U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is trending on Twitter with the hashtag “#MitchPlease” after giving a comment on voting rights, in which he seemed to imply African Americans are not Americans.
Following the failed attempt to move the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to the Senate floor on Wednesday, McConnell was asked to comment on the concerns among Black voters.
“Well the concern is misplaced, because if you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans,” McConnell responded.
One video of the exchange has already been viewed over 1.8 million times:
I need you to understand that this is who Mitch McConnell is.
Being Black doesn’t make you less of an American, no matter what this craven man thinks.
pic.twitter.com/Esk1NgIhD9— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) January 20, 2022
Here’s how others reacted:
Holy shit:
Mitch McConnell: "African-American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as American voters."
Toni Morrison: "In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate."
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) January 20, 2022
Thank you to Mitch McConnell for demonstrating the importance of Critical Race Theory. #MitchPlease pic.twitter.com/Dnmm65raid
— Payton (@apayton_09) January 20, 2022
I'm 100% American #Mitchplease
?? pic.twitter.com/wns3DtEIs4— Phyllis Randall (@PRandallcares) January 20, 2022
Let's be clear folks, this is age old racism, stating that those who are not White Christians are not actually Americans. What if he had said "Jews," or "women," or "LGBTQIA," or "Latinx"? Support our black friends today. #Mitchplease https://t.co/IJAfuLXahp
— Rabbi Mike Harvey (@RabbiHarvey) January 20, 2022
Mitch’s statement needs more attention…his racism is clear as day!! #mitchplease
— dhartey (@dhartey1) January 20, 2022
My 100% American Father at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, honoring/remembering the men he served with during his two tours of combat duty. #Mitchplease ?? pic.twitter.com/bHBBjO2kcM
— Phyllis Randall (@PRandallcares) January 20, 2022
Mitch McConnell knows better than anyone that if you want white moderate voters to passively support institutionalized racism, you don’t say blatantly racist things while implementing it. Mitch made a huge mistake yesterday, and we’ll use it against GOP in midterms. #MitchPlease
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) January 20, 2022
#mitchplease Just woke up but I’m All American ? https://t.co/dkUwvzyz79 pic.twitter.com/q1y6eTSQDu
— Stephanie Dunn (@LadyDunn1967) January 20, 2022
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan policy group, 34 laws restricting voting access were passed in 19 states in 2021.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore Justice Department review of these changes.
In a statement after it failed to advance, President Joe Biden said: “I am profoundly disappointed that the United States Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not deterred.
“My Administration will never stop fighting to ensure that the heart and soul of our democracy — the right to vote — is protected at all costs. We will continue to work with allies to advance necessary legislation to protect the right to vote. And to push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote.”
Mister P
No one was against the Voting Rights Act until recently. After they saw black voters turn out in record numbers in Georgia, they became scared and their racist tendencies reared their ugly heads.
GaysForTrump
There are more voter restrictions in Biden’s state of Delaware than in Georgie.
However, are are republicans restricting blacks from voting? Please explain.
From my understanding, black people are unable to process how to get a form of government ID. So apparently they also are unable to get vaccinated? You need ID.
Why are democrats so against Voter ID and for vaccine passports?
GaysForTrump
“Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”
– Joe Biden
wikidBSTN
GaysForTrump – you just make this stuff up as you go along expecting people to believe you, right? Delaware has more voting restrictions than Georgia – where are your facts? Show us. Joe Biden quote – when and where did he say that?
Lies – that’s all you got. Just like your pathetic soon-to-be-in-jail oberfuhrer.
GaysForTrump
Democrats playing blacks for fools. ‘They can’t get access to an ID’.
Life must be real rough navigate for them. Every other race can. According to the Democrats.
Bosch
You realise that with a name like GaysForTrump, no one is going to trust your reasoning skills, right?
GaysForTrump
Bosch. That’s the best you can come up with? Sound like Kamala. All deflections. Dispute my claims with facts. You can’t. So resort to 2nd grade tactics. Name calling. Can’t dispute the facts.
How are Republicans suppressing the minority vote? Let’s hear your educated answer.
Wiki. Of course you couldn’t answer any of my questions. But here’s some facts for you.
Some come at me with your facts. How are
Republicans suppressing the black vote? Let’s hear your answer. Inform me.
‘ Delaware, the president’s home state, requires voters to be away from their county on Election Day, sick or disabled, at work during all voting hours, or have a religious exemption to access a mail-in ballot, according to the NCSL.’
Wiki. You’re so unhinged. And misinformed.
It’s quite sad your state of mind.
Oh and here’s your proof Biden said: ‘poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids’
Google the quote yourself.
Go back to your delusions. You’re nothing more than a sheep. Can’t think for yourself. And the worst part is you would never own the fact that you are wrong.
Bosch
I did not come here to have a political debate about your American problems. I came here to mock you for your Stockholm Syndrome.
GaysForTrump
That’s your go to answer when you have nothing of value to add.
Trump 2024!!
Jim
You don’t have to be a racist to vote Republican, but it helps!
ingyaom
Not all republicans are racist, but all racists are republican.
spunkfunker
When someone shows you who they really are, believe them. In another clip he also said that they have no governing philosiphy if they retake the senate in November! Heck of a job Manchin and Sinema!!
Kangol2
This racist old scumbag periodically shows his (Klan) colors. No surprise at these comments, none at all. Just consider that the entire GOP Caucus in the US Senate keeps this haggard, lying creep in power!
andrewl
Why is this power hungry, controlling old vulture continually voted back in? The communities that vote this vulture in need to be educated and held accountable.
