In what conservatives will surely label a “sell-out” by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate Minority Leader on Thursday “encouraged” Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) to work with Senate Democrats to “find a consensus on some legislation to respond to the shooting in Texas.”

Translation: Gun-control legislation.

As reported by CNN, McConnell met with Cornyn early Thursday and encouraged the senior senator from Texas to begin discussions with key Democrats, including Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, to see if they can find a middle ground on legislation.

CNN Congressional correspondent Lauren Fox reported:

NEWS: McConnell tells me he met this morning with Texas Sen. John Cornyn after he returned from Texas and encouraged him to begin discussions with Dems including Sens. Murphy and Sinema to see if they can find a consensus on some legislation to respond to the shooting in Texas.

Just me — or does it appear Mitch read the politically expedient tea leaves and came to the conclusion he had to do something — anything — strictly for public consumption and perhaps to at least try to appease the lapdog media sock puppets — as if that’s even possible?

NEWS: McConnell tells me he met this morning with Texas Sen. John Cornyn after he returned from Texas and encouraged him to begin discussions with Dems including Sens. Murphy and Sinema to see if they can find a consensus on some legislation to respond to the shooting in Texas.

— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) May 26, 2022

McConnell told CNN’s Fox, in effect, that he directed Cornyn to compromise with the gun-grabbers.

I’ve encouraged him to talk to Sen. Sinema, Sen. Murphy, and others who are interested in trying to get an outcome that’s directly related to the problem. I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution.

“Directly related to the problem” — please connect those dots for me, Mitch.

And while you’re at it, Mitch, please give me an example of Democrats compromising on anything they don’t view — first and foremost — as providing an advantage to Democrats in the voting booth.

McConnell on what he told Cornyn: “I've encouraged him to talk to Sen. Sinema, Sen. Murphy and others who are interested in trying to get an outcome that's directly related to the problem. I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution …

— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) May 26, 2022

So, what does “compromise” and “common ground” mean to McConnell, as it relates to the Tuesday massacre, which left 19 children, two teachers, and the gunman dead and immediately headed to hell?

Per the CNN transcription, “a whole list of things” need to be considered.

There’s a whole list of things that we can consider, but I think particularly mental health, access to mental health treatment is high on that list,. I think we need to be open to whatever, wherever the evidence leads us. I would say that this is not an excuse to infringe the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Doing that will do nothing to fix tragedies like this.

Typical Mitch. McConnell says “We need to be open to whatever” out of one side of his mouth, but also says “This is not an excuse to infringe [on] the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.” Democrats beg to differ, Senator; the former cannot happen without the latter.

In turn, as noted by CNN, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also directed Murphy and Sinema to work with Republicans on legislation limiting Second Amendment rights. And Sinema on Wednesday told reporters she was going to “start having conversations with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”

I’m going to start having conversations again with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. If there is a chance for us to do something to help make it safer for kids in this country, we owe it to the country to do it for real, not just talking points.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday, Murphy told CNN he looked forward to cross-aisle discussions, but also believes universal background checks and banning rifles should occur in the wake of Tuesday’s shooting.

Voters get to decide this. Ask your candidates this fall: ‘Are you supportive of universal background checks? Do you think that 18-year-olds should have access to military-style assault weapons?’ And if they say yes, if they support the current law and don’t support reform, then don’t send them back to Congress.’

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon one’s stance, Murphy was right, as reported by Morning Consult in March, prior to the Texas school shooting.

Although the exact percentages have wavered over the years, as reported by Fast Company on Wpolls consistently show that most Americans believe current gun laws are not restrictive enough—and basic remedies, such as background checks, enjoy broad support among both Democrats and Republicans.

[In addition]. a Suffolk University/USA Today poll from 2019, in which 90 percent of registered voters said they support background checks. It’s by no means the only poll that demonstrates how badly Americans want this to happen.

In addition,84 percent of voters, including 77 percent of Republicans, support requiring all gun purchasers to go through a background check, according to Morning Consult, with voters are more likely to trust Democrats than Republicans on gun policy, 44 percent to 38 percent.

Keep in mind: Any gun legislation would require 60 votes to clear the Senate.

Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell once again goes Mitch 2.0 — not unlike Lindsey Graham 2.0, on occasion — and looks for “common ground” gun-control legislation with Schumer and company.

If you’re shocked, you have not paid much attention the Mitch’s Senate career, my friends.

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