Early in Barack Obama’s presidency, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell announced that his most important achievement would be to make Obama a one-term president.
Ever since, McConnell has opposed anything Democrats introduced, even if originally Republican-proposed (e.g., Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts health plan predating Obamacare). This includes blocking legislation Obama and subsequent Democrats continually propose to rescue lower- and middle-income workers, many unjustly left behind. Lately, McConnell has given indications of realizing he’s created a monster — Donald Trump — but he lacks the integrity to reverse course.
These angry, marginalized workers were fertile ground for the lies, hate and bigotry of Trump; many were drawn to him even though he’s always favored the rich, especially with his tax cuts.
Republicans have continually blocked Democratic legislation, including key immigration reform that attracted enough Republican House and Senate votes to have passed. Now Republicans exploit immigration difficulties resulting from its defeat.
Specifically, on June 27, 2013, the Senate passed the immigration reform bill by a 68-32 margin. A bipartisan House of Representatives majority favored it, but Republican leadership violated majority rule by disallowing a full House vote.
