After Senator Mitch McConnell stabbed President Trump in the back, he lost a lot of support from Trump supporters, many of whom happen to be voters who put McConnell in office in the first place.
In one of the first steps to hit back at McConnell for betraying the conservative base, the leadership of the Nelson County, Kentucky Republican Party unanimously approved issuing a formal rebuke of McConnell on the evening of January 19.
The eleven members of the executive committee voted on the rebuke about six hours after McConnell spoke on the Senate floor, saying that President Trump was responsible for provoking a violent mob to attack the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on January 6.
After the vote, a censure, or formal rebuke, was issued accusing McConnell of “implying (Trump) and his administration lied about the election,” and stated that “McConnell has abandoned his Republican base that put him in office.”
The censure resolution also “demands (McConnell) retract his statements impugning the honor of President Donald J. Trump.”
McConnell’s comments which led to the censure have angered a lot of conservatives.
“This mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people. And they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like,” McConnell said.
“But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation. Not even for one night,” he added.
“We certified the people’s clear choice for their 46th president,” he continued.
Members who spoke in the Nelson County GOP’s teleconference meeting indicated that the senator’s words amounted to betrayal.
“I think it’s despicable. I think it’s a shame what he did today, because he used us over the past year to get his sorry butt reelected. He used us,” said one of the participants in the call, who is not a member of the committee.
Censuring McConnell “was not good enough,” this caller said, he should be removed from office.
The chair of the local party who organized the call and censure vote, Don Thrasher, noted that there is no provision in the law to recall or remove McConnell. He said that he wished that they had the ability to do so, but with no legal process for removal, the censure vote was the most the county party could issue.
“We could call for his resignation, but you know how that would fly over,” Thrasher said.
Another caller during the teleconference said that McConnell’s staff hung up on her when she called his office.
“He’s a RINO,” the caller said, using an acronym which means “Republican In Name Only.”
“If you’re trying to build bridges, there’s no bridges in a fraudulent election,” the caller added.
More Possible Backlash for McConnell
Thrasher not only organized the censure at the county level, he has also organized a meeting of the state committee of the Republican Party of Kentucky.
According to Thrasher, he has gathered at least 55 signatures on a petition to call a special meeting. State Chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky, Mac Brown, issued an email announcing a virtual meeting which could include more than 350 officials.
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 23, and its stated purpose is to consider a resolution that “respectfully asks” Senator McConnell “to stand with President Trump and publicly condemn this divisive and unnecessary second impeachment.”
Hopefully, McConnell sees these actions being taken against him and realizes the grave mistake he has made, but it is unlikely that he will change his mind. The establishment “Republican” seems to have made his choice.
