Jesse Benton: Why I joined Mitch McConnell’s team

[jct74]

Why I joined Mitch McConnell’s team

By Jesse Benton
11:43 AM 09/14/2012

I discovered Mitch McConnell on May 22, 2010.

Of course, as a budding young politico, I had followed Sen. McConnell for more than a decade. I respected his achievements and understood his importance, but it was that day that I was first allowed an inside look at the man who led my party in the United States Senate.

May 22 was five days after Rand Paul’s primary victory and any celebration we enjoyed had been short-lived. The liberal media was circling, the national Democratic machine was cranking up its attacks and Kentucky Republicans were deeply divided after a contentious spring campaign. The tea party won the primary, but the tea party alone would not be enough to win a general election in a state where Democrats held a 2-to-1 registration advantage.

Rand and I rode to Frankfort that morning not knowing what to expect. What we experienced was a very real GOP Unity Rally that had been put together by the only man capable of doing so: Senator Mitch McConnell.

...

read more:
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/14/wh...connells-team/

[ctiger2]

Benton's toast, he just doesn't realize it yet.

[LBennett76]

Wow. that article made me want to puke. Especially this line: "But Mitch McConnell has shown that regardless of the political party or the public sentiment, he will be an unwavering defender of our constitutional rights."

[Sola_Fide]

What was not said in the article is that McConnell started cozying up to Rand and the Tea Party in general when he realized that his political behind was on the line. Far from being a gesture of friendship, it was a selfish gesture of self-preservation. Mitch knew the political winds were about to blow him right out of office...so he had to adapt.

[CaptUSA]

Dousing the flames with gasoline.

[fr33]

It's as if he never even listened to anything Ron Paul has said over the years.

[Carlybee]

What a joke. Someone needs to inform Jesse that McConnel's votes on illegal wiretapping and the Patriot Act are not supporting the Consitution.

[LBennett76]

It's as if he never even listened to anything Ron Paul has said over the years.

Something tells me he doesn't exactly completely subscribe to Ron Paul's beliefs. The very beginning of the article kinda states that "Of course, as a budding young politico, I had followed Sen. McConnell for more than a decade. I respected his achievements and understood his importance..."

[sailingaway]

Wow. that article made me want to puke. Especially this line: "But Mitch McConnell has shown that regardless of the political party or the public sentiment, he will be an unwavering defender of our constitutional rights."

LOL!


My theory for a while now is that some running policy in his campaign were more standard southern conservatives of the 'regional block' variety. There are areas where we would agree, fiscally, for example and in the general nature of states' reservation of authority, but so much of the principled philosophy simply isn't there.

Ron really needs true believers or at least those who 'get it' and will implement it as their job description, at the highest policy driving roles. One reason I was sorry to see Bierdfield (sp?) and Gary Howard leave was that they 'got it'. I'm sure there are others in there who do, they should be in the policy making roles, imho. And seriously, Ron needs to get a handle on this fast, and unfortunately if he is leaving it to the same people to make business decisions, they are never going to recommend their own replacement. Which is a shame.

In a corporate sense it is possible a nuts and bolts only person could do simple business management stuff, but the people management and communication, and policy determinations really need to be by or at least run by a true believer.

Note, some states had great people. I want Forsythe in the US Congress, House or Senate, but if he weren't interested in that, he would b spectacular. That guy in Maine could do it. Marianne Stebbins, but I want her in Congress as well. There may be a bunch inside the organization who just are under the decisionmaking of those who don't get it, who do. There are tons of us. Pick one.

[thoughtomator]

It's as if he never even listened to anything Ron Paul has said over the years.

It's extremely clear that whether he listened to RP or not, he definitely didn't "get it".

I think that there is a serious issue that needs to be investigated as to who Benton was really working for while heading the Paul campaign, and whether there are one or more criminal acts of fraud involved.