Posted on 06/14/2010 12:27:53 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
On July 30, 2009, I wrote a commentary titled "Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate Bid Doomed: When Will GOP Ever Learn?" http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/07/-mark-kirks-us-senate-bid-doomed-when-will-gop-ever-learn-.html
I wrote the commentary long before the recent revelations regarding Kirk's exaggeration of his military service. On Sunday, June 13, 2010 the Chicago Tribune ran a major article which will put a damper on a political candidate which was forced upon Republican voters by the Illinois GOP leadership.
From the beginning, Kirk was out of step with GOP social and fiscal conservatives. Kirk's voting record in support of abortion rights, his anti-Second Amendment votes in Congress and Kirk's support for values that run contrary to the Republican Party platforms on the state and national levels alienated the U.S. Representative from Illinois 10th U.S. Congressional District with social conservatives. However, when Kirk was one of only eight Republicans in the U.S. House of Reps. to vote for the "American Clean Energy and Security Act" (HR2454), commonly called Cap and Trade, he infuriated fiscal conservatives as well--not only in Illinois, but across the entire nation.
Afterwards, Kirk threw salt on a festering wound by saying if he could have a do-over he would vote against the climate control bill that, if passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Obama, would devastate America's economy. The bill is so toxic, the U.S. Senate has yet to act on the legislation, even though it is a primary component of Obama's left-wing political agenda.
But red flags went up with many Republicans, like myself, when it appeared Kirk was the "chosen one" according to statements made by Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady before the February 2010 GOP primary. Kirk contributed $50,000 to the Illinois Republican Party and shortly thereafter became the obvious favorite of the Republican establishment.
Questions about Kirk's exaggerated military service were raised before the February primary. In recent weeks, Kirk has come under withering fire for embellishing his U.S. Naval military record. In fact, campaign ads Kirk ran during the primary race were comical to many of us who follow politics closely. In one ad, Kirk gave the definite impression he was in harm's way while "flying over Kosovo, Iraq and on the ground in Afghanistan." This was clearly a ridiculous and misleading claim. Obviously, common sense dictates a sitting Congressman would not be placed in harm's way and, unless a waiver is issued, there are rules which, to quote a Chicago Tribune story says "Politicians -- particularly members of Congress -- are not allowed to serve in imminent danger areas unless the Dept. of Defense specifically allows it." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-senate-kirk-giannoulias-20100612,0,2203077.story [posted June 13, 2010]
Before it came to light that Kirk exaggerated his role in the Naval Reserves and took personal credit for an award given to his unit, it was evident the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate was using his military service as a reservist for his own personal agenda. Indeed on June 1st, the Washington Post reported Kirk "had claimed, inaccurately, to have received the Navy's 'Intelligence Officer of the Year' award. But he did not receive that award: In reality, the unit Kirk led in Aviano, Italy, was given an award for outstanding service by a group called the National Military Intelligence Association. Kirk, who is seen on video claiming to have won the award, was not singled out for individual recognition."
Before eventually offering an apology, Kirk compounded his faux pas by telling reporters at CBS TV Channel 2 in Chicago his claim wasn't "legally precise." CBS reported the Washington Post said Kirk cast the comments as an oversight, not an attempt to exaggerate his record. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006430-503544.html [posted June 1, 2010]
Now, some will say Kirk was simply playing politics with his braggadocio regarding his service in the military, but those who have family members currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and the families of millions of Americans who served our nation honorably in the past, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, interpret Kirk's claims as a reflection of character or lack thereof.
And here is a fact that cannot be denied. Any politician who would vote for or support the practice of partial-birth abortion--which is so radical a procedure many liberal Democrats oppose it--will not get the vote of Republicans, Democrats or Independents who cannot support an individual because their conscience would prohibit them from doing so.
The operative question for all Illinois Republicans, as the titular head of the GOP ticket is: How much of a drag will Kirk be for the entire Republican slate? Therefore, since Kirk is out of step with a growing number of Republicans, including social and fiscal conservatives, perhaps he should do the honorable thing and drop out of the Illinois U.S. Senate race. There are more acceptable candidates with high name recognition who could replace Kirk on the November ballot and strengthen the entire Republican ticket...Adam Andrzejewski, state Sen. Kirk Dillard and Andy McKenna to name just a few.
