{"id":584465,"date":"2023-07-27T01:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/scary-moment-for-mcconnell-raises-questions-for-gop\/"},"modified":"2023-07-27T01:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:30:00","slug":"scary-moment-for-mcconnell-raises-questions-for-gop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/scary-moment-for-mcconnell-raises-questions-for-gop\/","title":{"rendered":"#Scary moment for McConnell raises questions for GOP"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3879abab091\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3879abab091\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/scary-moment-for-mcconnell-raises-questions-for-gop\/#Top_stories_from_The_Hill\" >Top stories from The Hill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is helped by Senators and staff after McConnell unexpectedly pauses while speaking to reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze in front of television cameras for about 20 seconds Wednesday as he battled a bout of lightheadedness that forced him to walk away briefly from a press conference.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The scary moment, which prompted members of his leadership team to suggest that he take a rest, raises new questions about the 81-year-old Republican leader\u2019s future. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you good, Mitch?\u201d asked Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman\u00a0Joni Ernst\u00a0(Iowa), putting her hand on the back of his arm.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (Wyo.), who is a doctor, ushered McConnell away from the podium after the leader was unable to get more than a couple of sentences into his opening statement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s go back to your office,\u201d Barrasso suggested. \u201cDo you want to say anything else to the press? Let\u2019s go back.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Barrasso later revealed that he walked \u201cdown the hall\u201d with McConnell toward his office after they both walked away from the podium and that the leader didn\u2019t say anything to him to indicate distress. \u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ns-block-embed-anvato\" data-anvato-player-id=\"p4\"><\/figure>\n<p>An aide to McConnell later said, \u201cHe felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment.\u201d The aide pointed out that McConnell \u201cwas sharp\u201d in answering reporters\u2019 questions after he returned to the event. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>McConnell\u2019s term runs through the end of 2026, and he previously said that he expects to stay on as leader. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) told reporters after the troubling moment in front of the cameras that McConnell should stay in his leadership role. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd hopefully he gets a good rest over the [August] break,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_stories_from_The_Hill\"><\/span>Top stories from The Hill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">McConnell has helped recruit top-flight Republican candidates in West Virginia and Montana to maximize the chances of reclaiming his old title of Senate majority leader in January 2025. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And two outside fundraising groups aligned with McConnell, the Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation, this week reported record-breaking fundraising hauls over the first six months of a nonelection year. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The groups raised a combined $38 million, with the Senate Leadership Fund collecting $10.1 million and One Nation bringing in $28.2 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>But Senate Republican colleagues say McConnell seems to be still suffering the effects of a nasty spill he took in early March, which sent him to the hospital with a concussion and led to weeks of rehabilitation. \u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"nlp-ignore-block article-content rich-text\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/T7zM9N_S2SDKHQ2PypEf8AQ?subscribe=1\">Sign up for the latest from The Hill here<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>One Republican senator who requested anonymity to discuss McConnell\u2019s health observed that the GOP leader has been more reticent at Republican lunch meetings. The lawmaker speculated that McConnell may be having troubling hearing the conversations at the lunch, just as he sometimes has trouble hearing reporters\u2019 questions at press conferences.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A second Republican senator said McConnell does not <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear fully recovered from his fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr5_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>\u201cI love Mitch McConnell, he is one of the most strategic political thinkers that we have. I have such admiration and respect for him but I do fear that \u2014 you can call it low energy \u2014 he is not himself,\u201d the lawmaker said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is the oldest member of the Senate GOP conference at age 89, said he planned to call McConnell\u2019s office to check up on his health. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I want to know what went wrong, yes,\u201d he said. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr6_ab\"><\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4108906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/TOP-Grassley_041923_AP_Carolyn-Kaster.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>FILE \u2013 Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, testifies during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Washington. A U.S. Senate committee has accused the embattled Swiss bank Credit Suisse of limiting the scope of an internal probe into Nazi clients and Nazi-linked accounts. (AP Photo\/Carolyn Kaster, File)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>McConnell waved aside questions about his health when he returned to the podium Wednesday afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Asked at Wednesday\u2019s press conference why he was unable to complete his statement and whether it was related to the concussion, McConnell responded: \u201cNo, I\u2019m fine.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr7_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re fine, you\u2019re fully able to do your job?\u201d the reporter pressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d McConnell answered.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>McConnell returned to the press conference in time to take the first question from reporters, as he usually does after the weekly Senate Republican policy lunch. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He made a point of staying at the podium longer than usual to answer questions and appeared calm and confident while providing detailed answers. \u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)\" class=\"wp-image-4121235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn03_w.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) addresses reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When a reporter asked Wednesday if he had \u201canybody in mind\u201d to replace him when he\u2019s \u201cno longer\u201d the Republican leader, McConnell smiled and walked back to his office while members of his leadership team laughed it off. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Republican senators and aides predict that if McConnell steps down from his leadership job, there would be a three-way race among Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), Barrasso and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the former Senate GOP whip and a current adviser to the Senate GOP leadership team, to replace him. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thune and Cornyn, who have both expressed interest in becoming the Senate GOP leader sometime in the future, say the job belongs to McConnell as long as he wants it.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the former chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee who challenged McConnell unsuccessfully in November, hasn\u2019t ruled out making another run for Senate Republican leader.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell defeated Scott 37-10 in an acrimonious race in which both candidates traded blame for the disappointing results of the 2022 midterm election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Barrasso said after the press conference that he was \u201cconcerned\u201d about McConnell\u2019s health but pointed out that he led the lunch meeting earlier in the day and appeared in good shape while answering questions from the press. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was concerned since \u2026 he was injured a number of months ago, and I continue to be concerned,\u201d he told a crowd of reporters who pressed him for details about McConnell\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized, and I think he\u2019s made a remarkable recovery. He\u2019s doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question that the press asked today,\u201d he said. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Barrasso said McConnell didn\u2019t show any signs of impairment at the conference lunch meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe spoke at lunch, carried on, led the discussion. Everything was fine,\u201d he said. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Al Weaver contributed.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Copyright 2023 Nexstar <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Media<\/a> Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/4121752-scary-moment-for-mcconnell-raises-questions-for-gop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is helped by Senators and staff after McConnell unexpectedly pauses while speaking to reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash) Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze in front of television cameras for about 20 seconds Wednesday as he battled a bout of lightheadedness&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":584466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/mcconnellmitch_072623gn08_w.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[138109,134343,71443,139529,4941,134420,90482,124783,144654,136371,135614,136418,41445,115],"class_list":["post-584465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-2024-elections","tag-campaign","tag-chuck-grassley","tag-defense-national-security","tag-donald-trump","tag-equilibrium-sustainability","tag-house","tag-international","tag-john-barrasso","tag-john-cornyn","tag-john-thune","tag-joni-ernst","tag-mitch-mcconnell","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=584465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/584466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=584465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=584465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=584465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}