NBC published an article Monday afternoon contrasting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s stance against slavery reparations with the fact that his ancestors owned slaves.
“Sen. Mitch McConnell’s great-great-grandfathers owned 14 slaves, bringing reparations issue close to home,” the article’s title read. Its subheader said the Kentucky senator “has opposed paying reparations to descendants of slaves, though census records show his family, like many others, benefited from their labor.”
The ‘news’ was frantically picked up by media outlets from USA Today to Bloomberg, but McConnell himself took things in stride while addressing the controversy Tuesday, likening his situation to that of former President Barack Obama: “We both oppose reparations and we both are the descendants of slave owners.”
Twitter users, however, questioned the timing and the political motivations of media outlets even attempting to make McConnell’s ancestry, over which he had no control, an issue — especially on the eve of former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath announcing her run against the Senate majority leader. (RELATED: ‘Blame Whitey Movement’ — Former ACLU Exec Slams Reparations ‘Buffoonery’)
Is NBC News going to research the great-great-grandparents, and their activities between 1850-1860, of all senators, or just Mitch McConnell? Is this the first in a series? https://t.co/VBNondjWIp
— Byron York (@ByronYork) July 9, 2019
NBC News smears Mitch McConnell in despicable attack https://t.co/nMbtmMRva0
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 8, 2019
Fake News NBC does a big story with lots of research showing how Mitch McConnell’s family once owned slaves. A quick google search will show that Kamala Harris family did too. Guess NBC ran out of time and money and couldn’t do that story too? https://t.co/kEKlpOcxYU
— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) July 9, 2019
NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s uncle’s neighbor’s cousin’s gardener smoked weed once, bringing marijuana legalization issue close to home https://t.co/YKYTbvvIIf
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 9, 2019
To review: NBC News launches a major attack on Mitch McConnell over slave reparations using his ancestors. NBC News then pushes it out through all their social media accounts. NBC News then gives maximum exposure to his Democrat challenger announcing. More like DNC News.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 9, 2019
I know Mitch McConnell and didn’t like him even before he sold out to Trump, but NBC should be completely embarrassed by this absurd story. This is what happens when there are only liberals in the decision-making process… https://t.co/yx7QSlrK7y
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) July 9, 2019
Wait, Sooo… a hit piece on Mitch McConnell’s great-grandfather owning slaves came out THE DAY BEFORE Amy McGrath got a huge push for announcing she’d run against him?
THE COMPLETELY UNBIASED FREE-PRESS HAS REMARKABLE AND UNCANNY TIMING!
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) July 9, 2019
How do people expect the media to be trusted with headlines like these? This is pathetic @USATODAY. This headline makes it sound like it just happened. Mitch McConnell’s ANCESTORS owned slaves over 150 years ago. How is this even a story? pic.twitter.com/fw8o0O8fwP
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 9, 2019
Just wait until reporters investigate which political party fought for slavery, voted against emancipation, founded the KKK, established Jim Crowe laws & fought against the Civil Rights Act.
(Hint: The Democratic Party)
That story will be a bombshellhttps://t.co/6Dprf1vbgl
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) July 9, 2019
Reporters just figured out how to use https://t.co/BXQClQWJt0 and track McConnell’s family back 150 years to slavery.
If this is the game the libs want to play, they are not prepared for what we can dig up on them 150 years back… https://t.co/9XcA3qR8Aw
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) July 9, 2019
They are more concerned about the slaves McConnell’s ancestors owned in the past than the slavery markets in Libya and other parts of Africa today. https://t.co/upCE2ES0uE
— Michael Malice (@michaelmalice) July 9, 2019
Senior Federalist contributor Jesse Kelly clearly had a lot to say on the topic in a series of tweets:
If anyone has any information on what Mitch McConnell’s ancestors were doing during the Fall of Babylon in 539 BC, please send me and NBC a message. Time to get to the bottom of this.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) July 9, 2019
I’m getting unconfirmed reports that the man circled in this picture is one of Mitch McConnell’s ancestors. Anyone who can confirm, please let me or @chucktodd know. pic.twitter.com/qYGIWzi0sh
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) July 9, 2019
Still confirming this, but rumor has it that one of the rats that carried the Black Death through Europe originated in Mitch MicConnell’s great great great great great great great great great great grandpa’s barn. Trying to confirm now. Let me know what you find out @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/sitihIv3D8
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) July 9, 2019
I’m confirming with a second source, but the word on the street is the man seen here with Cortes as he wipes out the Aztecs is actually Mitch McConnell’s 9th cousin twice removed. Will confirm with @NBCNews and get back to you. pic.twitter.com/7QL4BACyXc
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) July 9, 2019