His guy lost in Alabama. He failed to put Obamacare repeal through to the president’s desk. He’s got Breitbart’s Stephen Bannon gunning for the establishment Republicans that he considers his allies on Capitol Hill. Furthermore, his relationship with the president of the United States is reportedly strained, limiting his power and thwarting his ability to get tax reform done this fall. He’s Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, and he’s quickly becoming Public Enemy #1 among angry conservative voters.
Now several conservative activists are calling on McConnell to wake up and realize it’s over. Brent Bozell, Ken Cuccinelli, David Bozell, Adam Brandon, and Richard Viguerie are asking McConnell and four other top Republican senators to step down from their positions in the Republican leadership to make way for a new crop of pro-Trump politicians. In a statement, the five activists said that Sens. John Cornyn, Roy Blunt, John Thune, and John Carasso should join McConnell in the back of the pack while better leadership takes over the Senate.
“2017 has been a disappointing year for the millions of Americans who fully expected, and had every right to expect real change in Washington,” they said at a press conference. “Republicans were given full control of the federal government. They — you — have done nothing. Worse, it is painfully clear that you intend to do nothing because, as is most apparent, you had no intention of honoring your solemn commitments to the American people. You were not going to ‘drain the swamp.’ You are the swamp.”
In a letter to the Senate leadership, the group outlined the failures of the party.
“You and the rest of your leadership team were given the majority because you pledged to stop the steady flow of illegal immigration,” they wrote. “You have done nothing. You pledged to reduce the size of this oppressive federal government. You have done nothing. You pledged to reduce, and ultimately eliminate the out-of-control deficit spending that is bankrupting America. You have done nothing. You promised to repeal Obamacare, ‘root and branch.’ You have done nothing. You promised tax reform. You have done nothing.”
It’s probably not for nothing that the activists made this demand in a week where the Senate was inexplicably not in session. If Congress wants to take a hundred vacations from their grueling legislative schedule, that’s fine and dandy. But it irks the American people when they’re back home celebrating Columbus Day for a week while sitting on more than 200 unpassed bills. Maybe, oh we don’t know, get back to Washington and do your damn jobs?
