Has Mitch McConnell Lost His Way?

by Rob Bluey | May 25, 2007 9:57 pm

I’ve steadily praised Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) since he became the Senate Republican leader (here[1], here[2] and here[3]). But news reports today have left me questioning McConnell’s leadership. McConnell told Bloomberg[4] he will likely vote for the amnesty deal negotiated by Sen. Teddy Kennedy (D-Mass.) and the White House. (Hat tip to California Yankee at RedState[5].)

What a tremendous disappointment. McConnell, who is up for re-election next year, should know better. He’s won accolades among conservatives for his steady leadership and savvy work blocking Democrat-sponsored legislation. But his support for the amnesty bill will undo much of that.

I was also disappointed to learn today that McConnell and other GOP leaders have stalled many Republican-sponsored amendments from even coming up for a vote. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has offered an amendment[6] to strip the bill of language that would allow gang members to remain in the United States, couldn’t get a vote this week. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) had his amendment to remove the amnesty section of the bill[7] temporarily blocked by fellow Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) yesterday.

Conservatives have an opportunity to do something next week when senators are home on their Memorial Day vacation. A week after that, we better be prepared for battle.

Endnotes:
  1. here: http://robertbluey.com/blog/2007/03/01/mitch-mcconnell-keeps-the-senate-gop-united/
  2. here: http://robertbluey.com/blog/2007/02/21/where-have-you-been-mitch-mcconnell/
  3. here: http://robertbluey.com/blog/2007/01/04/mitch-mcconnell-makes-bloggers-a-priority/
  4. Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aAmHAHTddF84&refer=home
  5. RedState: http://redstate.com/redhot#redhot-32848
  6. offered an amendment: http://cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=record&lid=1&yid=1&rid=237453&pg=1
  7. remove the amnesty section of the bill: http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=PressRoom/PressItem&ID=23cd6e11-99ce-439a-b8f3-5a361ca4d356

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