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
Still waiting for someone to explain how blacks don’t have id’s and cant go vote and also why you’d be in favor of someone in this country illegally being able to vote like in nyc but no one ever can with logic
DennisMpls
OK, here you go. First off, obviously no one is saying that “blacks” as a group don’t have IDs. But it is a fact that a higher percentage of blacks than whites don’t have IDs. And therefore a higher percentage of blacks are unable to vote.
The most common form of acceptable ID, by far, is the driver’s license. And another simple fact is that a higher percentage of blacks don’t have driver’s licenses compared to whites. There are multiple reasons for that, but here are three: 1. a larger percentage of blacks live in urban areas, often dense urban areas, and life can be conducted without the need for a car; 2. a larger percentage of blacks live in multi-family living conditions where it is not necessary for all members of those living units to have licenses; 3. a higher percentage of blacks fit into the “poor” financial category, and are unable to afford to buy and maintain a car. That third reason also often intersects with the first two reasons I’ve given.
There are other reasons as well, but you get the idea. Beyond driver’s licenses, blacks are also less likely to have passports or other types of ID that can be used. The bottom line is that if you insist on the types of IDs that current and proposed laws require you will indeed disenfranchise black voters disproportionally.
Essie
As Dennis mentioned, many Black people don’t have cars. (I am 76 years old and have never driven or had a car.) However, it’s possible to get a State ID but it costs money, which a lot of people do not have to spare. I have a State ID that lasts for five years and costs $5 and a trip by bus to some building downtown and a long wait in line. Some people can’t take the time off work to do this. I also have a passport, which works as an ID but it costs over $100 and definitely is not something everyone can afford. So, the politicians used to make Black people guess the amount of marbles or jellybeans in a jar but they can’t do that anymore. They are finding other ways and, unfortunately, it’s working.
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
You do not need a drivers license but you do need an id card for just about everything in this world be it a visit to a doctors office, using a debit card or really any card. Too say someone black cant get a valid id because they dont own a car or live somewhere rural is simply crazy but hey keep making excuses. I guess that standard doesn’t apply too poor whites as well. Please don’t tell me i don’t understand because I’m white my family was from rural Georgia and we figured the way around. It’s 2022 not 1962 so quit using excuses too male someone look dumb or helpless when they aren’t. On a side note do you know the rules of voting are more difficult in crazy bidens home state than Georgia? But no one ever questioned him on that they just go with his bullcrap bull connor type statements. Just like when they moved the all star baseball game to Colorado a state with more restrictions than georgia with their recently passed voting act at the time ( losing that game cost poor people money they could have made by working that weekend but whatever) and Atlanta wins the World Series which i found hilarious. But hey keep demeaning and weakening people because of outdated views it wont change anything
wikidBSTN
Don’t waste your time trying to explain the simply obvious to this anti-poor racist. He’s not really interested in hearing anything you have to say. He’ll just say the opposite. Let him stew in the filth of his own making – I just wish he had the balls to use his own name.
Jay
The voting rights bills that Democrats are pushing have nothing to do with voter ID. They address the recently passed laws in places like Texas which now allows partisen poll watchers to harass and/or intimidate voters everywhere except the voting both itself. Not even an election administrator can remove them without facing criminal charges. This week almost half of mail-in ballot applications were rejected for various reasons, and the secretary of state in Texas said mail-in ballot applications will be limited due to a shortage of paper. Again, a shortage of paper, caused by supply chain issues raising the cost and limiting availability of paper needed. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently said “We’re done in Texas if anybody can vote,”
I live in Texas, This is not ok…
Openminded
It is clear that he was trying to say that blacks vote at a same percentage rate as all Americans as a whole which means they are proportionally representing themselves at an equal rate as all other Americans. Him leaving out the word “all” did leave him open to attack by those looking to.
I won’t support any laws who’s intent is to prevent any American from voting.
It does need to be said that this National debate is seen by many as the Federal Gov’t trying to take away State’s rights which is a very important right and a large part of what made it possible to unite the states to begin with into the “UNITED States of America”. We all need to keep in mind that not all states will or should think the same. Just as not all states have voting methods identical to all the other states. I’m sure all those who self proclaim to be troll hunters will jump on this comment, but unless you can read and comprehend it and also understand American history, you should keep your ignorant replies to yourself.
Agility
I can’t comprehend your comment because both your logic and grammar are shitty!
Openminded
Yet you can comprehend my logic?
Jack
NO-BODY on earth hates Moscow Mitch more than me. But let’s pick our battles. Yes it sounded bad, but the focus is on stopping the voter suppression. His motive is to win at any cost, but I don’t think he thinks black people aren’t Americans.
wikidBSTN
Maybe, but I think he thinks Blacks are less-than or second-class Americans.
Jaquelope
Oh, I’m sure he does – and that’s what scares him.
LumpyPillows
Hate Mitch, but that isn’t exactly what he said or meant.
Prax07
To be fair most black (and Hispanic) voters Only vote for the candidate they think will give them more welfare benefits. If every candidate said they’re going to reduce welfare benefits then no blacks (or Hispanics) would vote in that election. All Republicans need to do to win is say Free Welfare for All and they’d win by a landslide with black (and Hispanic) voters. You’d see a massive uptake in both minorities getting valid voter ID’s.
Leash
Oh is that so huh? To be fair, I don’t think you have anything to back up your racist claim.
Openminded
Prax, I’m afraid you made the same misstatement that Mitch made. I think the truth is that MOST AMERICANS vote for the candidate that gives them the most of what they want. It’s a sad statement but seems to be the truth. Very few voters or politicians are truly interested in what is actually best for the country as a whole. Anyone who believes Covid relief checks were mailed out only because people might have needed financial assistance needs to pull their heads out of their @ss. Those who approved them are expecting your vote next election.
Bosch
I mean, we’ve known since “The Dark Crystal” that the Skeksis are the bad guys…
jcool
i guess no one is going to give him credit for not saying colored.