Mitch McConnell

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Mitch McConnell}}

McConnell has taken [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] stances for the past several decades. During his Senate tenure, McConnell led opposition to stricter campaign finance laws,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Homans|first=Charles|date=January 22, 2019|title=Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted. But at What Cost?|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html|access-date=January 6, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193955/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html|url-status=live}}</ref> culminating in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] [[Citizens United v. FEC|ruling]] that partially overturned the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]] (McCain-Feingold) in 2010. He led opposition against [[Obamacare]],<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.academia.edu/35311502|author= Gautreaux, R|title= Framing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:A Content Analysis of Democratic and Republican Twitter Feeds|date= 2016|access-date= March 26, 2020|archive-date= November 20, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195817/https://www.academia.edu/35311502/Framing_the_Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act_A_Content_Analysis_of_Democratic_and_Republican_Twitter_Feeds|url-status= live}}</ref> first through efforts to delay or prevent the law's passage, and later to repeal or replace it, including via the [[American Healthcare Reform Act]]. McConnell has opposed stronger regulations, gun control measures and efforts to [[Climate change mitigation|mitigate climate change]]. He has criticized proposed legislation by House Democrats such as the [[Green New Deal]] and [[Medicare for All]],<ref name = "GrimReaper">{{cite web |last1=Re |first1=Gregg |title=McConnell vows to be 'grim reaper' of socialist Dem proposals |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-vows-to-be-grim-reaper-of-socialist-dem-proposals |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617072901/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-vows-to-be-grim-reaper-of-socialist-dem-proposals |url-status=live }}</ref> and was criticized by [[Nancy Pelosi]] for withholding votes on measures passed by the Democratic-controlled House during his time as Senate Majority Leader, including the [[For the People Act of 2019]], the [[Equality Act (United States)|Equality Act]] and the [[Paycheck Fairness Act]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Creitz |first1=Charles |title=Mitch McConnell: 'For the first time in my memory, I agree with Nancy Pelosi' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitch-mcconnell-for-the-first-time-in-my-memory-i-agree-with-nancy-pelosi |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617025349/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitch-mcconnell-for-the-first-time-in-my-memory-i-agree-with-nancy-pelosi |url-status=live }}</ref> McConnell has supported stronger border security, free trade agreements and reductions in taxes. As Senate Majority Leader, he led the passing of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]] and the [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act]] in 2018. His foreign policy views have included support of sanctions on [[Cuba]], [[Iran]] and [[Russia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00175|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress – 1st Session|website=senate.gov|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113175200/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00175|url-status=live}}</ref> opposition to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran nuclear deal]] and support of [[Israel]]. He voted for the [[Iraq Resolution]], which authorized [[2003 invasion of Iraq|military action against Iraq]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm|title=Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution|date=October 11, 2002|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904094853/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and supported the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007]] in public.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/6320197.html|title=McConnell: Troop Surge In Iraq Showing Early Signs Of Success|date=March 5, 2007|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115628/http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/6320197.html|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=dead|publisher=WYMT|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Earlier in his political career, during the 1960s and 1970s, McConnell held moderate stances, including support of abortions, support of unions, and support of the [[civil rights movement]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Mitch McConnell's Political Life, Examined, In 'The Cynic'|date=November 20, 2014|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/20/365484670/sen-mitch-mcconnells-political-life-examined-in-the-cynic|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618062323/https://www.npr.org/2014/11/20/365484670/sen-mitch-mcconnells-political-life-examined-in-the-cynic|url-status=live}}</ref>