President Donald Trump tried to help Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) combat accusations that he’s a Russian asset on Tuesday. But it turns out it’s the kind of help that McConnell would have preferred not to have since it spectacularly backfired.
Ever since McConnell blocked two Democratic bills that would beef up election security to prevent Russia from interfering in 2020 the way they did in 2016, McConnell has been dubbed “Moscow Mitch” because his refusal to pass sweeping election security measures indicates that he actually wants Russia to meddle in order to help Trump win. The Washington Post even surmised that McConnell may be a Russian asset.
Earlier this week, McConnell responded to his dubious new nickname by accusing Democrats and the media of “McCarthyism” and whined on the Senate floor.
“I was called unpatriotic, un-American and essentially treasonous by a couple of left-wing pundits on the basis of bald-faced lies,” he said. “I was accused of aiding and abetting the very man I’ve singled out as an adversary and opposed for nearly 20 years, Vladimir Putin.”
The problem is that if McConnell really is opposed to Putin, he would want to make American elections as impenetrable as possible instead of blocking bills that would do just that.
Asked about McConnell’s nickname, Trump attempted to defend him by demanding the Washington Post apologize, but fell flat on his face as usual.
“I think The Washington Post is a Russian asset by comparison,” Trump said. “Mitch McConnell loves our country. He’s done a great job. If they actually said that, that Mitch McConnell is an asset of Russia, they ought to be ashamed of themselves, and they ought to apologize. Mitch McConnell is a man that knows less about Russia and Russia influence than even Donald Trump. And I know nothing!”
Here’s the video via Twitter:
President Trump: “Mitch McConnell is a man that knows less about Russia and Russian influence than even Donald Trump, and I know nothing.” https://t.co/QfjCf69waF pic.twitter.com/F5qWzvJBY3
— The Hill (@thehill) July 31, 2019
If both Trump and McConnell know “nothing” about Russia, then they should support efforts to keep Russia from meddling in 2020. It’s their job to know as much as possible about the threat Russia poses to our democracy. Knowing nothing is simply not something to brag about. It’s something that disqualifies both from holding high office.
It’s clear that Russia is attacking our democracy every day, and that Trump and “Moscow Mitch” are only enabling it by refusing to do anything about it.
Featured Image: Screenshot
