Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell requested for CBS to travel to his office in DC so that he could visibly show support for the Biden administration spending effort on behalf of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. McConnell noted in the interview on the policy agenda for these priorities, he and Joe Biden are in direct agreement.
At the 08:32 moment, Mitch McConnell is questioned about his health and says he is healthy, “in good shape and completely recovered.” WATCH:
[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has not done many interviews this year, but he invited us to Capitol Hill Friday to talk about President Biden’s request to Congress for $100 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and US border security. And that’s where our conversation began.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL: We have big power competition from China, and Russia and we still have terrorism problems, as the Israelis have certainly experienced in a brutal way in the last week. So I think that requires a worldwide approach rather than trying to take parts of it out. It’s all connected. The Chinese and the Russians said they’re now friends forever. Iranian drones are being used in Ukraine and against the Israelis.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s resistance among some Republicans, including here in the Senate, about bundling things together. Is it possible to pass Ukraine aid if it’s not tied to Israel?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I just think that’s a mistake. I mean, I know there are some Republicans in the Senate, and maybe more in the House, saying Ukraine is somehow different. I view it as all interconnected.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you’ve said that you believe there is enough oversight of aid to Ukraine. Why hasn’t that persuaded some members of the- of the Republican caucus?
SEN. MCCONNELL: If you look at the Ukraine assistance, let’s- let’s talk about where the money is really going. A significant portion of its being spent in the United States in 38 different states, replacing the weapons that we sent to Ukraine with more modern weapons. So we’re rebuilding our industrial base.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s what President Biden is seeking to do.
SEN. MCCONNELL: It’s- it’s correct. No Americans are getting killed in Ukraine. We’re rebuilding our industrial base. The Ukrainians are destroying the army of one of our biggest rivals. I have a hard time finding anything wrong with that. I think it’s wonderful that they’re defending themselves- and also the notion that the Europeans are not doing enough. They’ve done almost 90 billion dollars, they’re housing a bunch of refugees who escaped. I think that our NATO allies in Europe have done quite a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You sound like you have a lot in common with President Biden, and his worldview, based on what you just laid out.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Well, not on the domestic side, but on this issue that we- we’re discussing today, we’re generally in the same place.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the issue of Israel, that does seem to be a unifying issue for many Republicans, and I want to ask you about this 10 billion dollar request the President is making. Do you think there needs to be any provisions in there that would account for the risk of human rights- human rights violations in Gaza?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Well, we want to make sure we’re not sending money to Hamas. I can tell you that. But there are genuine humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza who are not Hamas, who’ve been thrown under the bus by what Hamas did. Innocent people. But we want to be careful about how the money is spent, be sure it actually gets where it’s supposed to get.
MARGARET BRENNAN: For any military aid that’s going to Israel right now, do you think there needs to be- need to be strings attached?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Israel is our strongest ally in the world. We trust them, and we have a very tight relationship with them both on the intelligence side and the military side. So I don’t think the kind of oversight we’re talking about for Ukraine, for example, would be necessary for Israel.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, to do all of these things you need a partner in Congress. Senator Welch said, you are the only Republican negotiator right now, because of all the disarray in the House. How can you deliver on this at a time when you’re saying it’s essential?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Well, I hope we’re going to have a speaker sometime soon and we–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Before November 17th, when government funding-
SEN. MCCONNELL: We need one. We need one because the House can’t do anything without a speaker. And it’s a- it’s a problem, but I hope it’s gonna get solved pretty quickly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there anyone in the House who can lead the Republicans?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Look, I’m not an expert on the House. I have my hands full here in the Senate, and we’re gonna do our job and hope the House can get functional here sometime soon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is no current U.S. ambassador to Israel right now. And some of your Republican colleagues have voiced concerns about President Biden’s nominee. Do you have concerns about Jack Lew?
