Kentucky Democrats sell ‘Moscow Mitch’ gear after McConnell blocks election security bills

The Kentucky Democratic Party on Wednesday launched a “Moscow Mitch” online store, making use of a nickname handed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) over his blocking of election security legislation.

The party’s online store is promoting red buttons, vinyl stickers, a T-shirt and a cossack hat, all decorated with the phrase, “Just say nyet! to Moscow Mitch,” in Soviet-style lettering.

#MoscowMitch would hate it if you bought one of these shirts. Just say nyet to Moscow Mitch. #kysenhttps://t.co/4H4YvzArbK

— Kentucky Democrats (@KyDems) July 31, 2019

The nickname comes after McConnell last week blocked two election security bills, despite warnings from intelligence officials and former special counsel Robert Mueller that Russian interference in the 2020 election was likely to take place.

{mosads}One of the bills would require the use of paper ballots, and the other would require candidates, campaigns or family members to notify the FBI about assistance offers from foreign governments.

The majority leader’s move prompted widespread backlash. 

MSNBC host and former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough later called McConnell’s actions “un-American,” labeling the Kentucky lawmaker “Moscow Mitch” and accusing him of “aiding and abetting Vladimir Putin’s ongoing attempts to subvert American democracy.”

The hashtag #MoscowMitch quickly took off on social media, and several other hashtags and phrases, including #MoscowMitchMcTreason and “Mitch McConnell is a Russian” have trended on Twitter after the senator defended his decision to block the bills.

McConnell hit back on Monday, comparing the attacks against him to “modern-day McCarthyism” and blasting critics for using “unhinged smears.”

“These theatrical requests happen all the time here on the Senate. I promise that nobody involved, including my friend the Democratic leader who made the request, actually thought he’d get a Republican Senate to instantly, unanimously pass a bill that got one Republican vote over in the House,” McConnell said from the Senate floor. 

“It doesn’t make Republicans traitors or un-American. It makes us policymakers with a different opinion,” he added.

McConnell’s campaign appropriated the nickname on Tuesday for a drink recommendation mocking Democrats ahead of their presidential primary debate:

We found the Democrats a perfect cocktail for #DemDebate. #MoscowMitch pic.twitter.com/hY5J0BoBjE

— Team Mitch (@Team_Mitch) July 30, 2019

The Hill has reached out to McConnell’s office for further comment.