McConnell blasts Democrats for releasing "liberal thugs" on conservatives

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Congress

(Credit: J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON -- Throwing red meat to the conservative base gathered in Washington this week for a national conference, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday blasted President Obama for dividing the nation, accusing him of favoring his political allies over other Americans.

"The president needs to remember he was elected to be president of the United Staets, not the Occupy Wall Street fan club," he said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Alluding to criticisms from Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer of well-funded, conservative super PACs, McConnell said Democrats have released "liberal thugs" on Americans who support conservative causes. Their hope, he said, is that "the unwanted attention scares them from supporting similar causes down the road."

He blasted the Obama administration for "picking on Fox News" and digging "through other people's tax returns." The president, he said, "should be looking for solutions instead of scapegoats."

"We will not let a single day pass without reminding the American people what this president has done," he said. "We're going to remind folks we're not in this mess because of tsunami in Japan or a debt crisis in Europe [but because] the president got everything he wanted for two long years."

The only reason there's been some economic improvement, McConnell said, is because of Republican victories in the 2010 elections. The one good thing to come out of the Obama presidency, he said, is "a resurgence of common sense conservatism."

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by euge005 February 10, 2012 6:53 AM EST: he needs to wake up. the pres has given him the solutions. he has been told by his owners to ignore them and he followed his orders well. he was the fool that proclaimed job one to be keeping Obama from a second term. He has a lot of the same serial hypocracy that Newt loves to dish up as policy. He needs to resign. What kind of people would send that person to Congress?; Reply to this comment


by DocD--2008 February 9, 2012 11:56 PM EST: Mitch McConnell deserves nothing more than a firing squad or life in Prison.; Reply to this comment


by thinkdeeply8 February 9, 2012 10:52 PM EST: When you are a party with no ideas, the only choice you have is to use loaded language to try to convince people. "Nazi, communist, Muslim, poopy-pants," etc. When people are using these to describe Obama, it only means they lack a legitimate reason to criticize the prez. Instead they have to rely on the negative "power" of the words themselves.; Reply to this comment


by Freepress1111 February 9, 2012 10:40 PM EST: Congratulations, Mitch. Your totally unconstitutional game of requiring 60 votes for anything to pass the Senate is one of the big reasons for Congress' 10% approval rating. I do hope that after Republicans get obliterated by President Obama and the Democrats this November that you have the common decency to resign your leadership position. But it's ok if you don't, I'm sure the Tea Party of Kentucky has a plan in the works to dump you in 2014 the way they did Jim Bunning in 2010. It's going to be a tough pill to swallow when you realize that your whole political legacy will be that of a totally failed adversary to the two term president and the Man of His Time, Barack Obama.; Reply to this comment


by involved_indi February 9, 2012 10:37 PM EST: the biggest weapon in our democratic arsenal is ignorance. we've spent 9 months convincing our base that all of their problems exist or are made worse because the wealthy don't pay enough taxes. Even though the Bush tax cuts are worth only 1/20th of the amount we add to the national debt every 15 months thats still all they can talk about. We haven't had to propose a single real solution to any issue. This election is in the bag... remember, keep the facts 'quiet" but the comments "loud". If there's one thing we know in politics, if you can't win an argument, drown it out.; Reply to this comment

by FormerUSMCSergeant February 9, 2012 10:09 PM EST

by RobAla February 9, 2012 9:32 PM EST
I agree with McConnell regarding the fact that President Obama has no business having another term. His administration has been a disaster.
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And how do you view dubya's first term?

In his first term, he started TWO wars on borrowed money and cut the wealthy's taxes to less than their fair share.

You think that was a superior performance to Obama's first term do you?

I'd LOVE to hear the justifications.

Reply to this comment


by FormerUSMCSergeant February 9, 2012 10:24 PM EST: Crickets chirping.....


by FormerUSMCSergeant February 9, 2012 10:32 PM EST: I see you chose not to answer the question....


by FormerUSMCSergeant February 9, 2012 10:04 PM EST: McConnell blasts Democrats for releasing "liberal thugs" on conservatives
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Don't you love the repub tactic of demonizing any who don't accept their philosophy?

They like to call any who disagree with them "thugs", especially.

Remember the MN drive to rescind bargaining rights? As soon as the battle was waged, repubs started their "union thugs" demonizations.

It probably works on the really stupid among us I imagine.....; Reply to this comment


by FormerUSMCSergeant February 9, 2012 9:54 PM EST: "The president needs to remember he was elected to be president of the United Staets, not the Occupy Wall Street fan club," he said at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
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Hilarious.

McConnel and his party members serve the top 2%, not the constituents who elected them.

The one good thing to come out of the Obama presidency, he said, is "a resurgence of common sense conservatism."

Which is, of course, a contradiction in terms.

"Conservatism" requires belief and servitude to invisible beings in invisible places.

No common sense in that......; Reply to this comment


by P0STING_AWAY February 9, 2012 9:47 PM EST: by -_-__One_American__-_- February 9, 2012 8:49 PM EST
The sun is setting on the Leftist agenda.
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In YOUR little world, dogs can fly.
Make sure you have a sturdy umbrella.; Reply to this comment