Mitch McConnell Shows His True Colors

Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has been spending the weekend trying to dig his way out of a hole after he made racially insensitive remarks about African American voters, 

McConnell unexpectedly showed his true colors when he said that African American voters cast ballots at similar rates to Americans-- implying that Black voters are not American and underscoring the widespread belief that Republicans in state legislatures across the country are explicitly seeking to disenfranchise Black voters.

This is not the first time that the Kentucky Senator has been accused of racism.  A descendant of a Confederate soldier and slaveholders, McConnell was seen posing in front of the flag while at a Sons of Confederate Veterans event in Kentucky in the early 1990's.

In 2017, McConnell censured Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren when she attempted to read a letter written by slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.’s widow, Coretta Scott King, to highlight Jeff Sessions’ history of racism during his confirmation as Attorney General. 

At a 2015 event, McConnell also infamously said, "My party does really good with white people and I’m proud of that.”

McConnell also believes that Black history is not a significant part of American history-- once saying that the year 1619 (when enslaved Africans were first brought to the U.S. at Jamestown) was not one of the most important dates in American history.

Whatever McConnell’s beliefs about race, his refusal to support legislation that could improve the lives of many working class, poor, and middle class families— basically anyone who isn’t rich— affects Black Americans the most.

It’s no surprise he has discouraged his colleagues to pass Build Back Better in the Senate. Blocking the legislation has no material impact on his life, even though it could mean a great deal for the families the legislation would invest in.

McConnell’s wealth shields him from the urgency and pain many families have experienced these past two years, so even if his tweets never went viral, his voting record and policy failures say more than enough.