McConnell whines that critics of his refusal to help 9/11 victims are 'bent out of shape'

Mitch McConnell lashed out at comedian Jon Stewart after the former Daily Show host criticized the Senate Majority Leader for dragging his feet on authorizing funds to compensate 9/11 first responders.

Appearing on “Fox & Friends” on Monday, McConnell was shown footage of Stewart criticizing McConnell’s actions.

“[McConnell] has always held out until the very last minute and only then under intense lobbying and public shaming has he even deigned to move on it,” Stewart explained in the clip.

McConnell chuckled as host Steve Doocy asked him why the Senate has been so slow to authorize the much-needed funding.

“Many things in Congress happen at the last minute,” McConnell said dismissively. “I don’t know why he’s all bent out of shape,” McConnell added, referring to Stewart’s critique.

In 2015, McConnell blocked the creation of a permanent fund to assist the first responders. Thanks to his actions, they must lobby Congress to reauthorize the current, temporary fund before money runs out in 2020.

Stewart was on Capitol Hill last week and gave emotional testimony imploring Congress to help these men and women.

“They did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility. Eighteen years later, do yours,” he said Tuesday.

McConnell, instead of using his position to rectify the issue, told reporters the next day: “Gosh, I hadn’t looked at that lately.”

McConnell is eager to hold pointless show votes on hot-button issues like the Green New Deal and abortion — but he can’t be bothered to take real action that would help real people.

Time and again, McConnell has used his position as majority leader to thwart the democratic process. He refused to allow President Obama to appoint a Supreme Court nominee, and he has refused to allow a vote on over 100 bills passed under the new Democratic majority.

McConnell only wants to use the Senate to push the right-wing issues he cares about — and that apparently doesn’t include the people who were on the front lines of 9/11.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.