McConnell on Democratic criticism: 'I plead guilty'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.) is embracing his role as antagonist of the Democratic presidential debates.  “Being criticized for stopping the liberal agenda and confirming conservatives judges, I love it,” McConnell told a small group of reporters on Thursday, asked about the criticism of him during the first Democratic debate on Wednesday night in Miami.  He added that “the things they are criticizing me for, I plead guilty to.”  McConnell’s comments come as he’s leaned into his role as the “Grim Reaper” for progressive policies, including “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal.ADVERTISEMENT “If I’m still the majority leader in the Senate think of me as the Grim Reaper. None of that stuff is going to pass,” McConnell said in April while speaking to community leaders in Owensboro, Ky. McConnell, who is up for reelection, was mentioned by name several times on Wednesday night, including when Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) was asked if she had a “plan” to deal with McConnell if he remains majority leader in 2021.  “Short of a Democratic majority in the Senate, you better understand the fight still goes on. It starts in the White House and it means that everybody we energize in 2020 stays on the front lines come January 2021,” Warren said. Warren and McConnell have locked horns, including in 2017 when Republicans voted to temporarily block Warren from speaking on the Senate floor after she gave a speech critical of then-Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMcCabe, Rosenstein spar over Russia probe Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony Rosenstein defends Mueller appointment, role on surveillance warrants MORE (R-Ala.). The back-and-forth gave rise to the “she persisted” phrase, because McConnell said Warren “was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”

Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (Minn.), the top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, also blamed McConnell during Wednesday night’s Democratic debate for blocking election security bills. Legislation to bolster the nation’s elections has hit a wall amid pushback from Senate Republicans and the White House despite special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE’s report. 

Click Here: Golf special

And Washington Gov. Jay InsleeJay Robert InsleeInslee calls on Trump to ‘stay out of Washington state’s business’ Seattle mayor responds to Trump: ‘Go back to your bunker’ Trump warns he will take back Seattle from ‘ugly Anarchists’ if local leaders don’t act MORE said he would deal with climate change by “taking away the filibuster from Mitch McConnell.”