Omar Bennett
Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Republican Leader in history, has been accused of violating the Constitution and contributing to democratic erosion in the United States. In 2017, McConnell blocked any appointment to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, hoping for a Republican win in the presidential election. He also obstructed President Obama's agenda, notably the Affordable Care Act, and was accused of prioritizing partisan interests over the Constitution. McConnell supported most of Trump's policies, but criticized his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and voted against some of his cabinet nominees. Despite accusations of constitutional violations, McConnell was never formally impeached. He announced his retirement from politics in 2025, leaving a complex legacy and a transformed Republican Party.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unconstitutional behaviour | Unilaterally blocking appointments to the Supreme Court |
| Violating his oath of office | Voting to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial |
| Violating his oath of impartiality | Coordinating the impeachment trial with the White House |
| Undermining respect for law and justice | Manipulating the Supreme Court for cheap political victories |
| Obstructionism | Blocking legislation that would help Kentucky, such as the Affordable Care Act |
| Constitutional hardball | Refusing to acknowledge Biden's win in the 2020 election |
| Thwarting accountability | Protecting Trump from consequences for his role in the January 6 Capitol riots |
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What You'll Learn
Unilaterally blocking appointments to the Supreme Court
In 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a vote on Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. He justified his actions by claiming that it was following a "long-standing tradition of not fulfilling a nomination in the middle of a presidential year". However, this has been exposed as a fabricated history, with no such tradition existing.
The Constitution charges the Senate with the responsibility to advise and consent on presidential nominations. By blocking the Senate from performing their constitutional duty, McConnell's actions can be interpreted as going against the Constitution.
McConnell's actions have been criticised by some, including Democratic lawmakers, who argued that the filling of the Supreme Court vacancy should wait until after the upcoming November election. However, McConnell defended his actions, stating that the Senate had an "obligation under the Constitution" to advance a nomination from a president of the same party as the Senate.
McConnell's bid to reshape the federal judiciary extends beyond the Supreme Court. When President Trump took office, McConnell, as Senate Majority Leader, helped fill over 100 vacancies in the lower courts, including 17 lifetime appointments in the US courts of appeals. This has been credited with cementing a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and is seen as a key part of McConnell's legacy.
In conclusion, McConnell's unilateral blocking of the Merrick Garland nomination can be interpreted as going against the Constitution. His actions have had significant consequences for the composition of the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary, and have been criticised by those who believe the filling of vacancies should be done with care and respect for the Constitution.
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Placing party interests above the Constitution
Mitch McConnell has been accused of placing party interests above the Constitution during his tenure as Senate Republican Leader. One notable incident was his refusal to consider President Obama's Supreme Court nominee in 2016, citing the upcoming presidential election. This was seen as a partisan move to ensure a conservative majority on the Court. Similarly, McConnell supported Trump's controversial Supreme Court nominations, despite concerns about their qualifications and ideological extremism.
McConnell has also been criticized for obstructing President Obama's legislative agenda, particularly the Affordable Care Act, earning him the nickname "Dr. No". He led a unified Republican opposition to the Act, even when it aligned with his state's interests.
Additionally, McConnell has been accused of thwarting accountability for Trump, voting to acquit him in his second impeachment trial and supporting most of his domestic and foreign policies. He also refused to acknowledge Biden's win in the 2020 election initially, only doing so after the Electoral College vote, further illustrating his partisan tendencies.
McConnell's actions have been characterized by some as constitutional hardball and contributors to democratic erosion. His focus on partisan gains over cooperation and the common good has led to concerns about the integrity of American democracy.
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Manipulating the Supreme Court for political gain
Mitch McConnell's actions as Senate Majority Leader have been criticised as manipulative and unconstitutional. In 2016, McConnell blocked former President Barack Obama's attempt to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, refusing to consider Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland. Instead, McConnell announced that there would be no replacement until after the 2016 election, hoping that a Republican would win and restore a conservative majority on the Court.
McConnell's actions were seen as a blatant abuse of power and a violation of the Constitution. He was accused of putting partisan interests above the good of the country and abandoning his oath to defend the Constitution. By obstructing the nomination process and leaving the Supreme Court seat vacant, McConnell was able to ensure that the next president, Donald Trump, could fill the vacancy with a conservative justice, shifting the ideological balance of the Court.
