Was Bill Frist popular here at the time? Lott?
The reality is, these people have to deal with the Romneys, McCains, Flakes, etc. in the Senate. I don't envy their jobs when there's a half-dozen 'Gang of'-style Republicans in a Senate with like 51 or whatever Republicans.
McConnell has his strong points but he’s got people in his caucus who are tone deaf the GOP has a very very hard time connecting with working people and during a global pandemic where businesses are shutting down left and right he should have realized that 600 dollars was going to be laughed at