#MoscowMitchMcTreason trends after McConnell defends blocking election security bills

Authored by thehill.com and submitted by Chribuna

The hashtag #MoscowMitchMcTreason began trending on Twitter Tuesday morning after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats take another stab at preventing foreign election interference Collins is first GOP senator to back bill requiring campaigns report foreign assistance offers to FBI Trump says Washington Post should apologize to McConnell over 'Russian asset' column MORE (R-Ky.) fired back against the nickname "Moscow Mitch" in a fiery speech from the Senate floor.

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough Charles (Joe) Joseph ScarboroughBrzezinski fires back at Trump after he lashes out at 'Morning Joe': 'I'm sad and disgusted' Trump rips Scarborough, Brzezinski: 'Morning Joe & Psycho ratings have really crashed' #MoscowMitchMcTreason trends after McConnell defends blocking election security bills MORE, a former GOP lawmaker, dubbed McConnell “Moscow Mitch” after McConnell on Friday blocked two election security measures.

The hashtag #MoscowMitch quickly began trending on Twitter following Scarborough's comments.

McConnell responded on Monday, decrying the attacks against him as “modern-day McCarthyism.”

“I was called unpatriotic, un-American and essentially treasonous by a couple of left-wing pundits on the basis of bold-faced lies. I was accused of aiding and abetting the very man I’ve singled out as an adversary and opposed for nearly 20 years, Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinTrump says Washington Post should apologize to McConnell over 'Russian asset' column Russian diplomat: US may be planning to pull out of nuclear test ban treaty #MoscowMitchMcTreason trends after McConnell defends blocking election security bills MORE,” McConnell said.

“These pundits are lying, lying when they dismiss the work that has been done. They’re lying when they insist I have personally blocked actions which, in fact, I have championed and the Senate has passed," he added. "They are lying when they suggest that either party is against defending our democracy.”

Social media users, however, doubled down on their tweets criticizing the senator. Both the hashtags #MoscowMitchMcTreason and #MoscowMitchUnAmericanTraitor began to trend across the United States.

“The Breakfast Club” radio host Charlamagne tha God wrote that it “feels good” to wake up and see the phrase trending nationally.

“These guys are blatantly openly working with the Russians to keep power and until I saw that trending I thought nobody cared. AMERICA your illegitimate president is a Russian agent. #FightTheFascists,” he wrote on Twitter.

It feels good to wake up and see #MoscowMitchMcTreason number one trending. These guys are blatantly openly working with the Russians to keep power and until I saw that trending I thought nobody cared. AMERICA your illegitimate president is a Russian agent. #FightTheFascists — Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) July 30, 2019

Grant Stern, an author and podcast host for Occupy Democrats, wrote that it was obvious that Scarborough “struck a nerve” when he coined the nickname.

“When the Senate ‘leader’ responded, he proved Joe’s 100 right by spouting the Kremlin line that investigating Putin's help to Trump is McCarthyism.”

When @JoeNBC coined the nickname #MoscowMitch, it was obvious that he struck a nerve because it went viral.

When the Senate "leader" responded, he proved Joe's right by spouting the Kremlin line that investigating Putin's help to Trump is McCarthyism.#MoscowMitchMcTreason — Grant Stern (@grantstern) July 30, 2019

Hundreds of other used the hashtags to mock or criticize McConnell, some even picturing him dressed in Soviet-era uniforms.

I hear you dislike being called #MoscowMitchMcTreason ? Well, I dislike you not allowing a vote on election security so quite frankly, I don't give a damn if you're uncomfortable by it. History will not be kind to you, Mr. Bitch McTurtle. Or MoscowMitch - whichever you prefer pic.twitter.com/OFUZknP7Mw — Alondra Jimenez (@Alondra71613310) July 30, 2019

I've never seen such a DESERVING title for a man that is so un-American and un-Patriotic. He has never given a damn about anything other than consolidating power. Can we begin to up donations to @AmyMcGrathKY so she can kick his ass out of the Senate? #MoscowMitchMcTreason — DanielleMoodie-Mills (@DeeTwoCents) July 30, 2019

the_nice_version on July 30th, 2019 at 14:39 UTC »

I wonder why Mitch wouldn't want to approve these bills?

One bill authorized 775 million to update election security and require all states to keep paper trails of all votes cast.

The other required political candidates and their staff and family members to notify the FBI about any offers of assistance from foreign governments.

No wonder he's being called a traitor.

tool672 on July 30th, 2019 at 12:54 UTC »

We shouldn’t forget that in 2016, Mitch essentially blocked Obama from going to the public with Russian tampering in the election. Essentially telling Obama that if he came out and informed the public the Republicans would play it as an effort by the Obama administration lying and trying to steal the election for Hillary.

So he ensured the Republicans benefited from Russian interference in 2016 and he’s going to ensure that they can do it again in 2020. Also once it happens, just like in 2016, he’s going to fake outrage and blame Democrats for not doing enough to stop it - guarantee it.

JLBesq1981 on July 30th, 2019 at 12:22 UTC »

“I was called unpatriotic, un-American and essentially treasonous

Seems like a pretty accurate summary of Mitch McConnell