McConnell welcomes tea party members

As with myself, Mitch McConnell doesn't view the tea party movement as extreme.

From Politico:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will welcome tea party members protesting in Washington in a Thursday morning floor speech in which he calls the movement’s aim to cut federal spending "pretty reasonable."

Just a day after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) lambasted the tea party for pulling the GOP away from deal-making efforts in Congress, the top Senate Republican plans to push back in a jab against the other side.

"In my view, the tea party has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the most important issues of the day," [emphasis mine] McConnell, of Kentucky, will say, according to prepared remarks. "It's helped focus the debate. It's provided a forum for Americans who felt left out of the process to have a voice and make a difference. And it's already leading to good results."

Protesters from Tea Party Patriots are set to rally on Capitol Hill at noon Thursday, and McConnell’s praise their efforts. "[T]hanks to ordinary Americans like these speaking their minds and advocating for common sense reforms, I'm increasingly confident we'll get our fiscal house in order," he says. "Republicans are determined to do our part."

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