By Phillip Bailey (WFPL)
Louisville, KY – Calling the decision a foolish game of cat and mouse, the president of the Louisville NAACP says Gov. Steve Beshear is snubbing President Barack Obama, and it could cost him votes in the general election.
Mr. Obama is making his first visit as president to the commonwealth today to meet with troops at Fort Campbell, including a private meeting with members of the Navy SEAL team that killed al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. But Beshear will miss the president's visit in order to fulfill his Oak's Day obligations instead. NAACP President Raoul Cuningham says Beshear's excuse is sketchy, and Mr. Obama's biggest supporters are paying attention to the decision.
"And I think the governor needs to hope that African-Americans will not play hide and seek on him this election as he has played on the president. I think the governor is assuming that African-Americans have no place to go. However, it will not assist him in his election in voter turnout," he says.
A Beshear spokesperson White House travel plans weren't confirmed until late Wednesday, however, the schedule was sent to the press in the afternoon.
The governor's office has not returned a request for comment to this story.