Washington (CNN) – Sen. Mitch McConnell is known for bare-knuckled politics, but the Kentucky Republican showed his personal side Thursday when he broke down in tears on the Senate floor while speaking of his departing chief of staff.
Kyle Simmons, a longtime aide to the Senate minority leader, is leaving to spend more time with his family, McConnell said.
The senator repeatedly choked back sobs and used a handkerchief to wipe away tears as he paid tribute to Simmons.
Describing Simmons as a tough but gracious competitor who always remembered the human side of politics, McConnell needed an emotional pause when saying: "Now that he's leaving, I'm just as confident that our office will carry on just as it always has because he leaves a fantastic team behind."
"He's made the right decision, as he usually does," McConnell concluded, adding that Simmons "leaves behind an office and a boss that will miss him terribly."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Now McConnell should make the right decision and RETIRE.
Cry about the crumbling health care system, economy, and obstructionist stance you have taken. No pity.
McConnell may be a worthless liar, but he appears to have some emotions.
" "" To spend more time with family" has, for a long time been the explanation for people in all walks of life to remove themselves gracefully from a position they no longer wish to be associated with. We hear it all the time from executives, politicians, and famous people from all parts of society. Could it be that Senator McConnells strident and distructive attitude toward the opposition party in any attempts to save our country could have some bearing on Mr. Simmons plans?. Could there possibly be others in the Republican party that don't agree with what is happening and would like to "spend more time with family"?
Stop crying like a sissy Mitch! You might as well pack your bags behind him. We don't need crybaby's in Congress we need leaders, and you sir are not that. Tighten up!!!
How dare a Republican show emotion, they are not human, so states the next Rahm-tard to post (after Oprah of course).
Don't always agree with McConnell, but he DOES care.
Rahm-tards begin acting like themselves a little after 5 est...........
Mr. Simmons can spend time with his family whenever he wants. The real reason he's leaving is because he knows your butt is on the way out of the door.
The meddle class is under attack, people are out of work, losing their homes health care is out of control, and the Supreme Court just handed our lawmaking and elections over to global corporations and this Republican brings this crap to the our Senate floor? This is not a national issue. The Repiublican Party is out of touch!
Couldn't stand doing nothing, might as well go home to the family!
Sounded like ole mitch might have some emotional connections or maybe physical that he was so broke up.
What is the real reason for the tears??
save the crying 4 yo mammy.the party of no
Uh Oh – Aren't Bachmann's aides leaving too? Oh shucks, folks, no one's tired of the NO NO NO NO NO NO
One guy leaves his office and this guy cries like a baby? Where are these emotions when thousands of US soldiers are being killed in the needless Iraq War and Afghanistan? Whereare these emotions when the US solders come back from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD and limbs missing? Where are these emotions when millions of Americans have no health insurance and they file bankruptcy? But, no, MItch only cries when his long time aide leaves him. Go figure.
Don't cry for Argentina like your Republican boy Sanford Mitch!!
OMG – Were they lovers? Something's fishy
But on a brighter note – The Country – well the right wing side anyway – is finally waking up and realizing the bimbo from Alaska just ain'st qualified to be Pres – don't cha know. LOL!
He's probably sick of how you have become such an obstructionist and mean spirited politician and decided he wants no further part in it. Who could blame him, because you Sir are one of the most disturbing policitians there is. I only wish you were doing the rest of America a favor and retiring along with him!
Mitch, where are the tears for your 790,000 fellow Kentuckians without health insurance? You're still a classless jerk!!!
I am so sick of looking at this guy. What an actor. He is the ultimate republican, with the belief of, party before people and America .
He must be taking lessons from Glen Beck with all that crying.
Maybe he was getting sick and tired of Mitch and his party going against everything the president is trying to do. Mitch what goes around comes around. This is only the begining of it.
Wow..., I'm, shocked. The grand hard-balled supremacist and imperialist of the ever evolving 'say no'-republiclan party actually has a soft/passionate bone in his body??
Maybe he got fedup with McConnell's NO! Why did he cry? Is he anticipating his former aide to spill the beans by writing a book? Ooh the speculation abound.
Really. With all that Mr. McConnel should be focusing on this I would say is low on the totem poll.
Did I usually understand the article ? this guy has a human side??.No way! those are crocodile tears!. If he had human emotion in him he could have supported the health care reform. He knows the system is broken and he cares less!! crying for one guy who is leaving office? sir, please cry for all those poor hidden past the freeways!!!
Really? OMG and he is just departing to be with his family, McConnell was choking back sobs? I wish he would show that same emotion for HEALTH CARE!!!!