Kelly Craft on why she should be Governor and her desire to lead Kentucky

Kelly Craft discusses why she should be Kentucky's next Governor, the importance of her experience as the Ambassador to Canada and as a business owner, her relationship with Senator Mitch McConnell, President Trump endorsing Daniel Cameron, and her desire to lead Kentucky...

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We've got some time to talk withKelly Kraft, an American businesswoman, of
course, was an ambassador to Canadarepresenting the United States under the Donald Trump
administration. And welcome to the show, Kelly, going to talk to you.
Thank you. What an incredible day, a weekend to be able to
showcase Kentucky so exciting. Yeah,indeed. Well, obviously you're running for

(00:23):
governor here in Kentucky and the gubernatorialthe Republican goubernatorial primary, your ambassadorship.
Notwithstanding you've never held elective office,and of course you're up against people who've
been elected the attorney general of course, a mayor of the agg commissioner,
and the auditor. What makes youthe best candadate to be Kentucky's next Republican

(00:48):
governor? Well, thank you,Terry. What I really want to do
is I want to speak to theaudience that's listening that are undecided or uncertain
to who to vote for. Andwhy am I running for governor? Why
the woman in the arena, Well, it's because I've spent the last twenty
years fighting for our state and ournation, as you just mentioned, as

(01:10):
the first female ambassador to Canada,where I negotiated the largest trade deal in
American history, which brought thousands ofjobs to the state of Kentucky. I
know how to create jobs. Andthen President Trump sent me from Canada to
New York, where I negotiated anotherhistoric moment where the Abraham Accords because of
Israel, and also taking on theChinese Communist Party. So I feel as

(01:34):
if I'm the best qualified. I'mnot a politician. You know, they
talk at you. I've been travelingthe state listening to you, and I
understand what Kentucky needs. I understandthat this is the voters opportunity to change
the direction of this state. AndI feel very strongly I'm not worried about

(01:57):
the next election. This is whatI'm going to fight for this election and
for the future of Kentuckians, forgenerations that I may never see the shade
of those trees. But I'm willingto fight for everyone out there. Well,
you have to worry about running againstDanny Busher if you get past Daniel
Cameron and the other folks I justmentioned Ryan Quarrels and Mike Harmon and Alan

(02:20):
Keck in the primary that's coming up. So you know, with all those
people in there, again, whatmakes you better than those people that are
already in duly elected offices. Well, you know, I grew up where,
you know, with family values,with if you work hard and you
play by the rules, and youdo right by your neighbor, and you
keep your faith in God, thatyou can secure a better life for our

(02:44):
families, our children, our grandchildren. And that is a promise that Kentucky
must always fulfill. And I ambest suited by my public service, by
the jobs that we have created asa family, for the state, by
the education that we have opportunities.My mom was a teacher. I want
to make certain that teachers spend theircareer thinking about their students walking across that

(03:09):
stage. Is that this is graduationseason right now. Every teacher's pride is
in that student receiving a diploma andknowing they're going to reach their full potential.
That's what I want for our teachersto teach our students to have their
full potential. And I have tosay I've done this. I know how
to create jobs, I know howto provide opportunities. Listen, I've been

(03:31):
sitting in classrooms. I went downto the border, I've been down in
coal mines, I've done right alongwith the police. I've been in flood
zones in the flood, I've beenin the tornado area when the tornado's hit.
I've been to revivals. Kentucky needsa revival. We need a revival

(03:53):
in education, in our workforce,participation, in our fight with drugs.
We've got to have a revival wherepeople have dignity, where they know we
all can agree, all of ushave one value. We can agree upon
the benefits of work, and thatbrings us together. And I know that

(04:15):
if we can create pathways out ofpoverty for everyone that is right now listening,
that's thinking, what am I goingto do? Well, here's what
you're going to do. You're goingto have a fighter in Kelly Craft because
I understand the importance of creating dignityfor people. And I think what differentiates
me between this current governor is Iactually am out there listening. I am

(04:39):
not just speaking at people. I'mlistening to people, and you know,
I'm endorsing them. I'm endorsing everysingle person I've been sitting with that I've
been listening to. And it's amovement. It's a movement, and I've
given my word and if this state'sgoing to grow, I'm going to fulfill
my promise. You'll have to worryabout andebus here later. Daniel Cameron and

(05:02):
you, obviously there's been a lotof acrimony between the two of you with
the ads. There's one recently whereyou posted a picture of Daniel Cameron.
Well, whoever is representing you inthe ad next to Mitch McConnell. What's
happening there? Are you and MitchMcConnell no longer friends? Listen? This
ad depicts the fact that Daniel Cameronis a follower. Mitch McConnell has been

