At Fancy Farm, Old Jabs At McConnell Take On New Meaning Amid Health Concerns

Picnics at Kentucky's Fancy Farm have long been known for being noisy, so Monday - in typical Fancy Farm fashion - takes place. Mitch McConnell was greeted with mixed cheers and boos at the state's major political event last weekend.

But among the loudest and longest pauses have been calls for retirement.

On Saturday, McConnell, 81, spoke at the 143rd Fancy Farm Picnic, which pitted Republicans and Democrats against thousands of Kentucky voters. The show is notoriously extravagant - insults, one-liners and boisterous mobs are a tradition.

"Guys, I'll be honest, it wasn't hard for Republicans to look good today," McConnell told an audience that included many Democrats to "retire" and "throw out Mitch."

In response to the statement, a spokesman for McConnell's office told NPR Monday, "It wouldn't be fancy farm if the Democrats didn't condemn every Republican and vice versa — it's been a very fortunate occasion for decades."

Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron also made loud speeches before McConnell took the stage.

McConnell, Kentucky's longest-serving senator, had previously been forced to resign at the same event. However, due to growing concerns and speculation about his health and age, there have been calls for his resignation that year.

Less than two weeks ago, McConnell suddenly froze for about 30 seconds during his weekly press conference. In March, the Kentucky senator spent five days in the hospital after tripping over dinner and suffering a concussion and a small broken rib.

Linda Blackford, opinion columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader , said Kentuckians were interested to see if McConnell would attend the event because of his recent health crisis. Blackford, who attended McConnell's afternoon address, said Saturday that he had lived up to expectations.

"He looked a little shaky, a little frail, but he gave a very powerful speech," he said.

McConnell ignored the protests and went ahead with his speech - in which he slammed both Bessier and President Joe Biden. Former President Donald Trump was not mentioned at all.

The senator also received several rounds of applause onstage, notably when he said, "In the Senate, I work to make sure Kentucky pushes beyond its limits."

Blackford said over the weekend that McConnell's popularity with Republicans in his state overshadowed concerns about his health.

"To many Kentuckers, he's just a godfather figure. So I don't think the fancy farm folk talk about it that much," he said, referring to McConnell's age.

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