Citizendia

Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1985
Serving with Jim Bunning
Preceded byWalter Huddleston
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 4, 2007
DeputyTrent Lott (2007)
Jon Kyl (2007-)
Preceded byHarry Reid
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
LeaderBill Frist
Preceded byHarry Reid
Succeeded byRichard Durbin
BornFebruary 20, 1942 (1942-02-20) (age 66)
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElaine Chao
ProfessionLawyer
ReligionBaptist

Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Walter Darlington "Dee" Huddleston (born April 15 1926) is a retired American Politician. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party This page is about the current Arizona Senator for his father a U Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. William Harrison "Bill" Frist Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Tuscumbia is a city in and the County seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. Elaine Lan Chao ( born March 26, 1953) currently serves as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor in the Cabinet of President A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. (born February 20, 1942) is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. He was chosen by his Republican colleagues as the Minority Leader in November 2006, making him the top-ranking Republican in the 110th Congress, which convened January 3, 2007. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama to Julia Shockley and Addison Mitchell McConnell[1], he was challenged early in life when he was stricken with polio at age 2:

"When I was two years old, I came down with an infection that felt a lot like the flu. Tuscumbia is a city in and the County seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral Infectious disease spread from person to person primarily via But after the fever passed, my left leg had gone lame. For two years my mother put me through a physical therapy regimen taught to her by the doctors at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, founded by President Roosevelt in Warm Springs, Georgia. From age two to four, I was not allowed to walk or run. But after two years of my mother's care, I was able to have a normal life. A lot of kids at that time, in the 1940s, weren't so lucky. Some were paralyzed for life. Some were sentenced to the iron lung. Many died. "

McConnell was raised in south Louisville, Kentucky, he attended duPont Manual High School and in 1964 graduated with honors from the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, where he was student body president and member of Phi Kappa Tau. The University of Louisville (also known as U of L) is a public University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Phi Kappa Tau ( ΦΚΤ) is a US national college fraternity History Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity (commonly called Phi Tau He graduated in 1967 from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was elected president of the Student Bar Association. The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public, Co-educational, University, and is also the state's land-grant university located President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries.

McConnell became a member of the 100th Training Unit, United States Army Reserve, Louisville, Kentucky, during his final semester of law school, and reported for his six months of active service, primarily for training, in July 1967. The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. After induction at Fort Knox, Kentucky, McConnell was diagnosed with optic neuritis, and was released from the military in August with an honorable discharge. Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. Optic Neuritis is the Inflammation of the Optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision A military discharge is given when a member of the Armed forces is released from his or her obligation to serve [2][3]

McConnell is a member of the Baptist Church. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. He married Elaine Chao, the current Secretary of Labor, in 1993, and has three grown daughters from his first marriage. Elaine Lan Chao ( born March 26, 1953) currently serves as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor in the Cabinet of President "Secretary of Labor" redirects here See also Secretary of Labor (Mexico. McConnell's first wife worked as a librarian for a small college in the Northeast.

In 1992, McConnell teamed with the University of Louisville to create the McConnell Center. The University of Louisville (also known as U of L) is a public University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Created in 1992 by US Senator Mitch McConnell, the McConnell Center is an endowed institution at the University of Louisville.

Career prior to the Senate

In March 1967, during his final semester of law school, McConnell gained experience on Capitol Hill as an intern under Senator John Sherman Cooper, later as an assistant to Senator Marlow Cook, and was a Deputy Assistant Attorney General under President Gerald R. Ford. Capitol Hill, aside from being a Metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential Neighborhood in Washington D An intern or stagiaire is one who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment making it similar to an Apprenticeship John Sherman Cooper (August 23 1901 – February 21 1991 was a liberal Republican United States Senator from Kentucky who served a total of Marlow Webster Cook (born July 27, 1926, in Akron New York) is a former Republican United States Senator from Kentucky The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President From 1978 until his election to the Senate, he was the Jefferson County Judge/Executive, the top political office in Jefferson County, which includes Louisville. The Jefferson County Judge/Executive, under state law is the chief executive of Jefferson County Kentucky. Jefferson County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky.