(05:26):
his leader. He owes his careerto Mitch McConnell. And this is what
this ad I mean. People caninterpret it the way that they choose,
but it very clearly states Cameron isa follower. McConnell is that leader.
And what I want our state tohave is a leader. And that's what
I am. I listen and Iact. I don't talk. I have

(05:48):
that experience. I don't sign onwith other individuals. I take the lead.
I have the experience, and Ihave to say, you know,
I am the woman in the arena. I'm putting myself out there because I
believe in our state and I knowhow to create opportunities. That's what I

(06:09):
have done every day. That's whatmy husband and I have pledged to do
for the rest of our lives,is to create opportunities. It's not about
this election, Terry, It's aboutthe generations. That's what I'm about.
I'm going to fight for all ofour generations to come. Are you mad
at Senator McConnell about the dark moneypack though that's been helping Daniel Cameron.

(06:30):
You know that is Senator McConnell's decision. What I'm thinking about right now is
winning the primary, moving on todefeat Andy Basher. Because Kentucky can do
better, We are better, wedeserve better, and we are going to
see a new day in Kentucky whenKelly Craft is governor. We're going to

(06:51):
see opportunity that are going to becreated for families, for generations. We're
going to see a workforce that haspride, aid in dignity. We're going
to see abled bodied people working towork themselves out of poverty. And why
does this matter? Because we've gotto achieve Kentucky's dreams. Should people receiving

(07:13):
public benefits have to work for them. I believe that abled bodied individuals without
children should be working. I metwith a woman who has two jobs and
she has a couple of kids,and she's just I mean, she's down
and out and she's trying to makekids meet. I mean, she has
to decide on do I pay electricityor do I pay my groceries? And

(07:35):
this is like on a weekly basis. Why should she be wandering about the
person down the street that's able bodied, without children, dependent children, Why
should they not be working. Itis a passway out of poverty. This
young woman is working. I metwith another another young lady who is in

(07:58):
high school. She's taking care ofher siblings, and she's worried. Do
I go to college, Do Igo to technical school? Do I stay
home with my younger siblings? Howabout do I just go to the prom?
Or do I stay home with myyounger siblings. I want every young
adult to have every opportunity possible,and the state of Kentucky can offer that

(08:22):
with Kelly Craft as governor. Well, you know that Donald Trump, of
course, has endorsed your opponent,Daniel Cameron. You work for President Trump,
So are you still I mean KerryLake, for instance, out in
Arizona, calls herself Trump in heels. Is that a way you would describe
yourself? You know, I wasvery fortunate to be able to achieve historic

(08:46):
agreements with President Trump. We toreup NAFTA, we negotiated, We were
able to bring millions of jobs toAmerica, keep them from being outsourced to
China in Mexico. I mean,think about what was accomplished at the Nighted
Nations. I mean, we werethe first to ever stand up to the
General Assembly to take taxpayer US taxpayerdollars from funding abortion information within the within

(09:11):
the General Assembly, with within allof the UN organizations. I mean,
I fought those un sustainable goals.Listen, countries that were poor or more
poor because they didn't believe in whatAmerica's all about. It is bringing people
out of the path of poverty.So I am proud of our accomplishments.

(09:33):
Donald Trump did not make a choice. I was not in this race.
I got into this arena several monthslater. I got into this arena because
I can get the job done.And you know, I'm endorsing people,
I'm endorsing the listeners, I'm endorsingyou are talking. You're still talking to
President Trump? Have you spoken withhim recently? I have not spoken to

(09:56):
him in several months. Okay,well, I guess you would jump in
and help you if you win.Let's go back to the ket debate.
The other Nidaniel Cameron claimed you haveonly one law enforcement supporter. Is that
correct? You know, let's talkabout law enforcement. I'm endorsing them.
You know, we could have thebest streets, the finest schools that are

(10:20):
teaching family values, skills and knowledge. We could have saved to the art
playgrounds, but it really doesn't matter. If we're afraid to go out of
our house, so our law enforcement. We have to have them to survive.
We've got to back the blue everysingle day. So I'm endorsing them.
And that's the way I look atthis. All of my campaign shirts

(10:43):
will say craft for law enforcement,craft for coal miners. I'm running to
be governor for Kentucky. Do youhave I'm running for you? Do you
have more than one law enforcement supporterof the one we see in the AD?
I am certain that I do becauseI speak with them frequently. But
they know that I have their back, and I'm not asking them They've got

(11:05):
enough on their plate now with tryingto protect our communities, trying to protect
me. These are heroes. Justlook at what occurred in Loyville and how
they showed up so quickly. Theywere able to really avert a bigger tragedy.
You know, our law enforcement,the citizens have helped our emergency management
system. I mean, we haveeverything to be proud of. And I

