Kentucky Group Slammed for Racist Tweet on McConnell’s Wife

Conservatives have blasted a liberal group in Kentucky for a Twitter posting that alludes to the race of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife.

“This woman has the ear of @McConnellPress - she's his #wife," the Feb. 14 tweet from Progress Kentucky reads, CNN reports. It references the Kentucky Republican’s official twitter account. “May explain why your job moved to #China!”

McConnell’s wife is former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, the first female Asian-American to hold a Cabinet post. She served in the George W. Bush administration from 2001 to 2009.

“It is unconscionable that anyone would use blatant race-baiting for political gain,” McConnell’s campaign manager, Jesse Benton, told CNN on Tuesday. McConnell, a five-term senator, is seeking reelection next year.

“Progress Kentucky should be ashamed of itself,” Benton continued. “We hope all Americans can agree that these disgusting tactics have no place in American politics as we try to bring people together to solve our difficult problems.”

Shawn Reilly, Progress Kentucky’s executive director, denied the group had engaged in race-baiting.

“Progress Kentucky strongly denies that the organization has engaged in any such thing,” he told CNN. “Benton's statements are an attempt to divert attention from the fact that Mitch McConnell has engaged in the selling of the American middle class overseas for decades.”