Controversy Surrounds Manchester CNN Story

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Posted: 6:24 PM May 21, 2008
Last Updated: 6:54 PM May 21, 2008
Reporter: Marie Luby
Email Address: marie.luby@wymtnews.com

9 comments

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Controversy surrounds a CNN story about why some people in Clay County don't vote. The story aired Monday night and we went to Manchester to find out why people are still talking about it.

Images of poverty in Clay County in a CNN story about voting made some in Manchester furious. Senator Robert Stivers thinks the network went out of its way to videotape a stereotype of Eastern Kentucky.

"There are a lot more things happening than a building that is dilapidated and is going to be torn down," Stivers said.

Stivers showed us what he calls the true Manchester, with new community buildings like the children's library and the justice center.

"They want to perpetuate an image of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia that is not good for keeping our people here or drawing new people here," Stivers said.

Stivers says CNN overlooked improvements like literacy programs and cracking down on drug abuse. Others say the spotlight on one of the nation's poorest counties wasn't unfair.

"I didn't think it was that bad," said Manchester Mayor Carmen Lewis.

CNN interviewed Lewis in the story. She says more pleasant pictures don't give Clay County the attention it needs.

"If we're portrayed as we don't need help, then we're not going to get help," Lewis said.

"They're telling the truth, and if this somehow, something positive comes from it, you know that's what we're shooting for," Lewis said.

Senator Stivers invited CNN to re-visit Clay County.

"We know we have our problems, but we are working on them," Stivers said.

So he can show them pictures the rest of the country didn't see.

We contacted CNN Wednesday to ask about their coverage. Calls to the public relations department and the story's producer were not immediately returned.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: unknow Location: london on May 25, 2008 at 05:37 PM
manchester has bad enough of name has it is, the only thing that people can do is put the people down,if its not for drugs it about been pour,somepeople arent talent enought to work like others are. but the way i see it is the people like the rich and famous will be brought down harder then they think,and whene it happens i am going laugh at you people the sameway that you are laughin know, and whene it happens i hope it brings you people down so hard that you wont know the world is goin aroud.Its goin to get u alot sonner than you think.

Posted by: Wanda Location: Manchester on May 22, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I agree with Sen. Stivers. Manchester has come a long way in the last few years, and I think we should show the positive side. There are many well to do, highly educated people in Clay County. I can't imagine why they picked the two worst places to show, Who was the tour guide?

Posted by: J Location: KY on May 22, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Sue, I sure do remember that whole "documentary"...wasn't it 48 hours or something...Dwight Yoakam was on it...I was never so embarrassed in my life..None of these "outsiders" that come in here want to see some of the beautiful homes, the flourishing schools or anything like that. They want to label us as "inbred, ignorant, little abner hillbillies" and that label has obviously stuck. And now that Ky voted overwhelmingly for Clinton, we are now called "racist". It will never change because the "outside" doesn't want it to change. They will never see the actual beauty of Kentucky, just the downside, like we are the only state that has poverty, drug use, etc. Notice how they pick out the people they put on television...They look specifically for these certain types of people. Seems like preconceived notions and prejudice runs both ways, doesn't it?

Posted by: heather Location: Manchester on May 22, 2008 at 09:27 AM
The only thing I can think of that cleaned up Manchester is the federal prison because it now houses a lot of our most notable pillers of the community.

Posted by: james Location: clay county on May 22, 2008 at 09:11 AM
"The city of hope", it's just like someone said yesterday corrupt county and city officials along with all the druggies are just hoping they won't have to leave when busted just go across town to the federal prison.How sad is this????

Posted by: sue Location: pike on May 21, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Remember Muddygut back years ago, it was a stereotype of Eastern Kentucky. Some of those people that were protrayed were better off than most. I knew this to be a fact because I knew some of the people that were protrayed. The producers just wanted to insinuate that Kentucky people were lazy, nasty old hillbillies.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Kentucky on May 21, 2008 at 11:29 PM
This story that was aired on CNN is crazy. It portrays all of eastern Ky like a bunch of hicks that dont have nothing better to do that sit around and complain about things. The reason everyone talks about Clay County being so bad is because of the old days and all the people that have come from there. I know there is good and bad in everyone and I know Clay County has cleaned up a lot. Their right they didnt portray the good in Clay County or the posistive in Clay County like all the new buildings and everything yet they dont care to portray people that say they cant get a job.. Wake up and you can get a job if your able to work, I know London isnt too far from there and I am sure there are plenty of places in Clay Co that would hire you.

Posted by: Proud to be from EKY Location: Letcher on May 21, 2008 at 09:44 PM
We all need a little attention hear in Eastern Kenucky. I would not act as though I didn't have the abilties to fix things on my own, before I called CNN. We can do so much better here, and we are.

Posted by: sinz Location: manchester on May 21, 2008 at 08:59 PM
You gotta b in the click to get help in Manchester nothin is fair

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kentucky on May 21, 2008 at 08:08 PM
I travel all over the state as part of my job, and I can tell you the two places I dread going to the worst are Clay County (hole in the earth with nothing there to make someone want to visit, much less live) and Harlan County (it's so hard to get to due to the poor roads that you're sick to your stomach from all the curves and don't feel like eating when you get there). The people in the area, for the most part, are very good honest people who have been given crap their whole lives. I blame politicians like Stivers for trying to hide how bad it is there and Hal Rogers who represents them in Congress for not telling the truth and getting funding sent their way to maybe change the poorest area in the state, if not nation.

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