A former Hillary Clinton aide and Democratic strategist, Adam Parkhomenko, recently mocked Senate majority leader and polio survivor Mitch McConnell for a video in which he stumbles and falls while walking up a step. The polio disease paralyzed McConnell in his left leg as a child, so he spent his early years in physical therapy.
Yesterday I posted this new found footage of Mitch McConnell standing up for America. 368,000 views overnight. Mitch McConnell does not want you to let this video get up to 1,000,000 views. pic.twitter.com/PZTGBGOrjt
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) April 4, 2019
Even after Parkhomenko was criticized on Twitter for mocking the senator’s disabilities, he doubled down, implying that a person’s political ideologies make any physical handicaps fair game for mockery.
“Weird how we never hear about McConnell’s polio when he’s trying to take away people’s healthcare or looking the other way when Rand goes anti-vaxxer,” he said. “I will delete the tweet when Mitch stops trying to take away coverage from those with pre-existing conditions.”
Weird how we never hear about McConnell’s polio when he’s trying to take away people’s healthcare or looking the other way when Rand goes anti-vaxxer. I will delete the tweet when Mitch stops trying to take away coverage from those with pre-existing conditions or…in general. https://t.co/pBMwpvU8Lm
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) April 4, 2019
McConnell has discussed his medical situation in past campaign ads: “When I was a child and my dad was in World War II, I got polio. I recovered, but my family almost went broke,” he said.
In 2017, when CNN reporter Daniella Diaz mocked Trump and McConnell as they held hands going up stairs at the White House, CNN reporter Manu Raju explained that polio has always made stairs difficult for the senator.
“McConnell often goes up a step at a time, sometimes needs railing for assistance. This time, used Trump for balance,” he wrote.
Congressional reporters from across mainstream media outlets have called for Parkhomenko to delete his tweet.
Adam I’ll assume you weren’t aware that Mitch McConnell has a seriously disabled leg from polio. But you’re aware now, so are you going to take down this shameful, mocking tweet?
If not, then will fellow Hillary Clinton 2016 and DNC alums speak to this cruelty? https://t.co/aoVVh4KeF6
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) April 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/elainaplott/status/1113873906958573568
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/1113887127597719553?s=19