SEN. MCCONNELL: He is a very controversial nominee because of his relationship with the Iran nuclear deal, which was opposed by everybody in my party. And by the way, I hope that flirtation with Iran is finally over with regard to the nuclear deal. And Senator Cotton and I also have a bill to freeze the 6 billion dollars that was on the way to the Iranians in relation to the hostage release, so-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s in Qatar, the White House says Iran hasn’t been able to make any withdrawals from it.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Yeah, but we’d like to make it law so that it can’t be undone. Look, I think we need to get tougher with Iran. And I do think the weakness of both the Obama administration and the Biden administration, is the thought that somehow we could do business with Iran on something. And I think it’s pretty clear we can’t. I mean, they’re funding Hezbollah, Hamas, creating problems all over the Middle East, and we shouldn’t be doing any business with them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden said that he’s going to hold Iran accountable. What do you think that means?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Yeah well, I think the proof will be – what are we going to do to hold them accountable? And that’s- it’s got to be credible. You- you can’t on the one hand, be negotiating with Iran on some kind of nuclear deal that you know they won’t keep, and then turn around and declare that you’re going to get tougher with Iran. I think, number one, quit talking to the Iranians about any kind of nuclear deal. Number two, don’t give them the $6 billion. Number three, back up the Israelis in every conceivable way, after this attack by Iran-sponsored Hamas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You-you oppose all diplomacy with Iran?
SEN. MCCONNELL: It’s not a question of whether you ever talk to them or not. But it’s a question- what do you do? What do you do? And clearly, the nuclear deal that the Obama administration agreed to and the Biden administration tried to reconnect is- is not the way to go. There’s an axis of evil in the world: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. And we need to stand up to the axis of evil, not try to do business with them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you as well about the moment here in Washington that we are in. A number of members of Congress, including Representatives Miller-Meeks, Ferguson, Bacon, Ken Buck, have said just this week that they have had death threats against them. How concerned are you about violence against lawmakers working here?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Well, I think there have been more threats lately, and I am concerned about it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you concerned about more political violence? Going into an election year here?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Look, I think since 9/11, and January 6th, we’ve had heightened security here at the Capitol. I’m sure we’re a target for all kinds of evil doers both in the United States and abroad.
MARGARET BRENNAN: People wonder about your health, how are you feeling? How are you doing?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m fine. I’m completely recovered, and I’m just fine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You and your office felt the need to share and disclose some of the details about your health because of some of these public incidents. And the doctor here said there was no evidence of Parkinson’s disease or a stroke or- or a seizure. And I wonder, is there anything the public should know that wasn’t disclosed?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m in good shape, completely recovered and back on the job.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So does that mean that you think you are able to continue serving, and you want to continue serving here at a time when we are talking about incredible dysfunction in Washington?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier, rather than my health.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve made clear you have a lot of policy disagreements with the former president, Donald Trump. Doesn’t it trouble you that he is the front runner for the Republican nomination, given the questions he has raised about aid for Ukraine, for example?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m not going to comment on the various candidates for president on either side. I’ve got my hands full here in the Senate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Former Secretary of Defense Gates told us this is one of the most dangerous moments that he has ever seen for our country. And we’re talking about the basic functioning of our democracy being a problem right now. I’ll ask you, again, who can lead the Republican Party, not just in the House, but to deliver on the vision that you are laying out here?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Typically, it’s the candidate for president, when you have a presidential election, who becomes obviously the most visible person in your party. And we don’t know who that’s going to be. In the meantime, we have divided government, we have a job to do, the election is not until next year. Dabbling in the presidential election is something I’m just not going to do. I don’t think it’s productive.
I will refer back to Obama, “Never underestimate Joe’s ability to F&*k something up!” He has not disappointed so far.
IMO That’s why Buraq picked Joe Blow as VP.
Joe is the biggest loser he could find, and this is Buraq’s third term.
A: Often.
LOL
An “interview” between margaret and mitch is a waste of time and electrons. Fortunately only a very small percentage of Americans will see it, but it is worthwhile to know what the media is presenting to America. The US will be better off when the RINOs in Congress are identified and voted out.
“…only a very small percentage of Americans will see it…”
Yes, but I suspect a very high percentage of the donor class WILL see.
“But we want to be careful about how the money is spent, be sure it actually gets where it’s supposed to get.”
Wants to be sure that he gets his, and don’t forget…….. 10% for THE BIG GUY.
We’ve dumped McCarthy for this crap, past time to do the same with DitchMitch….
He forgot to mention the USA CIA and FBI and parts of Congress in his description of the Axis of Evil.
Give everyone money and the fight will only get worse.
