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Turns out . . . he didn’t.

I don’t know if this was accidental/careless or purposeful misreporting, but reporter Bob White of the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise, paraphrased remarks made by Senator Mitch McConnell this way:

Describing the party’s 2006 loss of Congressional District Rep. Anne Northup and last year’s loss of Republican Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher as casualties of the Iraq war, McConnell said he’s optimistic Republicans will hold the 2nd congressional district seat left up for grabs with the announcement of Rep. Ron Lewis’, R-Cecilia, retirement.

Is it even possible that this mainstream media reporter is actually taking cues from liberal internet lunatics such as those at Ditch Mitch?

Regardless, McConnell never made the comment the reporter and the websites say he made. You can listen to the actual statement made by Senator McConnell at his blog.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Senator Harry Reid is completely powerless in the Senate, thanks in large part to the parliamentary and persuasive skills of Senator McConnell, who led the Republicans to victory in the bi-partisan economic stimulus package.

The House passed their version of the package last week, and when it went to the Senate, President George W. Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged a quick turnaround there so the stimulus could get out quickly. Delays still occurred in the Senate, though, which prompted some testy exchanges between Sens. McConnell and Reid.

The irony of Senator Reid complaining about the Senate wasting time “doing nothing” while the Senate took 6 votes in about 2 weeks is heavy.

Senate Democrats have finally given up, and Senator Reid has apologized. According to AP:

The retreat by Senate Democrats came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sided with Republicans, including GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and called on the Senate to stop its infighting and pass the bill.

In doing so, Pelosi, D-Calif., split openly with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who backed the more expensive package.
“There’s no reason for any more delay on this,” Pelosi said Thursday before agreement was reached.

…

Later, Pelosi issued a statement tailored to support McConnell’s position — which Reid has repeatedly rejected — and pointedly ignoring the other add-ons.

…

“We didn’t block the proposal,” McConnell said. “We just said there’s a better way to go and there’s an alternative.”

Way to go, Mitch!

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