4 of McConnell's spiciest retorts to Biden's 'unpresidential' voting rights speech


Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tore into President Biden's voting rights speech Wednesday, calling it a "rant" that was "incoherent, incorrect," and "unpresidential."
In a speech delivered in Georgia Tuesday, Biden urged Congress to pass two federal voting rights bills that would supercede a wave of red-state election laws he referred to as "Jim Crow 2.0." He also called for Senate rules to be changed to eliminate the filibuster and allow voting rights legislation to pass with 50 votes rather than the 60 currently required. A handful of McConnell's responses stood out amid his fiery reply.
1. Biden has betrayed his promise to act as a unifier
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"[President Biden received] a mandate to do just one central thing that he campaigned on. Here's what that was: Bridge a divided country … But yesterday, he poured a giant can of gasoline on the fire." McConnell previously criticized Biden's lack of "unity" messaging, but then seemingly backed off — until now.
2. Biden's claims about voting laws were misleading
"Georgia has more days of early voting than Delaware or New York. Georgia has no-excuse absentee voting which Delaware and New York do not have. If Georgia or Texas present Jim Crow emergencies, then so do a whole lot of Democratic-run states." This could become the party line as Democrats continue to prioritize voting rights laws.
3. Biden's overblown rhetoric is what's really subverting democracy
"The people who spent Nov. 2020 through Jan. [20]21 preaching sermons about the strength and the sanctity of our democracy are now undertaking to delegitimize the next election in case they lose it."
4. Biden's speech shows why the filibuster is necessary
"A president shouting that 52 senators and millions of Americans are racist unless he gets whatever he wants … is the best possible argument for preserving — preserving! — the Senate rules that extend deliberation, force bipartisan compromise, and let cooler heads prevail." McConnell's views could influence moderate lawmakers on the fence about whether to change the filibuster.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump tariffs place trucking industry in the crosshairs
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the White House barrels ahead with its massive tariff project, American truckers are feeling the heat from a global trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US