又“僵住”了，81岁参议院共和党领袖麦康奈尔“大脑宕机”超30秒，履职能力遭到质疑…（附视频&解说稿）

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2023-08-31 11:08

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当地时间8月30日，美国国会参议院共和党领袖麦康奈尔的健康状况再次引发外界关注。这次，他在肯塔基州回答记者提问时疑似又一次“僵住”，时间长达30秒。

据报道，在肯塔基州卡温顿市，有记者提问麦康奈尔是否有计划在2026年竞选连任。视频显示，81岁的麦康奈尔多次要求记者重复这个问题，中间他笑了一下，随后便“僵住”，紧闭双唇，直视前方。

其间，他的助手上前询问道，“你听到提问了吗，参议员，问你2026年是否参选？”麦康奈尔没有任何反应。

麦康奈尔的助手对现场记者说，“对不起，我们需要一点时间。”待麦康奈尔回过神来，问答继续进行。

麦康奈尔的发言人在当天晚些时候表示，“在今天的发布会上，麦康奈尔短暂地出现头晕，中断了会议。他现在感觉良好，为保险起见，他将咨询医生。”

康奈尔现年81岁，自2007年起担任参议院共和党领袖，是美国历史上任职时间最长的参议院党团领袖。由于其高龄和身体健康问题，一些美国媒体和民众质疑麦康奈尔能否继续履职。

麦康奈尔再次“僵住”

这次长达“约30秒”

↓↓↓ 上下滑动，查看采访稿 ↓↓↓

GEOFF BENNETT: For the second time this summer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up while answering reporter questions, this time during a press conference in Kentucky this afternoon.

There was a similar moment for the senator on Capitol Hill last month.

Our congressional correspondent, Lisa Desjardins, joins us now with more.

So, Lisa, walk us through what happened today.

LISA DESJARDINS: Geoff, I think it best just to show what happened.

The 80-year-old McConnell was speaking to reporters in Covington, Kentucky.

QUESTION: What are your thoughts on running for reelection in 2026? SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): What are my thoughts about what? QUESTION: Running for reelection in 2006? SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL: Oh.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL: That's...

QUESTION: Did you hear the question, Senator? Running for reelection in 2026? SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL: Yes.

LISA DESJARDINS: You can see there that the senator froze. And it was a total of at least 30 seconds where he was nonresponsive.

Senator McConnell did go on to take a couple of questions. He gave very brief, just-a-few-word answers to those. Now, his office said that he felt dizzy and paused. That is exactly what he said, what the office also said in July, when there was that similar moment on Capitol Hill, where the senator paused after and froze after getting questions from reporters.

Now, this office is known for its discipline, not a lot of information. I did hear from the office of the number two Republican in the Senate, John Thune. They told me Senator Thune spoke to Senator McConnell this afternoon and said he was his usual self -- Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa, McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

And this incident is the latest to raise questions about the age and health of our elected leaders.

Tell me more about that.

LISA DESJARDINS: That's right.

A third of the U.S. Senate Geoff is over 70 years old. McConnell, at 80, is the fourth oldest. There are senators in their 80s, 89 and 90, including Dianne Feinstein, who had health problems this year as well. John Fetterman, senator from Pennsylvania, is younger, but he had a stroke that took him out of office for several weeks as well.

Now, this is a place where seniority is power. And McConnell is the linchpin to many things that affect all of our lives. And he could also be critical in the next month, as we potentially face a government shutdown at the end of September.

GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa Desjardins.

Lisa, thank you.