Posted on 03/06/2014 9:11:34 AM PST by cotton1706
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) received a lukewarm reception from conservatives gathered for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, despite delivering a speech full of conservative red meat.
The Senate minority leader's address came as he faces a fierce primary challenge from his right flank and frustration from conservatives with his role in a number of contentious policy debates this year, most recently his vote to raise the debt limit.
He arrived on stage accompanied by retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), whom he thanked for his service to the movement with the gift of a rifle and framed the rest of his speech as an homage to the "truths" Coburn has told during his time in office, and pledged to make the Senate a place Coburn would "be proud of" if he's the GOP leader next year.
But despite frequent attacks on Democrats, his address received only scattered, polite applause.
McConnell jabbed at Obama for treating our Constitution worse than a placemat at dinner, a line that received appreciative laughs from the crowd.
He knocked Democrats on the IRS scrutiny of conservative organizations, pledging to fight this thing with everything weve got, and charged that president Obama and the Democratic Senate have literally failed working families.
One of his sharpest jabs, against the media, fell flat.
"Theyre too busy trying to fix Benghazi for Hillary, or playing defense for Harry Reids latest smear campaign," he said.
And though he pledged that, if given the opportunity to lead the Senate, "I won't let you down," the crowd again responded with hesitant applause.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Retire old man!!!!
Why must CPAC ALWAYS be held in DC? Can’t they have it in other cities from time to time?
Talk is cheap. Didn’t appear to have much to say about his RECORD as Senate Minority Leader. I wonder why?
Yeah, the ‘ol, “I’m a tough Conservative” during election time only to go back to the clubhouse for tea with the Democrats pledging never to rock the boat.
Get lost!
Collaborator, capitulator, RINO. I trust him about as far as I can throw Oprah
I’ve never been enthralled with the man.
But lately all the more so since he’s started sticking his nose into the race for US Senator up here in Minnesota. There’s more than likely gonna be a primary in August and the person he’s backing has deep financial pockets - but is ideologically questionable.
Mitch McQuizzling.
Sorry.
Mitch McQuisling.
“Why must CPAC ALWAYS be held in DC? Cant they have it in other cities from time to time?”
Why should it EVER be held in the District of Corruption?
Agreed. That’s what keeps me away. FAR away.
Here’s some good analysis of how this year is shaking down the GOPe and the position McConnell will soon find himself in, if he survives his primary (from Breitbart TX member):
David 2 hours ago
Think it through. We un-seat Cornyn and all strut around proud of ourselves for beating the crap out of the bully. Then what
. We get a Freshman Senator with no power, and all he can really do is vote and cause a little trouble.
Only one person can filibuster at a time and we already have someone who is darn good at that. Cruz is one of the smartest strategist and lawyers on Capitol Hill. Ask yourself why did Cruz NOT endorse Stockman or Stovall? Because he needed someone with power that he could manipulate. This worked our perfectly, Cornyn only got 59% of the vote, that makes him very weak in the eyes of those around him. Cruz, if he ran tomorrow would have 100%. Politics is UGLY and Cruz is playing the game brilliantly. I can only imagine the manipulation that goes on in the Senate and if you have nothing but pawns on your chessboard you will lose.
Once again Cruz shows us that (1) he has our best interest in mind and (2) he is
much smarter than all of us. No reason to be angry that Cornyn won, just watch the chess game (and Cornyns career) unfold. Cruz will not forget or forgive what Cornyn did to him
Maybe he could start by being as obstructive as Harry Reid was when he was minority leader.
Harry Reid shouldn't be such a hard standard to meet.
This poster was illuminating and responding to the post declaring ‘Cornyn is now Cruz’ &itch’.
Should have been cold as ice. Not lukewarm.
Did y’all see Drudge? He has fatboy up as getting a standing O at CPAC.
no way
Hesitant applause?
I think that was the sound of a room full of face palming.
McConnell’s and Christie’s appearances today at CPAC reminded me how right was Palin’s decision to stay away from CPAC a few times when invited in past years. Wish she wasn’t appearing this year. CPAC still only leans conservative.
Agree with David’s comments.
Why was he even invited to speak at a Conservative gathering? Are they going to invite Matt Bevin?
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