McConnell's Absence
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky (pop. 10,000) — I saw Senator Mitch McConnell in person for the first time after I’d nabbed a very hard-to-get ticket to our February 21, 2017 Chamber of Commerce luncheon where he was scheduled to speak.
Donald Trump had just been sworn in as president, and tightly held tickets to town halls with our senators and representatives were a new obstacle. In our little town, the high school across the street had planned to send a group of students, but cancelled at the last minute due to safety concerns. When I checked in at the desk, I was told that I had to sit at a rear table (presumably with other non-supporters of McConnell) and that I was not allowed to change seats or “wander” around at other tables.
Outside, there was a protest and the largest law enforcement presence I’d ever seen in town.
What I remember most about the luncheon is that McConnell spoke for just a few minutes and left shortly after the Q&A started. As soon as someone asked a tough question (I believe it was about healthcare), he was whisked out the side door and gone.
The instant McConnell was gone, a man at my table wearing a Trump hat stood up and starting yelling and pointing at the woman who’d dared to ask the healthcare question.
Today, I do not have any conspiracy theories about McConnell’s long absence from the Senate and the public. What I have — what I think most Kentuckians and Americans have — are real questions that should be answered by a longtime public servant in the United States Senate.
In the last couple of years, McConnell has had public episodes, on camera, in which he freezes and cannot move or speak. The photo and written statement that were released a couple of days ago are not sufficient, if for no other reason, because of these episodes.
If he can speak, why is there no video/audio?
And why has he made no audio or video statement about the sudden death of his longtime colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham?
The conspiracy theories could be easily put to rest. That the team surrounding McConnell is choosing not to do so is incredibly concerning, and the citizens McConnell represents deserve to know if they have representation.
Under Kentucky law, August 3 is the deadline for a special election due to vacancy. State lawmakers stripped the governor of the power to appoint a temporary replacement and could result in the seat remaining empty until the newly elected Senator takes office in January 2027.
I still find it amazing that in all the time I’ve lived in Kentucky, I’ve NEVER seen Mitch McConnell in person, nor had any opportunity to.
I’ve seen or talked to most of my congressional reps, Rand Paul, almost all the Governors, and even two Presidents and multiple candidates for President.
Never once seen Mitch, even at a glance at a local event.
He’s managed to survive 42 years while avoiding constituents.
That seems like a problem we should have solved long ago.
I was part of that outside protest at the CofC luncheon with some of my fellow Bourbon County Dems. (I guess Substack doesn't allow pictures in comments; no great loss) And as far as I can remember, I've never seen Mitch in person either. I don't think he ever holds typical campaign rallies to fire up the unwashed masses. He just schmoozes with the high-dollar donors.