Kentucky's Andy Beshear whacks J.D. Vance in VP audition: 'He ain't from here'

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear seemingly auditioned for the job as Kamala Harris' running mate in an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

The twice-elected Democratic governor of a deep-red southern state sidestepped direct questions from co-host Willie Geist about whether he was interested in joining the Democratic ticket, but Beshear did say he would consider the position if asked and took a jab at Donald Trump's running mate in a potential preview of how he would attack him on the debate stage.

"Let me first say, I love my job," Beshear told Geist. "I love serving the people of Kentucky. The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believed I could further help my people and to help this country. I also think, whether I'm asked for that or not, that it's important to be out there, contrasting the vice president and those that she is running against. I believe her record is one of standing up for people, is fighting for the American people, and the record on the other side is just fighting for themselves."

Beshear then whacked Vance, a Middletown, Ohio, native whose 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," has drawn criticism for its disparaging and misleading portrayal of Appalachia.

"I want the American people to know what a Kentuckian is and what they look like, because let me just tell you that J.D. Vance ain't from here," Beshear said. "The nerve that he has to call the people of Kentucky, of eastern Kentucky 'lazy.' Listen, these are the hard-working coal miners that powered the Industrial Revolution, that created the strongest middle class that the world has ever seen, that powered us through two world wars. We should be thanking them, not calling them lazy. So today was an opportunity to both support the vice president, but also to stand up for my people. Nobody calls us names, especially those that have worked hard for the betterment of this country."

The governor next highlighted Vance's extreme anti-abortion views, which include his stated support for a nationwide ban and past criticism of exceptions for rape and incest.

"The vice president is smart and strong, which will make her a good president, but she's also kind, and has empathy, which can make her a great president," Beshear said, "and the contrast between her and those running on the other side couldn't be clearer. As a prosecutor, as an attorney general like I used to be, she prosecuted rapists, domestic abusers, stood for victims and put away those abusers. Now look at the other side, where J.D. Vance calls pregnancy arising from rape 'inconvenient.' No, it's just plain wrong. He suggests that women should stay in abusive relationships. Now, listen, a domestic abuser isn't a man, he's a monster, and no one should support anyone having to stay in those relationships. The vice president is ready. She has my full endorsement. I'm going to do everything I can to support her."

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