During Trump’s impeachment trial Senator Martha McSally (R-Arizona) insulted a prominent CNN reporter Manu Raju.  As congressional reporter Raju was just doing his job roaming the halls of the Capital asking both Democrats and Republican Senators a question about the big topic of the day, “Should the Senate consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial?”. When he posed this question to McSally as she proceeded down one of the hallways with her aids in tow, without slowing down she answered, “Manu, you’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you.” She then disappeared through the doorway of her office.

Of course there were certainly more civil ways of handling that situation.  She could have simply said “yes” or “no” or even “no comment”.  At the very least she could have just ignored the question and kept on walking.  Instead she chose to be combative and insulted the man’s integrity as a journalist. Of course the CNN cameras were rolling and shortly the incident was being broadcast to every TV tuned to the network.  Here is the Video:  GOP Senator Calls a CNN Reporter a Liberal Hack

Whether McSally’s response was premeditated or spontaneous, it was quite clear that she, like Trump, is more concerned about pleasing Trump’s dedicated base of supporter than appealing to a broader audience.  That was clearly her intention because she later posted the CNN video on social media which earned her the praise of many prominent Trump supporters including Sean Hannity.  It also earned her a much coveted appearance on the Laura Ingraham Show on Fox News.

When asked by Ingraham if she regretted her words, McSally doubled down – “No way!”  She then made it clear that she had actually called Raju a “liberal hack” and went to say, “You know, I mean, these CNN reporters, many of them around the Capitol, they are so biased. They are so in cahoots with the Democrats, they still can’t stand the president, and they run around trying to chase Republicans and ask trapping questions.” She also said that CNN reporters would never ask Democratic Senators that same question (which of course they had, many times).  McSally then went on to try to fund raise off of the incident.

What is odd about all of this is that McSally is not a long term Senator from a Ruby Red state who is totally unconcerned about her reelection.  In 2018 as the Republican nominee she lost her bid to become Arizona’s junior senator to Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema by two percentage points.  McSally was then appointed by Arizona’s Republican governor to fill John McCain’s vacant seat until a special election is held in November of this year to determine who will serve the two remaining years of McCain’s term.  McSally is widely regarded as one of the most vulnerable Republican Senators up for election in 2020.

Unlike other vulnerable Republican Senators, such as Susan Collins of Maine, who did their best to at least pretended to be impartial during the impeachment trial, McSally established herself as bonified Trump cheerleader.  And it isn’t as if she won’t have a formidable opponent in November.

Mark Kelly will be that opponent.  I am sure you remember that Kelly and his wife Gabby Giffords were thrust into the national spotlight after she was shot in an assassination attempt.  She suffered major brain injuries and six other people were killed in the shooting.  Along with supporting his wife during long convalescence, Mark, along with Gabby, became well known as major advocates of sensible gun control measures. He and his wife started a political action committee called Americans for Responsible Solutions. The couple also published a book entitled, Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence.

McSally’s claim to fame is that she was the Air Force’s first female combat pilot.  Mark Kelly was also a combat pilot with 39 combat missions in Navy jets during Operation Desert Storm.  He was awarded citations for his valor under fire several times. He became a test pilot and then along with his identical twin brother Scott he went on to join NASA t as an astronaut.  Kelly was the pilot for space shuttle missions in Endeavor in 2001 and Discovery in 2006  That was just the second shuttle mission after the loss of Columbia, a risky flight at best.   He was then chosen as commander of another Discovery mission in 2008  and also served as commander of the last flight of the space shuttle Endeavor in 2011.  Kelly retired from the Navy with rank of Commander in 2011 to care for his wife.

We need at least three Democrats to beat Republican incumbents to take control of the Senate next year.  This election in Arizona is a must win for Democrats.  Kelly’s campaign is rejecting corporate PAC money which means that it is being funded only by lots of people giving small amounts of money.  Let’s join together to throw proud Trump supporter Martha McSally out of the US Senate and elect in her place a true patriot and hero, Mark Kelly.  Join me in contributing at least a small amount to Mark’s campaign by clicking on the link, Mark Kelly Campaign on the ActBlue website.  Then mark your follow up calendar to make additional small contributions later.

To say this election is import is a vast understatement.  Remember to get anything done in 2021 we not only need to win the presidency; we must also retain control in the House of Representatives and assume control in the Senate.  By far the most difficult task we face is gaining a working majority in the Senate.  If we fail in this endeavor every piece of productive legislation and every judicial appointment, even those to Supreme Court, can be put on permanent hold by Mitch McConnell. This Arizona special election is one of the most important keys to eliminating McConnell’s destructive power.

Cajun      2/18/2020