This was not the only instance of McConnell's manipulation of the Supreme Court. In 2009, after Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as an associate justice, McConnell advocated against a speedy confirmation process, citing the need for a lengthy review of her record. Despite ultimately voting against her confirmation, he called Sotomayor "a fine person with an impressive story and a distinguished background".
McConnell's actions have had a lasting impact on the Supreme Court and the country. With the confirmation of conservative justices during the Trump administration, the Court shifted to the right, potentially undoing progressive decisions and advancing a right-wing agenda. McConnell's obstructionism and constitutional hardball have been characterised by some as contributing to democratic erosion in the United States.
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Failing to defend the Constitution against enemies
Mitch McConnell, the former Senate Republican Leader and US Senator for Kentucky, has been accused of failing to defend the US Constitution against enemies.
McConnell has been criticised for his obstructionism and constitutional hardball, which some characterise as contributors to democratic erosion in the United States. He has been accused of putting his party's interests above those of the country, blocking legislation for partisan reasons, and manipulating the Supreme Court for political gain.
One notable example of McConnell's controversial actions was his refusal to consider any of former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees. After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016, McConnell unilaterally blocked any appointment to fill the vacancy, hoping that a Republican would win the upcoming presidential election and appoint a conservative justice. This move was seen as a blatant power play and a violation of his constitutional duty.
McConnell has also been criticised for his role in the impeachment trials of former President Donald Trump. Despite stating that he was ""not an impartial juror", McConnell voted to acquit Trump, going against the interests of justice and the Constitution.
Additionally, McConnell has been accused of thwarting accountability for Trump and blocking legislation that would benefit his constituents, such as the Affordable Care Act, for partisan reasons.
In summary, Mitch McConnell's actions as Senate Republican Leader and US Senator have been seen by some as a failure to defend the Constitution against enemies, contributing to democratic erosion and partisan destruction. His prioritisation of party politics over the country's interests has led to widespread criticism and concerns about the health of American democracy.
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Obstructing the Affordable Care Act
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been a vocal opponent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. He has consistently voted against the ACA and supported efforts to repeal and replace it. In 2017, McConnell and his fellow Republican senators proposed a lightweight insurance plan that would have cut costs by only covering routine ailments like colds and flu, neglecting serious illnesses and extended hospital stays. This plan was criticized for being insufficient and for ignoring the fundamental rule of insurance: planning for the worst.
McConnell and the Republicans have attempted to repeal the ACA numerous times, including through three failed bills known as Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. These bills aimed to repeal and replace the ACA with weaker alternatives, but they did not garner enough support. Despite the lack of a viable replacement plan, McConnell continued to push for repeal, stating that they would turn to replacement policies that cost less and work better than what we have now.
McConnell's efforts to obstruct the ACA have been criticized for being politically motivated and for disregarding the potential impact on Americans' access to healthcare. Repealing the ACA without a replacement plan would result in millions of Americans losing their health coverage and increased healthcare costs for many more.
In 2024, McConnell acknowledged that the battle to repeal the ACA was "largely over", suggesting that the law would remain in place for the foreseeable future. However, he stopped short of directly opposing former President Trump's comments about potentially revisiting the issue if a viable policy alternative could be developed.
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Frequently asked questions
Mitch McConnell has been accused of violating his constitutional duty and undermining respect for law and justice in order to achieve a cheap political victory.
McConnell has been accused of putting party above the Constitution. He has also been accused of blocking appointments to the Supreme Court for political gain.
During the Obama administration, McConnell worked to block much of the president's agenda, including the Affordable Care Act. He also prevented Senator Elizabeth Warren from reading aloud a letter from Coretta Scott King that recalled abuses of voting rights by Senator Jeff Sessions.
No, McConnell has been one of the few Republicans willing to break with former President Trump. He criticized Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election and voted against three of his high-profile Cabinet-level nominees.
Some commentators argue that McConnell's actions have contributed to democratic erosion in the United States. His blocking of Supreme Court appointments, for example, was seen as a partisan power play that could have undermined the legitimacy of the Court.
![Senate cloture rule 1975 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
