Mitch McConnell campaign blasted for photos of tombstones for political foes
It is not a good look for Team Mitch.
The Mitch McConnell campaign tweeted an image during the weekend of a mock graveyard with the names on tombstones of the Senate majority leader’s political opponents.
And the timing could not be worse.
Two mass shootings where more than 30 people were killed sandwiched the posting, which was taken at Fancy Farm, Ky., where the Kentucky senator had a campaign rally.
Amy McGrath, a Democrat who is taking on McConnell for the 2020 Senate race, had her name graced on one of the tombstones.
“Hours after the El Paso shooting, Mitch McConnell proudly tweeted this photo. I find it so troubling that our politics have become so nasty and personal that the Senate Majority Leader thinks it’s appropriate to use imagery of the death of a political opponent (me) as messaging,” McGrath tweeted.
Hours after the El Paso shooting, Mitch McConnell proudly tweeted this photo. I find it so troubling that our politics have become so nasty and personal that the Senate Majority Leader thinks it's appropriate to use imagery of the death of a political opponent (me) as messaging. pic.twitter.com/2x5kO5jwPi
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) August 5, 2019
Other tombstones had Judge Merrick Garland, former Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Green New Deal and socialism. McConnell’s “Team Mitch” campaign yard signs were scattered among the tombstones.
Also criticizing McConnell was former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who retired from Congress after being shot at a campaign event in January 2011.
“I am appalled that in this divisive political climate — a climate where gun violence fueled by hate is on the rise — Mitch McConnell is joking about the death of his current and former opponents and a federal judge,” Giffords said in a statement.
The nation is turning to Leader McConnell right now for leadership, and this is the furthest thing from it.
Leader McConnell must apologize to @AmyMcGrathKY, Merrick Garland, and @AlisonForKY.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) August 5, 2019
McConnell’s campaign said that the photo was of a display built by supporters and that it was based on a newspaper cartoon, the Washington Post reported.
Meanwhile, a photo of McConnell supporters posing with a cardboard cutout of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. In the photo, one supporter looked like he was choking the effigy of the freshman representative.
Young #TeamMitch McConnell supporters pose for a photo strangling a cardboard cutout of @AOC
— Sarah Burris (@SarahBurris) August 5, 2019
McConnell, who tripped on his outdoor patio and fractured his shoulder Sunday morning at his Louisville home, had no comment.
Bret Gibson is a TribLive digital producer. A South Hills resident, he started working for the Trib in 1998. He can be reached at bgibson@triblive.com.
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