Arthur:
Facing the prospect of big Republican losses in the midterm elections, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has begun yet another effort to deflect blame for his own mistakes.
After failing to deliver on the party's promises to repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, and build the border wall, McConnell is determined to avoid responsibility.
Specifically, he's working to lower expectations for the midterm elections and to make President Trump responsible for the fallout.
"We know the wind is going to be in our face. We don’t know whether it’s going to be a Category 3, 4 or 5," McConnell told reporters in a transparent effort to position himself as the victim and to make it look like Republicans are on defense this year even though it's the Democrats who have to defend far more seats.
McConnell's supporters have also begun a coordinated PR campaign to argue that it's President Trump, not Senator McConnell, who is responsible for the outcome of the midterm elections.
One pollster friendly to McConnell said, "If Donald Trump wants to keep a Republican Congress, he has to differentiate when he's attacking Congress in general versus the Republicans in Congress."
Got that?
The establishment is saying that President Trump is the reason why voters don't like Republicans in Congress. Never mind that the GOP leadership has failed to deliver; it's Trump's fault for acknowledging it.
But there's more…
Karl Rove and others are now arguing that Mitch McConnell would have delivered on a robust legislative agenda if not for a string of conservative candidates who cost them seats in past elections.
This is the argument they always pull out when their backs are really against the wall. It's total nonsense.
First, it's Mitch McConnell who has cost Republicans numerous Senate seats by nominating weak establishment candidates and by abandoning viable conservative candidates. And it's Mitch McConnell who continues to insist on passing bills with 60 votes when he has several tools to pass reforms with a simple majority.
Even when he had a chance to repeal Obamacare with just 50 votes, he wouldn't do it!
The truth is that Mitch McConnell does not support a conservative legislative agenda and there is no amount of power that would lead him to pass conservative reforms. He could have 70 Republicans in the Senate and he would still make excuses.
It's time for Senate Republicans to replace Mitch McConnell with a leader who truly believes in limited government, respects and values the grassroots, and will fight for conservative policies.
Sign the petition to Ditch Mitch now!
It's also time to elect more true conservatives to the Senate who truly believe in our principles. Electing more Republicans like Susan Collins (R-ME), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and John McCain (R-AZ) isn't the answer. They can't be counted on to keep their promises.
In fact, Republicans like these fight against conservatives more than they fight against Democrats!
Thank you for doing so much to promote conservative leadership. With your support, we will ultimately replace Mitch McConnell and give Americans a real voice in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Ken Cuccinelli II President Senate Conservatives Action
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