Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called on his Democratic colleagues to "heed the president's message of unity last night" and take advantage of "a historic opportunity before us," the Washington Examiner reported.
Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, McConnell hailed President Donald Trump's first major address to Congress on Tuesday as "refreshing" and said "We can come together to accomplish big things, we can pull down the barriers of the past" to overcome Washington partisanship.
McConnell reminded Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about what he had said when he thought Hillary Clinton would win the election, which was that congressmen have a "moral obligation to avoid gridlock and get the country to work again."
"I have asked them to meet the moment, and I hope they will, because the American people are counting on us all," McConnell said. "They are ready for a new start and we are determined to work hard on their behalf."
Democrats, however, did not appear ready to heed his call. While some acknowledged that Trump gave a more measured and disciplined speech than he usually does, they said it lacked policy details and facts to back up his assertions, The Boston Globe reported.
"I'd like Donald Trump to bring America together, but everything he's done before, during, and after the election and after Jan. 20th has been to divide this nation," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez.
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