National Review calls on McConnell to step aside

The National Review, a conservative publication, on Thursday called on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to step aside from his leadership post after he appeared to freeze up at a press conference Wednesday for the second time in recent weeks. 

In an editorial, the National Review praised McConnell’s historic tenure in the Senate but said “the time has come for the Kentucky senator, after his long, impressive run, to make the decision to step aside from leadership.”

“Stepping aside from leadership would not necessarily require leaving the Senate,” the editorial said. “McConnell could, like [former Speaker] Nancy Pelosi, remain in office, and he would doubtless remain influential so long as he is capable of serving. But the job of caucus leader demands more.” 

On Wednesday, McConnell appeared to freeze up for about 20 seconds while addressing reporters at a press conference in Kentucky. This follows a similar episode in late July, when McConnell froze while speaking at his weekly press conference in the U.S. Capitol. 

The 81-year-old senator also suffered a fall in March, leaving him with a broken rib and a concussion. Reports indicated he had other falls that had not been publicly disclosed.

“McConnell has noticeably aged since his bad fall in March, when he sustained a concussion and broken rib, and he should want, for his own sake and that of his colleagues, to go out on his own terms,” the editorial said. 

“The details can be left to McConnell, who deserves a large measure of deference. A leadership transition doesn’t need to happen urgently, but the wheels should be turning,” it continued. 

The attending physician at the Capitol, Brian Monahan, said in a Thursday letter that McConnell was “medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.” Monahan seemed to back up McConnell’s spokesperson’s explanation for the episodes and noted lightheadedness “is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.” 

Still, the National Review said, “To the layman, the incidents looked more concerning than that,” and regardless, “this obviously is not normal and affects his ability to function as the leading representative of his caucus.” 

“The time will come for a fuller appreciation of McConnell’s legacy,” the editorial continued. “But his strenuous opposition to campaign-finance reform, effective resistance to the Obama agenda, stalwart refusal to fill the Scalia seat prior to the 2016 election, fruitful cooperation with President Trump on judges, and, lately, strong support for American leadership abroad when the winds in the party are blowing the opposite way easily make him one of the most consequential politicians of our era.”