U. S. Senate

Initial election and subsequent re-elections

In 1984, McConnell ran against two-term Democratic Senator Dee Huddleston. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Walter Darlington "Dee" Huddleston (born April 15 1926) is a retired American Politician. The race wasn't decided until the last returns came in, and McConnell won by a razor-thin margin — less than half a percentage point. McConnell was the only Republican Senate challenger to win that year, despite the perception that 1984 was a disaster for Democrats. Part of McConnell's success came from a series of television campaign spots called "Where's Dee", which featured a group of bloodhounds trying to find Huddleston, implying that Huddleston's attendance record in the Senate was less than stellar. A bloodhound (also known as the St Hubert hound) is a large breed of Dog bred for the specific purpose of tracking human beings It is also likely that he was helped by Ronald Reagan's 21-point win in Kentucky that year. His campaign bumper stickers and television ads asked voters to "Switch to Mitch".

In 1990, McConnell faced a tough reelection contest against former Louisville mayor Harvey I. Sloane, winning by 4. Harvey I Sloane (born May 11, 1936) a physician and Democrat served two terms as Mayor of Louisville Kentucky and also a term as county judge-executive 5 points. He soundly defeated Steve Beshear in 1996, even as Bill Clinton narrowly carried the state. Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear (born September 21, 1944) is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and the 61st and William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States In keeping with a tradition of humorous and effective television ads in his campaigns, McConnell's campaign ran television ads in 1996 that warned voters to not "Get Besheared" and included images of sheep being sheared. In 2002, he was reelected with the largest majority by a Republican candidate in Kentucky history.

Republican leadership

McConnell was chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC is the Republican Hill committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Republicans to In both, Republicans maintained control of the Senate. McConnell was first elected as Majority Whip in the 108th Congress, and unanimously re-elected by Republicans in the Senate on November 17, 2004. Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Sen. Bill Frist, the Majority Leader, did not seek re-election in the 2006 elections. William Harrison "Bill" Frist Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 7[[ 006]] with 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate being contested After Republicans lost control of the Senate in November 2006, they elected McConnell to replace Frist as Republican Leader.

Committees

Political actions and positions

McConnell is a conservative, respected statesman and a master of parliamentary procedure. He is widely considered a "kingmaker" in Kentucky Republican politics. " Kingmaker " is a term originally applied to the activities of Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick during the Wars of the Roses in England. [4]

Although he is an ardent conservative, he has distanced himself from the majority in his party by opposing the Flag Desecration Amendment, arguing against modifying the constitution to address "every political and social ill" the nation faces. The Flag Desecration Amendment, often referred to as the flag burning amendment, is a controversial proposed Constitutional amendment to the United States Constitution He has, however, sponsored legislation that would illegalize flag burning but without a constitutional amendment. [5]

In keeping with his support of free speech, McConnell has expressed strong opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, which he believes would adversely affect talk radio in the United States. The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC that required the holders of Broadcast licenses both to present controversial The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [6]

In August 2007, McConnell introduced the Protect America Act of 2007, which allowed the National Security Agency to monitor telephone and electronic communications of individuals inside and outside the United States without obtaining a warrant. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Protect America Act of 2007 ( PAA) is a controversial amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA that was signed into law on August 5 The National Security Agency/ Central Security Service ( NSA/CSS) is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States government

McConnell is well known for his opposition to campaign finance regulation that restricts the ability of private citizens, groups and political parties to participate in American elections and conduct issue advocacy. McConnell believes that arbitrary limits on campaign spending and severe contribution limits violate the First Amendment, reduces participation in political campaigns, and protect incumbents from competition. [7] He spearheaded the movement against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (known since 1995 as the "McCain-Feingold bill" and from 1989-1994 as the "Boren-Mitchell bill"), calling it "neither fair, nor balanced, nor constitutional. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ( BCRA, McCain–Feingold Act,) is United States federal law that amended the Federal Election Campaign "[8] His opposition to the bill culminated in the 2003 Supreme Court case McConnell v. Federal Election Commission. McConnell v Federal Election Commission, 540 US 93 ( 2003) is a case in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the Constitutionality

