McConnell and McCarthy Had the Chance to Take Out Trump, But They Chose Their Careers Over Consciences
Imagine you’ve been abducted. You’re chained to a radiator. Then one day, your lunatic kidnapper passes out. Do you grab the handcuff keys from his pocket, run to a neighbor’s house, and call the cops? As he starts to pursue, do you hit him in the head with a baseball bat? Or do you offer him some smelling salts?
If your name is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, after much contemplation, you probably do the latter.
Forgive me for employing this admittedly weird metaphor. But it’s the closest I can come up with to describe the way Republican leaders have consistently empowered their abuser, former President Donald Trump, as he has trashed our political institutions, and rolled over norm after norm along the way.