Taking Him At His Word Isn't Enough

First Read catches something that stood out to me, too, from this week's "Meet the Press":

*** “As far as I know” vs. “I take him at his word”: In March of 2008, the usually precise Hillary Clinton received a considerable amount of criticism when she told Steve Kroft of “60 Minutes” that Barack Obama wasn’t a Muslim -- “as far as I know.” (As far as she knows? It was a terrible choice of words.) Well, on “Meet the Press” yesterday, GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell gave what appeared to be a similar answer when NBC’s David Gregory asked why 34% of Republicans, according to that recent Pew poll, believe the president is a Muslim. McConnell’s response: “The president says he's a Christian; I take him at his word. I don't think that's in dispute.” (I take him at his word?) McConnell’s spokesman, Don Stewart, emailed First Read: "Some are trying to make this into something it's not… He was clear as a bell, particularly when people listened to the whole thing.”

The lack of courage from the Republican Party's leader on Capitol Hill, Mitch McConnell, is palpable. A true leader would come out and say on national television not only that he takes the President at his word but further that everyone else should, too; a true leader would condemn those agents of misinformation who seek to spread lies about the President. But of course the most powerful Republican in Washington is not a true leader -- he is weak, so fearful of his party's base that he is unwilling or unable to do what he should do. And the fact that this is who the Republicans want to lead the Senate is extremely telling.