Landham pulls no punches in announcing Senate bid

Sonny Landham announces his bid as Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate: Politicker photo

FRANKFORT -- Former actor Sonny Landham minced no words about his new-found opponents in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, as he announced his bid as the Libertarian nominee during an afternoon press conference in Frankfort today.

Incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) was on the receiving end of many of Landham's pointed words, with the new challenger alternately referring to the four-term Republican as "Boss Hogg" and "Senator Hogg."

"I consider Boss Hogg McConnell a traitor to the state of Kentucky, because he has no idea and doesn't care what the people of Kentucky want or need," said Landham.

"Boss Hogg" is, of course, a reference to the fictional Hazzard County Commissioner Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg of the television program Dukes of Hazzard - a white-suit wearing characterization of a corrupt local Georgia politician.

Landham - a Georgia native now residing in Ashland - also called McConnell a "co-conspirator to murder" for his support of the war in Iraq, and then spoke of his support of the impeachment of President Bush.

"These people should be in prison, but at least let's get them out of Washington," said Landham.

The newest addition to the Senate field, Landham secured the Libertarian Party of Kentucky's nomination after members of that party's executive committee approved his candidacy on Sunday.

In order to secure placement on Kentucky ballots, Landham must still collect 5,000 petition signatures. The Libertarian Party is currently circulating petitions across the state in support of both Landham's candidacy and that of their party's presidential nominee, former U.S. Rep Bob Barr.

This Senate bid is not Landham's first flirtation with politics. He briefly joined the Republican Gubernatorial primary race in 2003 before considering an independent bid, and then ultimately dropping out.

Now, Landham says he feels the Republican Party and McConnell have moved away from his political beliefs.

"I never left the Republican party, the Republican party left me," said Landham. "Boss Hogg wants to run an exclusive club, not an inclusive club."

With a presidential candidate also on the Libertarian ballot, Landham also expressed doubts about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"You look at John McCain - that is not my type of Republican," said Landham. "John McCain has some severe personality and mental problems because he can't even figure out who John McCain is himself."

Landham introduces his family to the media: Politicker photo

Landham also did not spare his Democratic opponent in the Senate race, multi-millionaire Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, who the Libertarian candidate said was "out of touch with the people," given his extensive wealth.

Challenged by members of the Frankfort press corps on a laundry list of issues, Landham took a series of distinct positions.

The candidate rejected the Patriot Act as "a violation of the Constitution and an act of terror upon the American people" and called for a repeal of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"We should not be doing business with any country that does not pay the same pay scale in that country that we pay in America," said Landham with.

Landham also derided the Federal Reserve system as "an enemy of the people" and called for extensive domestic oil drilling - a position mirroring recent legislation sponsored by McConnell.

That legislation, however, was targeted by Landham for being an election-year tactic.

Landham is now the third cast member from the 1987 action film Predator to seek statewide office in the United States. Castmates Jesse Ventura (Reform - Minnesota) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) both won governorships in their respective states.

As an actor, Landham also starred in a series of other action films in the 1980's and early 1990s as well as a string of pornographic features in the 1970s. After a 2 ½ year prison term for a conviction later thrown out upon appeal, Landham moved to Kentucky.

Even though third-party candidates - with a notable exception in Ventura - have struggled to gain ground in elections throughout the country, Landham said his campaign was aiming for success in November.

"I am running to win - not to spoil, not to get Boss Hogg, not to get Lunsford. I plan to win," said Landham. "If anybody listens to the issues and listens to what we have to say, the other two won't even get a vote."

ALSO on PolitickerKY.com:

• Libertarians confident of ballot access; aim to siphon GOP votes 

• Landham jumps into Senate race with Predator pedigree