Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to denounced the racist ‘great replacement theory’ in the wake of Saturday’s mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.
McConnell was asked repeatedly about his views of the ‘great replacement theory‘ during a press conference on Tuesday and he repeatedly refused to denounce the racist theory which authorities say motivated the gunman, Payton Gendron to murder 10 people at a Tops Supermarket and injuring three others.
Asked whether he has a responsibility to speak out against the theory McConnell responded by denouncing the actions of the killer, calling him a “deranged young man.”
Pressed on whether the Republican Party should denounce the theory, McConnell condemned racism, “racism of any sort is abhorrent in America, it ought to be stood up to by everybody, both Republicans and Democrats, all Americans.”
Reporters tried a third time to get McConnell to denounce the theory that caused the death of ten Americans, asking him whether he believed that Democrats are seeking amnesty for undocumented immigrants for the purpose of influencing and changing the electorate.
But, McConnell criticized the Biden administration’s border policy, telling reporters, “what I’m concerned about with regard to the southern border is the relative openness of it.”
McConnell’s refusal to denounce the theory comes one day after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) accused Republican Party leaders of enabling white nationalism.
“The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism. History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them,” Cheney wrote in a tweet on Monday.
