Sales of the “Moscow Mitch” merchandise exceeded $ 200,000 in a 48-hour period, the Kentucky Democratic Party said in a press release Friday.
The derogatory nickname appeared when Washington Post writer Dana Milbank suggested in a article last week that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was a “Russian asset” to block legislation aimed at strengthening election security.
This screenshot, taken Wednesday, shows “Moscow Mitch” items for sale on the Kentucky Democratic Party’s website.
(Kentucky Democratic Party via AP)
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough went on the air and called McConnell a “Moscow Mitch” for supposedly “aiding and abetting” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to interfere with the US elections, as he was. accused of having done so in the last presidential election in 2016.
McConnell, generally reserved in his response to critics, compared the insult to “modern McCarthyism” which, he added, “is toxic and damaging, because of the way it distorts all of our public discourse. “.
Capitalizing on McConnell’s anger, the Kentucky Democratic Party on Wednesday rolled out a line of âMoscow Mitchâ products online, including a t-shirt, hat, glasses, stickers and buttons. Almost all articles are accompanied by the phrase âJust say nyet! in Moscow Mitch.
“People are fed up [McConnellâs policies], and that’s their way of expressing their outrage, âKentucky Democratic Party spokeswoman Marisa McNee said in a statement. Press release. “This campaign really caught the imagination of voters in Kentucky and across the country.”
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The Kentucky Democratic Party said it has received orders for merchandise from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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Nicole Erwin, communications director for the Kentucky Democratic Party, said the “Moscow Mitch” product line will be available “as long as people are interested in it.”
Gregg Re of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.