(11:26):
will tell you that I will bestanding very firm because these men and women
have proven to us. We alllook forward to actually to a day that
they're bored, right, But that'snot happening. So we have to stand
with them, and I'm endorsing them. People talk all the time about the
money you and your husband have.You've loaned nine million dollars to your campaign

(11:48):
thus far, that's an estimate.But the two of you signed a pledge
though, a commitment to give awaymost of your financial assets during your lifetime.
Is that correct? And how faralong are you your sixty one,
he's seventy three. Have you givenaway have your money or two thirds?
You know we signed this pledge.It in two thousand and twelve, and

(12:09):
you know we signed it because wewant to break barriers We want to remove
barriers from whether it's small businesses,education, job, whatever, it is,
the barrier that is between you andcreating your full potential. So we
every day, you know, wewake up and we think, what are
we going to do today to makethe lives of Kentucky and Is better.

(12:31):
And we're not looking at the amountof money. We're looking at the lives
that we're changing. And we will. We will, as we pledged,
give away the majority of our personalresources. It's because we achieved Kentucky's promise.
We achieved the American dream and wewant to make certain and you know
we're not unique to this. Wejust received opportunity. We received that dream.

(12:54):
You and my husband's from Hazard,He's never forgotten where he comes from.
I'm from Baron County. You know, we've never been privileged. But
what we've done is we've been We'vehad opportunities given to us by other people,
and we want to be those otherpeople now that are giving you,
all the voters opportunities to reach thefull potential. Because i'mus at the bar

(13:18):
high for Kentucky. You said,majority of the results driven leader of your
net worth is going to be givenaway or more more, Okay, all
right, because we want to makecertain that we leave this state a better
place. Obviously, abortion has beena huge issue. We're going to run
out of time here, but Iwanted to get this because you're a woman.
I'm sure that you hear from alot of people. How do you

(13:39):
feel about the abortion law that itwas passed through Kentucky's legislature. You know,
I I am pro life. Myexceptions are the you know, the
life of the mother, this heinouscrime of rape and incest. But we
asked to take a step back,and we've got to look at the mother's
We've got to take care of pregnantwomen. We've got to take care of

(14:01):
after they have their children, andwe must make certain that if they're not
able to provide their children with aloving home, that we cut this red
tape for the adoption process. I'vemet with so many families that would love
nothing more than to have a child, to adopt a child in foster care.
You know, my husband and Ijust provided the Boys and Girls Club

(14:24):
in Glasgow, Kentucky and Barron Countywith a new building that will be able
to allow all of the Boys andGirls club. But you know what the
problem is with that, it's theeighteen year olds. Once they're eighteen,
there's not that safety net. Sothat's one of the reasons we got into
this is we wanted to know thateighteen year olds that don't have a foster
home or a place to go,that we provide them with opportunities with a

(14:46):
geed, with a pathway to success, you know, with college, with
trade school. So I feel asif being pro life is taking that life,
because every every life as important ofthis as they start to grow,
you know, as they start towant to reach their full potential, really
appreciate the time. Today, Iknowld Ted Cruz is coming in to work

(15:09):
on your behalf and that's breaking awayfrom Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. So
that's interesting, Well, you know, it's it's it's not breaking away because
Ted and Heidi are personal friends.And Ted called and offered to come in.
We're going to do get out thevote, and I look at this
as a personal friendship. You know, I would do the same for him,
So I'm very grateful that he's offeredto do this. And I have

(15:31):
to say one thing I thought aboutthis today when we're at the Oaks day,
we've got all the Phillies racing.Can you imagine after you know Riley
Gaines has been traveling around the statewith me, she's a close friend.
Can you imagine if those Phillies lookedover in that race here shortly shortly coming
upright and saw a male horse runningnext to them, three year old phillies

(15:54):
that have done nothing but trained forthis moment. Have you think they would
Bill? Yeah, well, Idon't know what's going to happen in Kentucky.
Yeah, so you're not gonna youdon't want men competing in biologed and
men competing against women. I totallyunderstand. Nope, nope, nope.
I thought about that today when Iwas just thinking about the Oaks, I
thought, you know what, Okay, the good analogy there, so very
good. Yeah. Most horses,though, I think, are more concerned

(16:15):
about getting a peppermint or a carrot. But I appreciate that they want to
get to that. They want toget over that, over that line.
We gotta we gotta get winners today, right, Kelly Kraft, thanks so
much, appreciate your time today.Let's talk again down the road and good
luck. Please get out the vote. Please vote a May sixteenth for Kelly
Kraft for governor. There you go, Kelly Kraft, and let's go down. You