Thoughts from a Kentuckian on Donald Trump and the Bluegrass State

With the healthcare bill still being a topic of discussion, I have seen several inquiries about why a place like Kentucky, by most measures one of the poorer states in the nation, would vote against their own interest?

“It doesn’t make sense.” “They’re brainwashed by the GOP.” “They shouldn’t be allowed to vote.”

Those are just a few of the comments you see online and hear from national people talking about the issues.

There’s just one thing…

You can’t begin to understand Kentucky until you’ve lived in Kentucky. Being born and raised and currently living in Central Kentucky, it is a lot easier to get a pulse on the mindset, attitudes, and views of Kentuckians when you interact with them and especially for me, grew up in the environment.

It’s a unique place, all in all. In all reality, there is something for almost everyone. If you prefer living in a city, Lexington and Louisville provide that city atmosphere while not being uncomfortably overpopulated. There are college towns like Bowling Green, Richmond, Murray, etc. There is the agriculture of Western Kentucky, the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, the horse farms of Central Kentucky, and the rural parts of Southern Kentucky.

There used to be a shirt several years ago that had a variant for every state that read “It’s a Kentucky Thing, Y’all Wouldn’t Understand” and honestly, I think it really fits for this state.

And being someone in a state where Trump had the fourth largest margin of victory and especially the areas I live/work in where he won 70/75 percent of the vote (or more), I interact with a lot of people that supported and voted for him.

So granted, this article should’ve been written a long time ago, but since the election, I have been able to really gather my thoughts and get an idea of the mindset of a lot of people.

1. First off, there are a lot of people (and I mean a lot) in this state that voted for Donald because they couldn’t stomach the thought of voting for Clinton. There are a lot of people that just hated his rhetoric at times, but couldn’t stand the thought of a HRC presidency.
2. Many Kentuckians feel like the U.S. Democratic Party has lost all connection with them and they are invisible in their eyes. Nobody likes to feel like they are forgotten and not cared about, and to be honest, it is hard to blame them. Kentucky Sports Radio’s Matt Jones really brought this out in a great piece you can find here.
3. People feel like their way of life is under attack. This one probably will draw some controversy, but spend some time in rural Kentucky and you will see this close up. A lot of people feel like they are under attack for not conforming to ways of life in other places, namely New York, California, etc. that are predominantly left-leaning states. It probably doesn’t make a ton of sense, but there are people all across this Commonwealth that feel like they are coming under fire for their religious beliefs, their stances on guns, and traditional values.

Donald Trump gave a voice to the issues Kentuckians face, including coal, and it resonated. He advocated for religious freedom, another major sticking point. He spoke about being pro-life, another big aspect.

Whether he actually believes many of these things is debatable, but one thing isn’t. For the first time in a long time, a lot of Kentuckians felt like they had a candidate that represented their interests.

Most people already have their preconceived notions about Kentuckians. We’re backwoods rednecks, clinging to our God and our guns. For some reason, we don’t wear shoes. To many, Kentucky means bourbon, basketball, fried chicken, and horse racing, in no particular order.

But I know a different Kentucky.

Drive down the street in Kentucky for a few minutes and a dozen or so people driving on the opposite side will wave as you go by. Go through a drive-thru fast food restaurant and you just might find out the person in front of you paid for your food. Walk down the side of a highway and I guarantee more than a couple people will slow down and ask where you’re going and if you need a ride (and you can feel comfortable hitching a ride with them). If you’re in need, the people in your community and probably the ones surrounding you will help you out. It may not be much, but they will help the best they can.

The people of Kentucky are some of the nicest/friendliest/most caring people you will ever be around. People who come from other states are quick to point that out.

I’m glad to be a Kentuckian.