McConnell placed on CREW’s post-election 'embarassing' list

By Trey Pollard, Kentucky Politicker

December 9, 2008

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Louisville) re-election to a fifth term provoked more criticism from the Washington-based Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, as the group added Kentucky's Senior Senator to its latest list as one of nine of the "Most Embarassing Re-Elected Members of Congress."

CREW put McConnell on its pre-election list as one of the "most corrupt" legislators in Congress - a charge quickly seized upon by the camp of McConnell's opponent, businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

Labelling itself as "non-partisan," in the wake of that move, CREW was criticized by the McConnell camp and others as the creation of Democratic operatives and staffers with funding from high-profile Democratic backers.

The placement of McConnell on both lists is explained by CREW by referencing alleged improprieties in fundraising for the non-profit McConnell Center for Political Leadership at the University of Louisville and alleged ties between McConnell and a lobbying firm operated by his former Chief of Staff, Hunter Bates.

CREW says some donations to the McConnell Center came through McConnell's office while alleging that McConnell "inserted earmarks for" Bates' clients.

McConnell is one of nine who made the CREW list. Two of the others included were Democrats, while the remainder were Republicans.