Bernie Sanders hits McConnell for saying DC, Puerto Rico statehood is ‘full-bore socialism’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Twitter Monday over his recent comments that statehood for Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico is equivalent to “full-bore socialism.”

Sanders tweeted Monday that McConnell’s comments make him “proud” to identify as a Democratic Socialist.

Mitch McConnell thinks that allowing the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to become states is “socialism.” Well, that’s another reason why I’m a proud Democratic Socialist. pic.twitter.com/h0azzaZVYN

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 17, 2019 

In a Thursday appearance on Fox News’s “The Ingraham Angle,” McConnell told host Laura Ingraham that the Green New Deal, Medicare for All and other policy priorities for House Democrats were all part of a “socialist agenda.”

“They have planned to make the District of Columbia a state that would give them two new Democratic senators, Puerto Rico a state, that would give them two more new Democratic senators.” McConnell said.

“You’ve surely noticed that they plan to expand the Supreme Court. This is full-bore socialism on the march in the House,” McConnell continued.

The Senate leader has vowed to be a “Grim Reaper” for progressive policies if Republicans hold onto the Senate in 2020.

For the first time in my memory, I actually agree with Nancy Pelosi: I am the grim reaper when it comes to stopping the Democrats’ socialist agenda. pic.twitter.com/mjQaJUPirb

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) June 14, 2019

Multiple 2020 Democrats have said they are willing to consider adding justices to the Supreme Court in response to the Senate’s refusal to consider Merrick Garland, President Obama’s last appointment to the court.

Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a Democratic socialist, also called out the Senate leader, tweeting: “Right, bc sucking Puerto Ricans – full US citizens – dry while closing public schools, building fossil fuel pipelines against their will, & not allowing them to vote so Vulture Funds can levg the island’s illegal debt for Wall St profit is… old fashioned American capitalism?”

Right, bc sucking Puerto Ricans – full US citizens – dry while closing public schools, building fossil fuel pipelines against their will, & not allowing them to vote so Vulture Funds can levg the island’s illegal debt for Wall St profit is… old fashioned American capitalism? https://t.co/Qbc8FkuMR5

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019

And George Conway, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and vocal critic of President Trump, mocked McConnell for equating all policies Republicans oppose with socialism.

“Socialism is bad… DC statehood is bad…Therefore, DC statehood is socialism,” Conway shared.

Therefore, DC statehood is socialism.

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) June 17, 2019