John Thune says he spoke to McConnell on phone as secrecy over 84-year-old’s health prompts Maga backlash

Republican leaders have moved to quash speculation about Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader in the US Senate, amid a growing revolt over the lack of transparency around his health.

The 84-year-old Kentucky politician, who led Senate Republicans for longer than anyone in history before stepping down last year, was admitted to the hospital on 14 June but his office declined to say what he was being treated for.

The secrecy led to a backlash from Donald Trump’s support base, with some claiming that McConnell’s condition is graver than acknowledged and accusing his office of a cover-up.

On Tuesday, John Thune, McConnell’s successor as Republican leader, sought to quell the anger by claiming that he had spoken by phone with McConnell on Monday. A Thune spokesperson said: “They had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.”

  • WesternInfidels@feddit.onlineEnglish
    7·
    22 hours ago

    Even The Gruniad characterizes this as “rebellion” and “revolt” when what’s actually happening is people are talking.

    This seems like a very totalitarian view of the world to me. Maybe it’s appropriate, given the people we’re discussing here.

    If we were talking about (say) Elizabeth Warren being AWOL like this, would we expect to see questions from other Democrats characterized as “rebellion?” I don’t think we would, but perhaps I’m wrong.

      • Manjushri@piefed.socialEnglish
        10·
        1 day ago

        Nonsense. Mitch would not take gay organs. Besides, what do you think McConnell’s wife was doing in China in the days after he went to the hospital? Obviously she was buying top of the line organs for him freshly harvested from young Chinese dissidents.

  • cattywampas@lemmy.world
    115·
    2 days ago

    Andy Beshear says he wants to hold a special election anyway unless Mitch shows proof of life. I say do it.

    • EvilBit@lemmy.world
      60·
      2 days ago

      I mean, the bar isn’t “alive”, it’s “capable”. If he can talk on the phone, he can object to a special election. I just want him to do it on live video with a copy of that days newspaper.

      • spongebue@lemmy.world
        11·
        2 days ago

        Shit, I’m naive enough that I’d settle for a 2-minute non-video call to Fox News. If he can talk with others for at least 10x that, surely that’s not too much to ask.

  • blitzen@lemmy.ca
    1201·
    2 days ago

    McConnell is filibustering death. It’s what he would’ve wanted.

  • SarcasticMan@lemmy.world
    104·
    2 days ago

    Easy fix. Unless they are lying shit baskets and no one has actually talked to him he should be able to FaceTime a call to one of the multitude of Press out there and shut everyone up. He won’t though because it’s hard to FaceTime from hell.

  • ryper@lemmy.caEnglish
    97·
    2 days ago

    You know who could end the speculation real quick? Mitch McConnell.

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
      17·
      1 day ago

      One of the most hilarious things I’ve seen in a long time was when that MAGA dope on CNN the other day said he’d had a 20 minute conversation with McConnell, and the rest of them ALL jumped in and said “Hey! Since you can get him on the phone, hows about you call him right now, and end all the speculation?”

      I’ve never seen a guy “Hummina, Hummina” so badly in my life.

  • jaschen306@sh.itjust.works
    581·
    2 days ago

    Dude is 100% BRAIN DEAD. If he was even remotely alive, they would have did a video call or at the very least they would have gotten on the phone. Nope. Dude is 100% dead.

  • Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world
    18·
    2 days ago

    The more noise they make the more apparent that even if the meat that was him is still warm its the machines that are keeping it that way.