A columnist from Kentucky’s largest newspaper has sparked discussion with a “pre-obituary” of Senator Mitch McConnell. He claims that McConnell, once a supporter of civil rights, dismantled protections and enabled President Donald Trump despite holding a negative private opinion of him.
The piece by Joseph Gerth, published in the Louisville Courier Journal, aims to summarize McConnell’s career while the senator is still alive. Gerth expressed that this timing avoids criticism about speaking ill of the deceased. This was noted following online backlash over comments after Senator Lindsey Graham’s recent death.
Mitch McConnell Compared to Nixon
In his column, Gerth likened McConnell to Richard Nixon, suggesting McConnell is equally disliked but has not faced consequences for his actions. He highlighted McConnell’s blocking of Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination in 2016 only to later rush Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation before the 2020 election. This decision, according to Gerth, eroded the court’s credibility, as shown by polling declines from 58% approval in July 2020 to 36% in a recent Economist/YouGov survey.
Health and Senate Activity
McConnell’s prolonged absence from the public eye has led to speculations about his health. Absent from every Senate roll call vote since June 11, his office shared that his absence stems from a fall and pneumonia. However, skepticism remains due to earlier health scares.
McConnell’s Political Career
First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell was Kentucky’s first Republican statewide winner since 1968. His early years involved civil rights advocacy. Over the decades, he became a prominent Republican leader, supporting significant legislation, such as the 2017 tax reform bill.
His complex relationship with Trump initially included support for his agenda and Supreme Court nominations. However, post-2020 election tensions arose after McConnell acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory and criticized Trump’s role in the Capitol riot. Despite these tensions, McConnell endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign and later announced he wouldn’t seek reelection after his term ending in 2025.
Health Disclosure Debates
McConnell’s absence has renewed talks on Congress’s health disclosure rules. Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres has proposed the Duty of Transparency Act, calling for public notifications of extended absences and their expected duration.
Currently, Congress members aren’t mandated to explain missed votes or disclose health issues, though some have done so voluntarily. For example, Senator John Fetterman’s office provided updates when he was hospitalized in early 2023.
Age and Fitness of Senators
The recent focus on McConnell and Graham’s health highlights concerns about the advanced ages in the Senate, where the average age is 65, and more than a third are over 70.
Currently, the Senate comprises 36 members aged 70 or older, with Chuck Grassley, 92, being the eldest. Republicans and Democrats have similarly aged memberships, although Republicans lead slightly in the number of members in their 70s.