Headline Roundup • February 8th, 2022
McConnell Criticizes RNC Over Jan. 6 Censures, Calls the Riot a 'Violent Insurrection'
Republican Party,Mitch McConnell,RNC,Liz Cheney,Adam Kinzinger,Capitol Chaos,January 6 Committee,Politics
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is accusing his party's national committee of trying to police the views of lawmakers.
McConnell criticized the Republican National Committee's move to formally censure Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) for their participation in the House committee investigating the Jan. 6th Capitol riot. He said that "singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority" is not the committee's job and that it traditionally serves to "support all members of our party, regardless of their positions on some issues." He also called the Capitol riot a "violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next."
Outlets across the spectrum, especially left- and center-rated sources, highlighted McConnell's remarks. Many headlines featured his characterization of the Capitol riot as a "violent insurrection," a common phrase used on the left to describe the events of Jan. 6 but one that the right typically disagrees with.
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(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is criticizing the Republican National Committee for censuring two House GOP lawmakers investigating the “violent insurrection” on Jan. 6, 2021, saying it’s not the party’s job to police the views of lawmakers.
As former President Donald Trump has downplayed the attack by his supporters last year — the worst attack against the Capitol in two centuries — the RNC last week took a voice vote to approve censuring Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois at the party’s winter meeting in Salt Lake City....
Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that it is "not the job" of the Republican National Committee to single out Republican members who disagree with the party.
Driving the news: "The issue is whether or not the RNC should be singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority. That's not the job of the RNC," McConnell said in response to the committee's censure of Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.).
"Traditionally, the view of the national party committee is that we...
Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) broke with the Republican National Committee Tuesday over its decision to censure GOP Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for sitting on the House Select Committee tasked with investigating last year’s Capitol riot.
McConnell told reporters at the Capitol that he felt the RNC had no business “singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority.
“That’s not the job of the RNC,” the Kentucky Republican added.
The censure resolution passed by voice vote at the RNC’s winter meeting in Salt...
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