MSNBC SPECIAL REPORT: HIDDEN RACISM IN THE GOP with SPECIAL GUEST Senator Mark Kirk (R)
Keith Olbermann: Senator, would you say xenophobia is a real problem in today's Republican Party?
Mark Kirk: Oh, yes. Many on the far-right are against immigration solely because of race. One of the things I've tried to do is stand up against this element in the party by pushing for immigration reform.
Keith Olbermann: Do you feel that's why the tea party opposed your Senate candidacy last year?
Mark Kirk: It certainly played a factor in their attacks. But the tea party isn't just xenophobic, Keith. They recruit many people from the fringes of our soecity that are openly racist, anti-woman, and anti-gay. For instance, I've been attacked on numerous occassions because I support equal rights for women.
Keith Olbermann: So those who claim the tea party isn't full of closet bigots are being a tad dishonest with the public, are they not?
Mark Kirk: Everyone knows the tea party is full of bigots, the problem is many of them have now elected tea party members to office as Republicans. We need to confront those people and tell them they don't represent the American public. Here in Illinois we proved the voters don't want the Republican Party to be anti-woman, or anti-science, or bash immigrants.
Keith Olbermann: Do you feel the Republican opposition to President Obama's immigration reform bill is motivated by that tea party racism?
Mark Kirk: Certainly. To everyone listening at home, please, call or write your Republican Senator and tell them to stop this hatred against hispanic Americans. I'm against undocumented immigration as well, mind you, but the solution is not to throw our hardest working people out of the country.