Not Buying What Mitch Is Selling

GOP Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell continues to embarrass my state of Kentucky with his inexplicable opposition to financial reform.  His latest lame excuse?  He's worried about Kentucky's community banks...while taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the big banks in a private fundraiser with them earlier this week.  When asked, McConnell got testy:

QUESTION: How do you push back against this perception that you’re doing the bidding of the large banks? There was a report that you guys met with hedge fund managers in New York. A lot of people are viewing this particular line of argument, this bailout argument as spin –

MCCONNELL: You could talk to the community bankers in Kentucky.

BASH: I’m not asking you about the community bankers.

MCCONNELL: Well, I’m telling you about the community bankers in Kentucky.

QUESTION: Have you talked with other people other than community bankers?

MCCONNELL: Well, sure. We talk to people all the time. I’m not denying that. What’s wrong with that? That’s how we learn how people feel about legislation. But the community bankers in Kentucky, the little guys, the mainstreet guys, are overwhelmingly opposed to this bill.

QUESTION: What do you say to folks this is just meant to deflect attention from the fact your defending the large banks?

MCCONNELL: I’d say that’s innaccurate.

Not a real good excuse there Mitch.  Why were you at that big bank/hedge fund fundraiser with this legislation on the table that the banks don't like because it means they don't get free money anymore and they have to pay for their own bailouts?

Oh wait, I just answered my own question.  Probably explains why some GOP senators don't seem particularly concerned with what Mitch has to say...