The Cynic: The Political Education of Mitch McConnell

Alec MacGillis

Sep 2014 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

From a dogged political reporter, an investigation into the political education of Mitch McConnell and an argument that this powerful Senator embodies much of this country’s political dysfunction.

Based on interviews with more than seventy-five people who have worked alongside Mitch McConnell or otherwise interacted with him over the course of his career, The Cynic, which will be published as an original ebook, is both a comprehensive biography of one of this country’s most powerful politicians and a damning diagnosis of this country's eroding political will.

Tracing his rise from a pragmatic local official in Kentucky to the leader of the Republican opposition in Washington, the book tracks McConnell’s transformation from a moderate Republican who supported abortion rights and public employee unions to the embodiment of partisan obstructionism and conservative orthodoxy on Capitol Hill. Driven less by a shift in ideological conviction than by a desire to win elections and stay in power at all costs, McConnell’s transformation exemplifies the “permanent campaign” mindset that has come to dominate American government.

From his first race for local office in 1977—when the ad crew working on it nicknamed McConnell “love-me-love-me” for his insecurity and desire to please—to his fraught accommodation of the Tea Party, McConnell’s political career is a story of ideological calcification and a vital mirror for understanding this country’s own political development and what is wrought when politicians serve not at the behest of country, but at the behest of party and personal aggrandizement.

Ratings and reviews

This is an insightful though brief portrait of McConnell, the man who is now confirmed to be Senate majority leader next year. This is essential reading for anyone looking to gain insight into the dysfunction of the 113th Congress, and what may be in store for the 114th. Though "The Cynic" sometimes suffers for its brevity, forcing MacGillis to gloss over the nuances of McConnell's life and to occasionally overlook the importance of McConnell's confidants and staff, this book still comes highly recommended. Especially of note are McConnell's early days as a moderate, and his rapid ideological shift and surprising political rise with the aid of Roger Ailes.

Supposedly My Senator The man has repeatedly sold out his constituents and is no nearer to being a conservative than our dog is to being the next Pope. He is an embarrassing insult to the people who voted for him and the rest of America. I humbly apologize as a Kentuckian for my part in the damage that McConnell has done to America.

keep supporting the white knights and Confederate flag mitch!

About the author

Alec MacGillis is a senior editor at The New Republic magazine in Washington. He previously covered national politics and domestic policy for The Washington Post, and worked as a reporter at The Baltimore Sun and Concord Monitor in New Hampshire, among other papers. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he now resides with his family in Baltimore.