a news conference, an LMPD officer blocked his access, according to Courier-Journal political writer Joseph Gerth.

No one with the campaign offered any plausible answers why.

Kentucky Republican assault on education standards

A couple of great editorials from Kentucky newspapers. First up, the Courier-Journal with "A backward bill":

Senate Bill 224, filed March 6 — the last day to file new Senate bills — is aimed squarely at the state’s Core Academic Standards, based on the national Common Core standards, as well as the new Next Generation Science Standards.

The standards have drawn widespread support from professional educators and scientists including Lee Todd, the well-respected former president of the University of Kentucky who has told legislators they have no time to waste in upgrading public education to get more students ready for college and careers.

...Sponsors of SB 224 — Republican senators John Schickel, Katie Stine, Paul Hornback and Damon Thayer — would block (the Next Generation Science Standards) as well as abolish the Common Core standards.

And from the Herald-Leader, "Abandoning new standards would hurt Ky. schools":

The Republican lawmakers who are trying to force Kentucky's public schools to abandon the Common Core Standards could use a refresher course in recent history.

...Two of the Republicans who are trying to torpedo the standards in this session — Senate President Pro Tem Katie Stine, R-Southgate, and Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown — were sponsors of the 2009 bill that paved the way for Kentucky to become the first to adopt the Common Core.

...Once (President Obama) was for the standards, some Republicans just reflexively turned against them.

Thayer making GOP look bad

Today's Herald-Leader takes on Damon Thayer:

Kentucky is one of very few states where felons who have served their time are not automatically restored as eligible voters but must petition the governor to regain the franchise. The version (of the voting rights bill) that cleared the House with overwhelming bipartisan support would have automatically made eligible voters of 180,000 Kentuckians.

By the time Thayer got through working it over, what emerged from the Senate would permanently disenfranchise more than half of those 180,000 Kentuckians, according to an analysis by the League of Women Voters.

...Meanwhile, Thayer also is blocking House Bill 5, requiring most state and local government agencies to notify citizens of any electronic breaches of personal information within 35 days.