I do not ascribe to the "Republican right or wrong" mantra. Kirk must do the right thing by bowing out of the Illinois Senate race. Most definitely, Illinois needs a candidate for the U.S. Senate who not only abides by the GOP's state and national platforms, but reflects the character necessary to help formulate and advance policies at a time when our nation is at a critical turning point in history.
Although Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady will most assuredly continue to support Kirk's candidacy, pressure is building among activists and Republican leaders who recognize Kirk's liabilities which would most likely lead to the election of his Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias. We are at a crucial crossroads in our nation's history when every vote in Congress matters.
If Kirk would step aside, the 19 members of the State Central Committee, by weighted vote, would choose another candidate to replace Kirk. Such a political move would not set precedent.
Some will say I am ignoring the proverbial elephant sitting in the corner concerning questions surrounding Kirk's sexual orientation. However, I will leave that issue to others to discuss. Mr. Kirk does not represent the values of many Republicans and does not deserve to be on the ballot in the upcoming midterm election.
Some Republicans will disagree with my opinion, but as Kirk's record comes under closer scrutiny, the question is: Will voters hold their nose and vote for a man whose voting record as a member of Congress more closely resembled that of a radically liberal Democrat?
Military fraud and the exaggeration of military service are much more serious issues with the public than the dominant media and Mark Kirk would like us to believe. This is especially true in time of war when men and women are losing their lives in the service of their country.
For the good of the Party, I urge Mark Kirk to drop out of the U.S. Senate race in Illinois and soon.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Chicago Tribune: Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias resume bashing: Kirk again challenged over military record: Congressman's use of 'deployment' comes under scrutiny http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-senate-kirk-giannoulias-20100612,0,2203077.story [posted June 13, 2010]
CBS News: Will Mark Kirk's Military Claim Hurt Senate Bid? http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006430-503544.html [posted June 1, 2010]
Washington Post: Mark Kirk campaign ad makes false claim about his military service: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/mark-kirk-campaign-ad-makes-fa.html [posted June 1, 2010]
Former GOP U.S. Senate Candidate Andy Martin: Andy Martin drops new “Bunker Buster” ad on Mark Kirk: Kirk inflates his military service: http://andyforussenator.blogspot.com/2010/01/andy-martin-drops-new-bunker-buster-ad.html [posted Jan. 18, 2010]
RFFM.org: Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate Bid Doomed: When Will GOP Ever Learn? http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/07/-mark-kirks-us-senate-bid-doomed-when-will-gop-ever-learn-.html [posted July 30, 2009]
RFFM.org: Cap and Trade Passes U.S. House: Kirk, 7 other Republicans, Vote for Greatest Tax Increase in U.S. History http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/06/cap-and-trade-passes-us-house-kirk-7-other-republicans-vote-for-greatest-tax-increase-in-us-history-.html [posted June 27, 2009]
RFFM.org Satire: ABC 7 Chicago's GOP U.S. Senatorial Debate: Where Mark Kirk Really Was http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/01/abc-7-chicagos-gop-us-senatorial-debate-where-kirk-really-was.html [posted January 16, 2010]
Kirk should drop out right after Blumenthal.
Rep. Kirk (my congressman) won the primary because he was endorsed by many moderate GOP leaders, including members of the IL GOP State Central Committee and county party chairmen. Too many republican primary voters listened to those leaders and didn’t research the candidates. If they researched the candidates, they would have known that Kirk is more liberal than many Democrats.
I do not ascribe to the "Republican right or wrong" mantra.
Neither do I and evidently, I'm not alone.
Kirk and the scumbag Illinois GOP must not be rewarded. I hope the rat - - whoever it is - - creams him so somebody decent can step up in six years. Kirk is a Jeffords/Chafee/Specter waiting to happen. I’d rather be knifed in the face than stabbed in the back.
Thanks for dragging that decrepit skeleton out of the closet and letting it fester there.
I think the odds of Kirk "dropping out" because you disapprove of him is about 0.000000 %
That's the problem.
The failure of conservatives to think strategically has been and potentially will be very costly to America.
The Republican leadership has done yeoman's work holding it together against Obama's agenda. That it is not recognized is sad.
The consequence of not thinking strategicaly will be more liberalism, more Obamanomics, more socialist/communist/fascist control of our country not less.
I think I read a piece the other day stating that Kirk is a closet Gay. Is there any truth in that charge???????
