Mitch McConnell Agonistes The Beltway double standard on the health of public officials is something to behold.
You can tell who’s loved and hated in Washington by the way they’re treated when they have a health issue. President Biden stumbles through his first term, and is tripping toward another, with nary a notice from the Democratic-media complex about his obvious physical and mental decline. But GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell freezes up twice in five weeks before the cameras and he’s supposed to resign forthwith.
Mr. McConnell, who is 81 years old, clearly isn’t the same since he fell and suffered a concussion in March. His speech has long been slow but it seems more labored now. The moments when he has frozen for 20 seconds or so, and had to be helped by colleagues or aides, are difficult to watch.
Yet colleagues and others who have seen him after those events say he was alert and engaged. His doctor issued a statement on Thursday saying he’s able to continue his regular schedule. “Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” Dr. Brian Monahan said after he conferred with Mr. McConnell’s neurology team. If that’s the proper diagnosis and Mr. McConnell can still do the work, then he has no need to step down as leader.
Washington’s double standard on the health of politicians is also something to behold. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman ran for the Senate after suffering a stroke and he still struggles. The press ignores it. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein didn’t know her aides had sent out a press release saying she wouldn’t run for re-election in 2024.
Then there’s Mr. Biden, who stumbles repeatedly, blurts out inanities and non sequiturs, and sometimes doesn’t seem to know where he is on stage. But because Democrats don’t want a primary fight, and they fear Vice President Kamala Harris could be their 2024 nominee, everyone is supposed to ignore Mr. Biden’s infirmities. Whatever his issues, Mr. McConnell doesn’t have to negotiate with dictators like Xi Jinping or take calls at 3 a.m.
Mr. McConnell has been GOP leader since 2007, and he’s acquired many enemies on both sides of the aisle. Democrats loathe him because he’s been effective in defeating their fondest ambitions. He almost single-handedly made the current Supreme Court majority possible by blocking Merrick Garland’s nomination in 2016 after the death of Antonin Scalia.
Donald Trump would have lost that election if the Supreme Court had not been a major issue. And Mr. McConnell made sure Mr. Trump’s three nominees were confirmed—Justice Brett Kavanaugh, 50-48.
But Mr. Trump will never forgive Mr. McConnell for condemning his behavior on Jan. 6, 2021, and the Trumpy establishment also wants him gone. They indulge the fantasy of a Senate full of proven election losers like Arizona’s Kari Lake or Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale. Mr. McConnell keeps his eye on trying to nominate —and raise money for—candidates who can win and create a 51-seat majority.
We agree that too many people cling to power for too long in Washington. But Senate leaders are chosen by their party colleagues, who are in the best position to judge Mr. McConnell’s continuing abilities. If they think Mr. McConnell can still be an effective leader of an increasingly fractious GOP Senate conference, then he should stay in the job.
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