McConnell Won't Call For Reid's Resignation

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declined Tuesday to push for the resignation of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

"I think that is an issue for the Democratic conference," McConnell said at a press conference, repeating himself twice when pressed. "Who is going to be the Democratic leader of the Senate is up to the Democratic conference."

Reid has taken heat for his quotes in a new book about the 2008 presidential campaign in which he said that it was to then-candidate Barack Obama's advantage that he was "light-skinned" and "with no Negro dialect."

It's telling that McConnell isn't throwing the comments in Reid's face. So far, the most prominent Republicans to call for Reid to step down are Sen. John Cornyn, responsible for fundraising as the head of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, whose primary responsibility is banking money for the GOP.

Steele, himself, has had trouble keeping his foot out of his mouth, and McConnell advised the party chairman to stay focused on Republican causes.

"The chairman of the Republican National Committee, whether it's this one or any other chairman we've ever had or will have, will be measured in two ways: number one, how much money did you raise, and number two, how many elections did you win? And that standard will be applied to this chairman as it has to others," McConnell said.

Steele has tried to link Reid's comments with the ouster of Republican leader Trent Lott, who said in 2002 that the United States would be better off if avowed segregationist Strom Thurmond had become president in 1948.

But even Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who now holds Lott's old seat, tried to shift the focus at Tuesday's press conference to Democratic positions on Afghanistan and health care.

"There is a particular interest in our state because of what Senator Lott went through," Wicker conceded, but he said Reid's leadership shouldn't hinge on the opinions of fellow politicos. "I think the decision with regard to Senator Reid will be made by the voters of Nevada," he said.

Comments

[billos]

03:09 AM on 01/14/2010

As my senator in my home state, McConnell has been a long player of politics in the senate for Ky. This goes to show the more cool headed side of a republican party figure on a matter like this. Basically not a fight worth battling except to stir confusion and campaign dollars. McConnell is a slickyen and knows how to put nasty stuff out there during campaigns and play's serious dirty politics. This comparison of reid to lott is nonsense and McConnell speaking out against it exemplifies that. At a state level in ky he knows that atleast for the bluegrass state this is'nt going to persuade votes. He's busy being sabatous in other ways.

[iMissMollyIvins]

04:30 PM on 01/13/2010

Yeah Mitch, you and your pals really don't want a piece of that fight.

[lvdragonlady]

04:27 PM on 01/13/2010

Let's call for Mitch to resign, we are tired of him and his party.

[LittleMittens]

10:49 AM on 01/13/2010

Of course he won't call for Reid to step down. Racism is a social issue indicative of republicans, a core gop principle, one they will always win with. If they ask Reid to step down, then let us reflect on the racism of the republicans who grilled Sotomeyor.

[WakingLife]

03:44 AM on 01/13/2010

I'm not a praying woman, but I want this man to remain minority leader. For all the complaints about Reid, we could be having *this* guy instead.

[Zombeaver]

01:02 AM on 01/13/2010

McConnell Won't Call For Reid's Resignation - Whew! Because people REALLY care what he thinks.

[springsm]

12:53 AM on 01/13/2010

Big of you Mitch boy. However, I would like to ask for your resignation for your treasonous behavior. And you wouldn't want the kettle finding out how the pot speaks about Af AM would you....you total lying smirky hypocrit you.

[donbrown]

11:58 PM on 01/12/2010

It's hard for me to understand what the big deal about Reid's statement is for Republicans.

All he said was that Obama was electable because people like them might vote for him because he wasn't "too black."

And he was right.

[VikingQuest]

11:22 PM on 01/12/2010

Considering Harry is going to lose his seat in November . . . they want him in place.

There are 4 Rs running for his seat . . . all of them polling well and beating Reid by 10 points.

[mongus]

10:36 PM on 01/12/2010

Go right ahead Mitch, as long as you ask for Senator Ensign's resignation at the same time.

[crablover]

11:04 PM on 01/12/2010

Hah! Excellent comment!

[joedaplumper]

09:39 PM on 01/12/2010

Is it just me, or does Mitch's underwear seem too tight.

[mongus]

10:57 PM on 01/12/2010

If you look carefully in the photo, you can see Cantor and Boehner giving him a 'wedgie'.

[mcmutter]

09:10 PM on 01/12/2010

Mitch should move back to China with his in-laws ..... he won't be missed here

[BryDem]

07:20 PM on 01/12/2010

How is this photo not considered porn? Look at that big d&*k!

[keith1963]

07:10 PM on 01/12/2010

Everytime I see this man he looks like he got smacked in the mug with a skillet a la Tom & Jerry.

[roshni]

06:56 PM on 01/12/2010

Chinless has plenty of stuff that could be brought up against him. He does not want to open this can of worms.

[wanda665]

07:56 PM on 01/12/2010

Oh you can bet on that, roshni.