I cannot hate Mumbles McConnell enough. The man is completely out of touch and completely despicable. He is the personification of everything that is wrong with the Republican Party.
How much does Mich get out of that 106 billion?
Not enough to assuage his torment in eternal hellfire, I’ll tell you that much.
He’s going to recognize a lot of former coworkers.
Since the uniparty owns the election process Mich will probably get re-elected.
Even after he’s gone to his final resting place.
CBS is on overdrive for narrative pushing.
Went out to my local dive for a beer or 4 last night.
Was looking up at the screens above the bar.
4 of them ( no sound on) were on “60 minutes”
This week’s guest?
Christopher Wray, and a round table of grifters.
Couldn’t tell what was being said, but assumed
that the host was acting skeptical, raising his
eyebrows in incredulation whenever Wray
stated:
Anything that was any type of opposition to
the narrative.
One week: softballs for Biden.
Next week: make crooked Christopher Wray
look like the rebirth of Efrem Zimbalist Junior,
in “The FBI” ( a Quinn Martin Production)
Every time I make small talk with my Liberal friends, it is obvious how little they know. It’s amazing really….they are lied to everyday. One of them today asked me if I knew what was in the COVID shots….she was finally cracking out of her bubble. But how many will break out within the year? Time is short.
When did Mitch last put the American people ahead of donors and cronies? Never.
Hmm, I’ve always been of the opinion that politicians, should by law be compelled to wear a jumpsuit with their sponsors logos sewn onto it, whilst in public. That’s *real* transparency.
As for Ukraine, they’re increasingly recruiting young women and talking about lowering/raising the draft age. So children & old men are sent to the front. You know because of all “winning” the AFU is doing.
Russia (with ×5 or ×6 the population of Ukraine) for it’s part, isn’t doing that. Despite all the losing the RAF is doing.
So *another* vast sum of money profligatly pi**ed-away, on a losing effort for no actual gain, or the opposite of gain.
Dunno about Israel’s war, but given the practical reality of mobilising *at least* the same number of reservists Russia did in autumn last year, with less than 1/15th of the population and keeping them under arms. Israel will need a lot more than $ 14 billion in economic support alone.
You forgot satan.
There’s no cure for a RINO except to “primary” them out!
Yep.. the only way MAGA will get control is when we pry it from their greedy fingers.
Mitch McConnell has lost his ability to do anything that even closely resembles governance. Anything you see him mouthing now is his brain firing on one side to the other. Besides, is anyone in their rite mind believe for a minute that he was anything but a uniparty leader. Looking out for no one but himself and his colleagues, China and the defense contractors that were feeding his foundations and bank accounts.
He should be locked up and tried for treason being he’s one of the biggest threats we have in this country. Any government employee married to a Chinese person should be investigated. Any elected government official should be locked up because of the Chinese wives are spying for the Chinese government..
In Mitch McDonnell’s case. The man is totally compromised.
F this guy
Mitch never saw an opportunity for a generous kickback that he didn’t like.
madness
McConnell has a permanent horrified expression in his eyes.Deep down he knows what an evil traitor he is in the republican party and willing to sell out America. He made it quite clear he wants to agree to everything the democrats want.
I have no idea why anyone would want to be associated with the Republicans m, they’re just as disgusting and corrupt as the Democrats, maybe more so because they’re world class posers.
When Mitch is thrown out of office (or he leaves office for whatever publicly announced reason) will he ever privately in his own mind realize what role his gravitation to war has to do with it?
Personally, I doubt it; but I would like to hope.
Never forget :
These people hide under mosques to kill innocent people. They do not ever hesitate to celebrate killing; even as happened this day in history : In keeping with the modus operandi of four centuries of Islamic heroes and caliphs, stretching back to Muhammad’s treatment of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza, “Yusuf caused the heads of all the Christian slain [to the number of 2,400] to be cut off and gathered together in massive piles”: and danced in celebration over!
Children are groomed to kill and behead Christians, even babies as seen in Syria and Africa.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6994509/Muslim-children-Philadelphia-school-sing-chopping-heads-army-Allah.html
Throw Mitch out of the Senate, NOW.
I’m completely recovered until the next time I blank out for a minute. Now where’s my “non blank-out medicine.”