McConnell Walks Back Comments on Socialism

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walked back comments that appeared to call House Democrats' statehood push for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico “full-bore socialism.”

McConnell first made his remarks during an interview on the Fox News show, “The Ingraham Angle.”

“They plan to make the District of Columbia a state — that’d give them two new Democratic senators — Puerto Rico a state, that would give them two more new Democratic senators,” he said.  

And he noted growing support among House Democrats for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.

“This is full-bore socialism on the march in the House,” he said. “And yeah, as long as I’m the majority leader of the Senate, none of that stuff is going anywhere.”

The Washington Post noted House Democrats plan to hold a hearing – and perhaps a floor vote — on D.C. statehood.

But on Tuesday evening, McConnell’s tried to clarify his comments. An aide to the majority leader said he sees statehood not as socialist, but as an example of government overreach by the Democrats, The Washington Post reported.

• Rep. Steny Hoyer Calls for DC Statehood
• DC Statehood: District of Columbia Votes Overwhelmingly to Pursue It