If Kirk is elected, he will be the next Specter.
More like Jeffords, but he’ll stick around long enough to cripple the GOP and Conservatism.
Possibly. The one certain thing is if Alexi wins we’ll have a mobster for a Senator and a continuing Democratic Senate.
Pick your poison wisely.
This changed the last two election cycles because the establishment changed the game. Sick of losing to the GOP grassroots in hotly contested primaries, they decided to rig the game and clear the field for the RINO.
In 2008 and 2010 all the leading party elites endorsed the “chosen” RINO from the moment he announced, and threatened and bullied any viable conservative with a base and money out of the race to “clear the field” of everyone but little known up-and-comers they couldn't blackmail. In both 2008 and 2010, they sent out bulk emails, snail mail, and web ads during the primary implying their anointed RINO was the ONLY Republican candidate running against the scary Democrat (and implying he had already won the nomination), conning conservatives into donating to the RINO in the primary under false pretenses. The state party officials openly lent party resources to the anointed RINO and took care of the statewide infrastructure of his candidacy, making sure he stayed on script and keeping him the hell away from any open forums where he would have to debate his primary challengers or discuss his platform to conservatives.
Again, this only started in 2008. Prior to 2008, the establishment RINO had to appear at public forums and debate his opponents, and run his campaign with his own resources.
Given the circumstances of these crooked “primaries”, it's not surprising that “Illinois Republican voters” suddenly started nominating RINOs.
Conservatives always share some of the blame in that the conservative base here is hopelessly fractured and often backs multiple candidates in a primary, but even in a one-and-one race, we're handicapped by the combine.
In fact, the ONLY reason we now have a decent conservative as our nominee for Governor is the establishment focused so much time on clearing the playing field for Kirk's Senate bid that they neglected to intervene in the Governor's race and decide on a consensus combiner. They split their support among three establishment-approved choices (State Senator Kirk Dillard, IL GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, former Att. Gen. Jim Ryan) Our side was just as fractured and voted for three different conservative outsiders (Bill Brady, Dan Proft, Adam Andrejewski). Brady was the only downstate candidate and won by 500 votes thanks to a regional advantage. I'll be the first to admit I voted and campaigned for Brady but he wasn't expected to be the nominee and won via a fluke. Fortunately, he's now extremely likely to be our next Governor.
In fact, Brady's double-digit lead proves once again that all the pro-RINO party officials and their apologists claiming that Kirk-style RINOs are “the best we can get” in Illinois are wrong. You don't “have to” run to the left of many card-carrying Democrats to be “electable” in this state. Illinois Republicans may be hopelessly inept in this state and always lose to the Chicago machine, but that doesn't prove the voters “want” socialism.
Kirk is out-of-touch with mainstream American values, and he's proven to be a liar and fraud to boot. If he had any dignity, he's withdraw from the race.
If Fox is going after him you know he is toast!
How the hell do we get a replacement (NO THIRD PARTY!!!). Is there any stature for recall? I don't know the rules and regulations of the combine but this guy is starting to get sleazier by the day.
Once again Billy and Fieldmarshaldj thank you both for opening my eyes, from now on I am going to try and be more informed before jumping on a bandwagon.
All I can suggest is to raise hell with GOP elected officials and party officials and demand pressure be brought to have Kirk step down or be forced out.
If you want Rep. Kirk to drop out, please email all 19 members of the IL GOP State Central Committee and ask them to ask him to drop out of the race. The SCC would vote on who would replace Kirk, on the ballot. That’s how Alan Keyes was chosen, in 2004, but the majority of the SCC has been replaced, since then. No, Illinois doesn’t have recall elections.
If Kirk drops out, I hope that Rep. Roskam would run. If that happens, State Sen. Millner should run for Roskam’s House seat.
Roskam would be the best choice, how do we get ahold of these people? I’m worried you’d have to bribe them since that’s the “Chicago way”.
I can’t find their email addresses. If you use this link, you can find all of their names and addresses:
http://www.weareillinois.org/learn/resources.aspx
We’re lucky that GOP prospects are up in places like WA and CT cause Mark Kirk is not going to be part of a possible GOP majority. Unless he’s forced out of the race and replaced I think the mob banker will win.
New poll (PPP) has the Green party guy at 14%. Like in the 2006 GUV race it appears they are drawing protest support from both sides.
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