McConnell struggles to defend voting record on women’s issues

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mcconnell-struggles-defend-voting-record

McConnell struggles to defend voting record on women’s issues
11/26/13 09:15 AM
By Steve Benen


Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), facing a tough re-election campaign, seems to be going out of his way to appear moderate, if not progressive, on several key issued related to women. It’s not going well.

In August, for example, McConnell’s campaign boasted that the Kentucky senator is a long-time supporter of the Violence Against Women Act. This wasn’t true – he voted against VAWA in 1994, 2012, and 2013 – and instead of defending his record, McConnell tried to mislead the public.

A similar situation came up late last week. Facing criticism from Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D), Team McConnell told another whopper.

“As the father of three daughters, fair pay for women is more than a talking point for Sen. McConnell,” said campaign spokeswoman Allison Moore. “It’s something he’s worked to achieve his entire career by setting an example for others and promoting thoughtful policies to ensure talent overcomes bias.”

Actually, no, it’s not.

Remember the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act? McConnell voted against it – twice. Remember the Paycheck Fairness Act? McConnell voted against it, too – twice.

Fair pay for women is something McConnell’s “worked to achieve his entire career”? Has his campaign spokesperson seen the senator’s voting record?

The fact remains that McConnell shouldn’t struggle this badly to explain his own positions – if he can’t defend the votes he’s cast, maybe he shouldn’t have cast them. The senator’s task is to tell voters why he repeatedly voted to kill the Violence Against Women Act, not pretend he supported it. He now needs to persuade Kentuckians he was right to oppose the Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, not masquerade as a champion of pay equity.

If the senator is struggling with women voters, he can either apologize for his votes or explain his votes on the merits. Willful deception only adds insult to injury.

[monmouth3]

1. I think it's time to put a fork in him, he is definitely done...n/t

[brer cat]

2. Willful deception works

if no one calls him on it, and it takes more than Rachel to reach the voters. I don't know how to get MSM to call out his lies.

[BrotherIvan]

3. Not only that, the voters need to be willing to hear

For so long, the republicans have been so successful in producing a few hot button issues and then getting people to stop listening about anything else. If they can convince people that the democrat will take away their guns and give all their tax dollars to Planned Parenthood, the turtle is going back to Washington. Obviously, people in Virginia were fed up, so they saw past that noise. Let's see if Kentuckians are equally so.

[CTyankee]

5. Oh, I think Alison Lundegran Grimes will do that!

He recently disparaged her in a reference to her as a "female candidate."

That effing bastard...

[WinstonSmith4740]

8. Unfortunately, very true.

The Koch brothers are already pouring money into this race...WE all know McConnell is full of shit, but we're dealing with people who have no problem with bald-faced lies to achieve their ends. I really think that was the problem during the first debate between Obama and Romney last year...Obama came out prepared to refute Romney's record, but not to deal with the flat out lies Romney told. Allison Grimes needs to be prepared with the facts to refute McConnell in debates and in commercials. She also needs to be ready to pull the trigger, so to say. She can't play "nice" and let him get away with this crap. When he tries to set himself up as a champion of women's rights, she's got to hit back with the facts. We're dealing with people who don't have a problem with doing whatever they need to do or say to maintain their power.

[QuestForSense]

10. Why can't a few Democrats from the Senate call him out on it?

That's exactly what the Repugs would do if McCon were a Democrat.

[sheshe2]

4. Lies lies and Damn lies!

Thanks for the thread to point this out, babylonsister.

I so want him to lose and return home in shame.

[Gothmog]

6. The Turtleman is going down

The Turtleman cannot explain his votes for a reason

[yellowcanine]

7. Allison, the number of daughters he has is not relevant, how he voted is.

When a spokesperson has to invoke a lawmaker's family, you know there is no defending the actual record.

[lark]

9. Liar, liar

shell's on fire. lol

[riqster]

12. DUzy!!!

You certainly "tortoise" a new one there!

[Cha]

11. Matt Bevin is going to nail that lying "moderate mitch"..

and Alison Lundergan Grimes is going to beat who ever comes out of that bloody battle.

mahalo babylonsistah~

[PeoViejo]

13. Mitch prepares for Battle:

[weissmam]

14. Low Life

I guess Mitch is not above throwing his kids under the bus to score points with wing nuts