Republican Leader
A Political Biography of Senator Mitch McConnell
by John David Dyche


(Click for Amazon book review)

Coming soon!
(Come back for excerpts and book review in spring 2014)

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Ernie Fletcher: 1998: Pro-life, but not on a mission.

Budget & Economy     Ernie Fletcher: Cure budget ills by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.     Jim Bunning: 2008: $700B bailout bill is socialism.     Mitch McConnell: 2008 economic bailout: put Main Street ahead of Wall Street.

Civil Rights     Mitch McConnell: 1963: Witnessed MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.     Mitch McConnell: Flag-burning is free speech; no Constitutional amendment.     Mitch McConnell: Switched to opposing flag-burning amendment.     Robert Byrd: As Ku Klux Klan member; opposed 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Corporations     Mitch McConnell: 2008 bailout means firm limit on executive compensation.

Crime     Mitch McConnell: Supported anti-flag burning amendment; but then changed mind.

Education     Mitch McConnell: 1983: Appealed to Reagan Democrats on school prayer.

Energy & Oil     Mitch McConnell: Find more, use less: drill ANWR & off coast.

Environment     Mitch McConnell: 1979: Killed "garbage-to-steam" plant.     Mitch McConnell: Got funding for KY's first federal wildlife refuge.

Families & Children     Mitch McConnell: 1983: Initiative to fingerprint children.     Paul Patton: 2002: Denied then admitted extramarital affair.

Foreign Policy     Mitch McConnell: 1983: Don't give away the Panama Canal.     Mitch McConnell: Opposed "Moscow-centric" focus on former Soviet Union.

Free Trade     Elaine Chao: 2001: Opposition to Chinese trade is xenophobic hysteria.     Heritage Foundation: OpEd: Sullied hawkish views for sake of Chinese money.     Mitch McConnell: 1986: Trade sanctions against apartheid in South Africa.     Mitch McConnell: Treat Hong Kong separately from China for trade.     Mitch McConnell: 1994: Firmly supported NAFTA and GATT.     Steve Beshear: NAFTA favors foreign interests over Kentucky's own.

Government Reform     Ernie Fletcher: 2005: OpEd: Violated state merit system by improper firing.     Ernie Fletcher: OpEd: Lost in 2006 after admitting political discrimination.     Mitch McConnell: Term limits are an idiotic notion.     Mitch McConnell: 1990: Opposed Motor Voter: just registers uninformed voters.     Mitch McConnell: Leading opponent of campaign finance reform.     Mitch McConnell: 2001: Electoral College is the linchpin of American politics.     Paul Patton: 2002: Called special session for public financing system.

Gun Control     Mitch McConnell: Declines NRA contributions, but opposes gun control.

Health Care     Mitch McConnell: 2000 McConnell Miracle: $700M for Kentucky tobacco farmers.     Mitch McConnell: $10B paid by tobacco companies, but no federal regulation.     Mitch McConnell: 2007: Expand SCHIP with "Kids First" bill.

Homeland Security     Ben Chandler: 2004: Focus on protecting military veterans.     Mitch McConnell: 1969: Opposed ABM deployment, but supported it later.     Mitch McConnell: 1983: If we spend too little on defense, we lose America.     Mitch McConnell: 1999: Clean up Paducah uranium enrichment plant.

Jobs     Ben Chandler: 2003: Focus on job losses from "Bush Economy".

Principles & Values     Bill Clinton: OpEd: Won with public focus on domestic over foreign issues.     Elaine Chao: 1993: Married Mitch McConnell on Ronald Reagan's birthday.     Jim Bunning: 1983: Ran for governor; but lost badly.     Jim Bunning: I don't read newspaper; I get all my info from Fox News.     Mitch McConnell: 1957: President of high school student body.     Mitch McConnell: The best kind of change is gradual change.     Mitch McConnell: 1993: Married Elaine Chao on Ronald Reagan's birthday.     Mitch McConnell: Contract With America was a tactical mistake.     Mitch McConnell: 2001: Accused of improper relationship with Chaos in China.     Newt Gingrich: OpEd: Great revolutionary but less adept at governing.     Sarah Palin: OpEd: Palin made most sense in election about change.     Scotty Baesler: 1998: Won primary as conservative Blue Dog Democrat.     Scotty Baesler: OpEd: '98 Fancy Farm rant was turning point to campaign loss.

Tax Reform     Ben Chandler: 2004: No new tax pledge.     Jim Bunning: AdWatch: Voted for tax breaks but not minimum wage increase.     Mitch McConnell: 1977 AdWatch: Horse Sense understands when tax cuts are real.

Technology     Mitch McConnell: 1987: Supported $87.5B earmark-laden highway bill.     Ronald Reagan: 1987: Vetoed $87.5B earmark-laden highway bill.

War & Peace     Mitch McConnell: 1967: Against Vietnam war, but enlisted in Army reserves.     Mitch McConnell: Kuwait war was worth fighting, including avoiding Baghdad.     Mitch McConnell: 2005 Iraq: Democracy is the ultimate antidote to terrorism.     Mitch McConnell: Honorable discharge as medically unfit in Vietnam War.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Ben Chandler Kentucky Democratic candidate for governor Bill Clinton Democrat Elaine Chao Kentucky DOT Secretary Ernie Fletcher Kentucky Former Republican Governor (2003-2007) Heritage Foundation Jim Bunning Republican Jr Senator (retiring 2010) Kentucky Mitch McConnell Republican Sr Senator Kentucky Newt Gingrich Republican Paul Patton Kentucky Former Democrat Governor (1995-2003) Robert Byrd Former Democratic Senator West Virginia Ronald Reagan Sarah Palin Alaska Former Governor (resigned 2009); V.P. nominee (2008) Scotty Baesler Democrat U.S. Rep Kentucky-6 Steve Beshear Kentucky Democratic Governor (term-limited 2015)