McConnell remains one of the strongest supporters of the American invasion of Iraq, which he considers a central part of the War on Terrorism. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U He holds the view that the violence in Iraq is perpetrated primarily by al-Qaeda and other international jihadists, who would otherwise be engaged in terrorist actions within the United States. Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida, al-Qa`ida or al-Qa`idah, ( Arabic:; ar-Latn ''al-qāʿidah'' Translation: The A Mujahid (Arabic ar مجاهد, literally "struggler" is a Muslim involved in a Jihad, id est fighting in a war or In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on January 10, 2007 (after President Bush's announcement of an escalation in troop levels in Iraq), McConnell claimed that the war in Iraq was a success because it had prevented terrorist attacks in the U. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. S. since the September 11, 2001 attacks. He warned that if the United States withdrew from Iraq, "the terrorists would come after us where we live. "

In 1996, Senator McConnell demanded that President Clinton allow White House aides to testify under oath. On April 1, 2007, Chris Wallace claimed that McConnell's stance on Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testifying under oath in relation to the Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy was contradictory. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Christopher or Chris Wallace may refer to Christopher Wallace (British Army officer, a retired British Army general and current trustee of the Imperial Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) was Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W Harriet Ellan Miers (born August 10 1945 is an American Lawyer and former White House Counsel. The Wallace asked, "In 1996, you were saying those White House aides should testify in open hearing. These were White House aides of Bill Clinton, in open hearing under oath. Why shouldn't the same rules apply for the Bush White House and people like Karl Rove?" McConnell replied, "And what I’m telling you is the president's going to make that decision. "

War in Iraq

Sen. McConnell has been an advocate of the War in Iraq and an ardent supporter of President George W. Bush and his policies. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. However, regarding the failure of the Iraqi government to make reforms, McConnell said the following on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer: "The Iraqi government is a huge disappointment. Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer is a Sunday talk show hosted by Wolf Blitzer on CNN and broadcast around the world by CNN International Republicans overwhelmingly feel disappointed about the Iraqi government. I read just this week that a significant number of the Iraqi parliament want to vote to ask us to leave. I want to assure you, Wolf, if they vote to ask us to leave, we'll be glad to comply with their request. "[9]

On the June 17, 2007 edition of CBS News' Face the Nation, McConnell said: "Most members of my conference in the Senate believe [that September will be] the critical point to evaluate where we are . Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. CBS News is the news division of American Television and Radio network CBS. Face the Nation is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS Television network on . . I think everybody anticipates that there's going to be a new strategy in the fall. I find growing support in the Senate among Republicans, and for that matter, some Democrats as well, for the recommendations of the [Baker-Hamilton] Iraq Study Group"[10][11]

On July 9, 2007, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky at Fort Campbell speaking to a contingent of troops about to ship out for a 15-month deployment to Iraq, McConnell said: "The majority of the public has decided the Iraq effort is not worth it," he said. The Iraq Study group (ISG also known as the Baker-Hamilton Commission, was a ten-person Bipartisan panel appointed on March 15, Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee, and is home "That puts a lot of pressure on Congress to act because public opinion in a democracy is not irrelevant. "[12][13]

Re-election 2008

Main article: United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2008

McConnell has announced he will seek re-election in 2008. The US Senate Election for Kentucky of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. As of May 2008, 52% approve of McConnell and 42% disapprove. International holidays May 1 - Labour Day ( Pakistan) May 1 - Labour Day ( Singapore) As of July 2007, McConnell's campaign had raised $6 million for the election. July 2007 is the seventh month of that year It began on a Sunday and 31 days later ended on a Tuesday. [14]

