Mitch McConnell ignoring cabinet confirmation procedure he demanded in 2009

[babylonsister]

https://thinkprogress.org/mitch-mcconnell-confirmation-ethics-hypocrisy-2c75b671d694#.y9tk3cbo4

Josh Israel
Senior investigative reporter for ThinkProgress
1 hr ago
Mitch McConnell ignoring cabinet confirmation procedure he demanded in 2009
Letter shows he demanded full ‘financial disclosures’ before hearings.


The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate plans to rush forward this week with confirmation hearings for many of Donald Trump’s nominees for cabinet and other key executive positions. Though many of the picks have not yet completed the customarily required ethics clearances and background checks, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has shown no willingness to delay.

“They’ve made pretty clear they intend to slow down and resist and that doesn’t provide a lot of incentive or demonstrate good faith to negotiate changes. So I think we’re going to just be plowing ahead,” his deputy, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) told Politico.

But back in 2009, McConnell took the exact opposite view. A letter to then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), posted on Twitter by Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington co-founder and former Obama administration ethics adviser Norm Eisen on Sunday, shows he demanded that “financial disclosures must be complete” before any confirmation hearings be scheduled.

In his letter, McConnell wrote that his party’s duty to “conduct the appropriate review” of presidential nominations, “consistent with the long standing and best practices of committees, regardless of which party is in the majority,” was one it took seriously. “These best practices serve the Senate well,” he added, “and we will insist on their fair and consistent application.” The then-Senate Minority Leader called the financial disclosure process and other ethical steps essential “to fairly review a nominee’s record and to make an informed decision prior to a vote.”

This is not the first time since Trump’s November victory that McConnell has completely reversed himself on the senate’s “advise and consent” process. After refusing to even allow a confirmation hearing for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland for nearly a year — the longest delay in American history — and refusing to commit to allowing a confirmation vote even if Hillary Clinton won, McConnell said on Wednesday that “the American people simply will not tolerate” it if Democrats refuse to confirm a Trump Supreme Court nominee.

[fishwax]

1. No surprise that McConnell is a hypocrite here

Like most of the rest of the GOP leadership, he's shown that consistency and integrity in the process aren't particularly important to him.

[Paladin]

2. Another example of McConnell's utter hypocrisy?

Imagine my total lack of surprise.....

[Cha]

3. I cannot wait until one fine day.. karma come knocking

on his door and he's whisked away to the freaking 666 circle of hell.. him and his damn slimey ass monsters.

[MoonRiver]

4. Tough shit faux turtle.

Apologies to real turtles.

[sharp_stick]

5. I really despise him

Fortunately he's much older than me so I've got a decent chance to fulfill my dreams of pissing on his grave. I will charter a bus, pick up a couple of dozen people and we'll drink beer all day before "visiting" the grave.

[bluecollar2]

6. make sure you leave one person behind with a wooden stake

To drive through his heart if he rises from the grave...

[dragonlady]

7. He was right in 2009

Sen. Schumer should get up and read McConnell's words on the floor of the Senate.

[BSdetect]

8. He's one of the despicables

Deplorable is just not damning enough for this deliberate blocker and hater.