The Curious Case of Mitch McConnell

Let me start where it matters: Mitch McConnell is 84, a childhood polio survivor who fell at home last month, was hospitalized, and developed pneumonia. I hope that man recovers. I don't celebrate anybody's illness and I won't mock an old man in a hospital chair. That's not the show I run.

But sit with this. Right now he's receiving three things: a guaranteed salary while unable to work, comprehensive government healthcare, and open-ended unlimited paid medical leave — no cap, no penalty, no deadline. And over four decades in the Senate, he voted to deny all three to you.

He hasn't cast a vote since June 11. His $174,000 salary continues uninterrupted. His federal health coverage continues. His leave is unlimited and fully paid. And here's the moral center: every one of those things is good. He should have them. An 84-year-old who falls and gets pneumonia should heal without losing his income, coverage, or job. That's not the outrage — that's how it should work. The outrage is he spent forty years making sure you couldn't have it.

Three for three: he has guaranteed income and led the filibuster that killed the 2014 minimum wage increase ($7.25 frozen since 2009). He has government healthcare and led the ACA opposition, admitting he kept it partisan so it wouldn't "convey to the public that this is O.K." He has unlimited paid leave in the only wealthy nation with no national paid leave. And in 2010 he voted against the Zadroga Act — healthcare for the 9/11 first responders dying from Ground Zero.

He's not an exception. He's the design. Every member of Congress has this deal. They wrote themselves the safety net first, then told you it was too expensive for you. They're not against the policy — they have it. They're against you having it.

Ask for the same deal. Nothing more. Just the same deal.

No Blue. No Red. No Filter. Just Fire. 👓🔥 Think for yourself. Now quote me on that.

— YouTube: youtube.com/@quotethesmoke | TikTok: tiktok.com/@jamesspearit