References

  1. ^ 1
  2. ^ Mitch McConnell: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  3. ^ Mitch McConnell - Issues, Money, Videos, Photos and Forum
  4. ^ Blackford, Linda. "Supporters' hopes are high McConnell will lead Senate", Lexington Herald Leader, 2006-11-06. The Lexington Herald-Leader is a Newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and based in the U Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with  
  5. ^ Bash, Dana. "Flag desecration amendment fails in Senate", CNN, 2000-03-29. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King  
  6. ^ YouTube - Republican Leader Mitch McConnell On The Fairness Doctrine
  7. ^ Zachary Roth and Cliff Schecter"Meet the New Boss", Washington Monthly, October 2006
  8. ^ Speech to the House Appropriations Committee by Mitch McConnnell, May 3, 2001, on campaign finance reform
  9. ^ CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker
  10. ^ Politics1 - American Politics, Elections, Candidates & Campaigns
  11. ^ Microsoft Word - F6-17-7
  12. ^ 'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for July 9 - Hardball with Chris Matthews - MSNBC.com
  13. ^ http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/09/mcconnell_public_opinion_is_not_irrelevant_in_a_democracy
  14. ^ Cross, Al. "How much trouble is McConnell really in?", The Courier-Journal, 2007-07-29. The Courier-Journal, nicknamed the "C-J", is the main Newspaper for the city of Louisville Kentucky, USA Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat  

External links

United States Senate
Preceded by
Walter Huddleston		United States Senator (Class 2) from Kentucky
1985 – present
Served alongside: Wendell H. Ford, Jim Bunning		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Richard Bryan
Nevada		Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee
1995 – 1997		Succeeded by
Robert C. Smith
New Hampshire
Preceded by
John Warner
Virginia		Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee
1999 – 2001		Succeeded by
Chris Dodd
Connecticut
Party political offices
Preceded by
Al D'Amato
New York		Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
1997 – 2001		Succeeded by
Bill Frist
Tennessee
Preceded by
Don Nickles
Oklahoma		Senate Republican Whip
2003 – 2007		Succeeded by
Trent Lott
Mississippi
Preceded by
Bill Frist
Tennessee		Senate Republican Leader
2007 – present		Incumbent
Persondata
NAMEMcConnell, Mitch
ALTERNATIVE NAMESMcConnell, Addison Mitchell, Jr. The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a Biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The Federal Election Commission (or FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington D Project Vote Smart ( PVS) is a Non-profit, Non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Walter Darlington "Dee" Huddleston (born April 15 1926) is a retired American Politician. Kentucky was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792. Class II Class III See also Wendell Hampton Ford (born September 8, 1924) is an American politician from Kentucky who belongs to the Democratic Party. James Paul David "Jim" Bunning (born October 23, 1931) is an American politician and former Pitcher in Major League Baseball Richard Hudson Bryan (born July 16, 1937) was Governor of the U The US Senate Select Committee on Ethics is a select committee of the United States Senate charged with dealing with matters related to senatorial ethics Robert C "Bob" Smith (born March 30, 1941) is an American Politician who has served in both the United States House of Representatives John William Warner (born February 18 1927 is an American Politician, who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and has served as the The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (also called the Senate Rules Committee) is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American Lawyer and Democratic Politician, who is currently serving Alfonse Marcello D'Amato (born August 1 1937 is a former New York Politician. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC is the Republican Hill committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Republicans to William Harrison "Bill" Frist Donald Lee Nickles (born December 6, 1948) is an American Businessman and political leader who was a Republican United The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party William Harrison "Bill" Frist The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences (full name)
SHORT DESCRIPTIONKentucky politician
DATE OF BIRTHFebruary 20, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTHTuscumbia, Alabama
DATE OF DEATHliving
PLACE OF DEATH
Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Tuscumbia is a city in and the County seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States.
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