Two republicans fell for the old hot mic trick in which their “real” feelings about matters came out because nobody was listening. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ku.) were overheard on a live microphone talking about the government shutdown. Despite the expository nature of the incident, their words aren’t all that surprising, after all.
“I just did CNN and I just go over and over again ‘We’re willing to compromise. We’re willing to negotiate.’ I think .. I don’t think they [the democrats] poll tested that ‘we won’t negotiate,’” said Paul, regarding how the polls did not reflect the reality of the Democrats’ intransigency. “I think its awful for [Democrats[ to say that over and over again.”
“Yeah, I do too and I, and I just came back from that two hour meeting with them and that, and that was basically the same view privately as it was publicly,” said McConnell, referring again on how the Democrats are in fact both privately and publicly intransigent.
Paul also said, “I think if we keep saying, ‘We wanted to defund it. We fought for that and that we’re willing to compromise in this,” I think they can’t, we’re gonna, I think … well, I know we don’t want to be here, but we’re gonna win this, I think.”
So all in all, no startling revelations or bombshells, but pretty much what you would expect Republicans to say about their efforts.
As Paul said publicly, speaking on the show “Out Front,”: “I would think you have to negotiate, which to me means discussing your differences and trying to get in the middle between the two. So we’ve been offering some compromise. I think that’s what the American people want.”
Nothing in that statement contradicted his private statements. He also said on that show, “What is what we truly believe. We think [Obamacare] is bad for the country.” He told CNN: “The president wants all of it, a 100 percent.”
image source: nky.cincinnati.com