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McConnell Rejects Controversial RNC Fundraising Pitch

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday joined the chorus of Republicans criticizing their national party organization for a fundraising strategy that openly acknowledged a plan to stoke the politics of fear.

Appearing on ABC’s This Week, McConnell said the Republican National Committee fundraising presentation that pictured President Barack Obama as the Joker from Batman, Speaker Nancy Pelosi as “Cruella De Vil” and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as “Scooby Doo,” were “not helpful.”

“I don’t like it and I don’t know anybody that does,” said McConnell, who declined to say whether anyone should be punished or fired for crafting the document.

McConnell added, “Typically, the way parties raise money is because people believe in the causes that they advocate. I think the way we raise money from donors across America is to stand for things that we think are important.”

On NBC’s Meet the Press, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) also expressed displeasure with the strategy, saying there is “no excuse for that type of stuff … It shouldn’t have happened. I’m ashamed of that.”

However, Hatch said he doesn’t believe RNC Chairman Michael Steele knew about the presentation and he said he still has faith in Steele’s leadership.

The fundraising PowerPoint presentation, which was first reported by Politico, noted that RNC fundraising pitches should capitalize on fear in general and a perceived trend toward socialism in the country.

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