Some will recall the emergence of a video during the 2012 election campaign that had been secretly recorded of Mitt Romney speaking to a group of wealthy people, cementing even further his image as a plutocrat who had contempt for the poor. Now a similar audio recording of Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell pandering to billionaires at a closed-door meeting has emerged.
At a Koch Brothers-hosted secret strategy conference of right-wing millionaire and billionaire political activists in June, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) promised that if his party wins control of the United States Senate this November, the Senate will not waste time on things like increasing the minimum wage for people making only about $15,000 annually. Instead, audio of his remarks obtained by The Nation reveals, his Senate will focus on repealing Wall Street reforms, environmental protections, and affordable healthcare.
McConnell spoke at an annual event hosted by oil billionaires Charles and David Koch at the St. Regis Monarch Bay resort in Dana Point, CA. The conference, titled “American Courage: Our Commitment to a Free Society,” reportedly attracted hundreds of the nation’s wealthiest individuals and aimed to raise $500 million toward making McConnell the Senate majority leader next year and another $500 million to defeat a potential Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.
McConnell, who has been attacked by his opponent for voting 17 times against minimum wage increases, made it clear that under his leadership there would not be any increase in the current $7.25 federal minimum wage. “And we’re not going to be debating all these gosh darn proposals. That’s all we do in the Senate is vote on things like raising the minimum wage,” he told the billionaires in attendance.
Given the ubiquity of recording devices and the increased ability to freely disseminate audio and video widely bypassing traditional news outlets, it is becoming increasingly hard for people to tailor their message to specific audiences at ‘secret’ strategy sessions. If more than a handful of people are present, and it is a catered event, then word will leak out. And that is a good thing.
…the Senate will not waste time on things like increasing the minimum wage for people making only about $15,000 annually. Instead, audio of his remarks obtained by The Nation reveals, his Senate will focus on repealing Wall Street reforms, environmental protections, and affordable healthcare.
What’s secret about this? Don’t the Republicans already stand for these things openly and proudly?
Honestly, I was under the impression that most Republicans know their guy is corrupt, they just believe the democrats are more corrupt and also work for the Feminist Jews or whatever.
But I do think it’s telling that he’s saying that giving him more power and he will just be more obstructionist and ridiculous. Generally the answer is “it’s time to get to work helping the American people,” and here he’s saying the opposite.
Chiroptera @ #1:
“What’s secret about this? Don’t the Republicans already stand for these things openly and proudly?”
I agree, that has been their ideology and goal, pretty much for the last fifty years, but that central fact is often obscured and confused by rhetoric and propaganda designed to distract. Seldom is the goal so boldly and clearly stated.
Like the sight of the gallows that clears the mind of extraneous issues, I find this sobering.
I really don’t know who the dems should run in 2016. The Castro twins from Texas were featured on keynote night in 2012 to anoint then as future contenders, but they are barely holding their own in Texas. I am sure that one of then will be a contender for first hispanic president of the US at some point. But they aren’t ready now. Leticia Van De Putte is another long term dark horse from Texas if she can make Lt.Gov. this fall. She may make it even if Wendy Davis loses, and Davis will likely lose.
Hillary is smart and intelligent, but I don’t think she can make it. What we really need is the resurrected LBJ. He’d actually be eligible to run under current law. Sure he’d have no idea what was going on, but he would understand almost everything. You don’t think LBJ wouldn’t mobilize the Guard and order all police out of Ferguson? Even Ike could have figured that out.