No, McConnell vowed to “crush” three particular challengers to incumbent Senators.
He did not declare he wanted to crush the Tea Party voters.
Believing the spin the NY Times puts on things is unwise.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed any tea party candidates challenging establishment Republicans in the 2014 midterm elections would not just fail — but fail miserably.
“I think we are going to crush them everywhere.”
“I don’t think they are going to have a single nominee anywhere in the country.”
Washington Times.
McConnell’s words are not limited to just 3 candidates, but the ENTIRE Tea Party movement:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on a conference call organized by Karl Rove’s Crossroads organization for large donors and their advisers on Oct. 30 that the Tea Party movement, in his view, is a “nothing but a bunch of bullies” that he plans to “punch … in the nose.” - Breitbart.
Trying to spin McConnell’s actual contempt for Conservatives is what is unwise.
Incorrect, the statement was to crush the tea party.