What Mitch McConnell didn't say in this interview is the scariest part

by Jen Hayden

Community

Thursday, Apr. 07, 2022 Thursday, Apr. 07, 2022 at 10:35:47am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 01: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY (C) sits as members of U.S. President Joe Biden's cabinet stand and applaud during the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol's House Chamber March 01, 2022 in Washington, DC. During his first State of the Union address Biden spoke on his administration's efforts to lead a global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, work to curb inflation and to bring the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) — Mitch McConnell with Merrick Garland in view

Mitch McConnell sat for an interview with Jonathan Swan from Axios, and while McConnell offered commentary on everything from the Republican candidates accused of violent conduct toward women (more on that below) and whether he would support Trump again if he were the 2024 nominee (he would), it was what he didn’t say that is the most troubling.

In short, McConnell refused to say whether Republicans would allow a vote on a potential Supreme Court nomination next year if Republicans regain control of the Senate. Jonathan Swan sounded incredulous at McConnell’s refusal to answer and rightly said it sounded as if McConnell was formulating a plan to obstruct a future nominee during a non-election year. This is as big of a red flashing warning sign as I have ever seen. Pull up a chair and listen up:

Mitch McConnell repeatedly declines to answer @jonathanvswan whether he would hold hearings if a Supreme Court seat opens next year and Republicans take the Senate:

• "I'm suggesting that I'm not going to answer your question."

• "I choose not to answer the question." pic.twitter.com/Ezi6I3MEmH
— Axios (@axios) April 7, 2022

Republicans like Mitch McConnell aren’t even pretending anymore. They have wrestled control of the Supreme Court from the majority and they intend to keep it at all costs. Norms, standards, decency, bipartisanship will all be cast aside if Republicans win again.

When questioned about Clarence Thomas’s highly questionable ethics, he repeatedly reiterated his “complete confidence” that Justice Thomas would recuse himself if needed. Except, as we all know, he didn’t do that when he had voted against turning over text messages to the January 6th Committee that implicated his wife in the January 6th planning.

.@jonathanvswan: Why should Americans feel comfortable with Justice Thomas ruling on cases related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the election when his wife was strategizing with the WH on the issue?

McConnell: “Nobody” has questioned his ethics

Swan: "Plenty of people have" pic.twitter.com/ywAIxom3Pw
— Axios (@axios) April 7, 2022

As far as the two candidates in Senate races who have been accused of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual violence, he can’t even muster a condemnation.

McConnell on whether Missouri GOP Senate candidate Eric Greitens is electable, despite the allegations against him:

“I think the voters in the Missouri primary will take all of that into account.” pic.twitter.com/PXLFWAmWjr
— Axios (@axios) April 7, 2022

Lasty, when asked where he draws moral redlines, he couldn’t answer.

.@jonathanvswan asks Mitch McConnell where he draws his moral redlines pic.twitter.com/is7WZqSuhx
— Axios (@axios) April 7, 2022

I know y’all are tired, but we are going to have to motivate, organize and get out to vote again in November. Are you up for the fight?

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