Michael Steele Withdraws Support for Mark Kirk's Senate Bid

NBC News Chicago ^ | Thurs., Sept. 24, 2009 | ANDREW GREINER

[BillyBoy]

NEWS | POLITICS

Michael Steele Withdraws Support for Mark Kirk's Senate Bid

Kirk's changing positions on a "cap and trade" environmental bill are inspiring angry boos from some fellow Republicans

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago First Published: Sep 24, 2009 1:48 PM CD

By ANDREW GREINER

Updated 3:54 PM CDT, Thu, Sep 24, 2009

Michael Steele has been responsible for some monumental gaffes since he took the reins of the Republican National Committee.

Perhaps he’s trying to avoid another error by supporting a flip-flopper.

The RNC Chairman has reportedly withdrawn his sole endorsement for Illinois Representative Mark Kirk in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Roland Burris, according to the Chicago Daily Observer.

The Observer article doesn't reveal where it learned the information., and RNC officials contend that Steele never officially endorsed Kirk's candidacy.

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"Congressman Kirk is an exceptional candidate and is clearly the frontrunner in this race," RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski told NBC. "This is a targeted race we plan to win and once Kirk wins the primary we will be fully engaged."   

The RNC traditionally does not get involved in primaries, but, "the National Republican Senatorial Committee has endorsed Kirk."

 

 On multiple occasions Steele has mentioned Kirk as a rising star and someone he would support.

“I’m so excited about Mark Kirk and his race,” Steele said on the on a WLS radio show. “We were all kind of sitting around with bated breath as he was making his decision, a very personal decision, a family decision, to run for the Senate.”

Asked about the Democratic leaning of Illinois in recent years, Steele said, “I would just ask that the good people of Illinois give us a fair shot, give Mark Kirk a fair shot to state the case for why his leadership is important at this time for the state.”

Kirk has been the front-runner in for the primary race against Patrick Hughes, but lately has encoutered trouble because of some comments about a cap and trade vote.

Kirk's changing positions on a "cap and trade" environmental bill are inspiring angry boos from some fellow Republicans and accusations of flip-flopping from Democrats.

Last Friday Democrats challenged Kirk, who's serving his fifth term in the U.S. House, to explain why he now opposes a measure that he said three months ago was good for national security.

His explanation was even worse than his flip-flop.

"I voted for it because it was in the narrow interests of my congressional district," Kirk said at a rally for his Senate campaign on Saturday. "But as your representative, representing the entire state of Illinois, I will vote 'No' on that bill coming up."

Dems have taken him to task for the pandering.

"It appears that he wants to win an election and he's willing to do that even if it means we have to keep fighting over foreign oil," said Jill Morgenthaler, Illinois' former director of homeland security and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Congress in 2008.

Kirk was one of just eight House Republicans to vote for the bill in June. His position infuriated some conservatives, who consider the measure little more than an energy tax that will hurt manufacturers, the coal industry and consumers.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago First Published: Sep 24, 2009 1:48 PM CD

[BillyBoy]

LIKE RATS OFF A SINKING SHIP...

Gee, just a few weeks ago the media was talking about ultra RINO Congresman Mark Kirk's Senate roll out "couldn't have been better". Now it looks like the powers that be in the GOP are jumping off the sinking ship. Poor Marky. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Related thread on FR posted today:

It's Time For Illinois GOP To Request That Mark Kirk Bow Out Of U.S. Senate Race

The scary thing is some freepers actually buy the arguement that "only" marxists like Kirk can "win" in "blue states" and actually support nominating this smooth talking, backstabbing Obama loving socialist. After Jeffords, Chafee, AND Specter, when will conservatives learn? RINOs deliver for nobody but the left.

[pissant]

Michael Steele has no flesh left on his bullet riddled feet.

[editor-surveyor]

Who needs enemies when you have RINO friends?

[JSDude1]

So is Mark Kirk this years McRomney?

[JrsyJack]

Perhaps the fact that conservative candidates are raising record cash while the RNC is not is beginning to worry Chairman Steele.

[pissant]

Why withdraw support? Hell, the NRSC is endorsing charlie loafers, which is even more shameful.

[rabscuttle385]

Michael Steele is a moron.

Mark Kirk is a RINO par excellence.

[Graybeard58]

Good on Steele, he did something right.

[FreeAtlanta]

How about Mike Ditka? Any chance he might consider a run? Is he left of RINO, RINO, or right of RINO?

[wmfights]

Perhaps the fact that conservative candidates are raising record cash while the RNC is not is beginning to worry Chairman Steele.

The only good explanation!

Once the GOP learns that the conservatives represent the majority of the money in the party maybe they will learn to represent us. Moderates should be welcome, but party discipline should be very straight forward, wander off the reservation and no funding.

[NormsRevenge]

Good for Michael!

[Venturer]

****The RNC traditionally does not get involved in primaries, but, “the National Republican Senatorial Committee has endorsed Kirk.”****

They backed Arlen Sphincter too.

I got a campaign letter from Orrin Hatch asking for money for the RNC, then the POS gave his little I love Ted Kennedy speech. Needless to say they didnt get any money from me.

[FreedomPoster]

I’m throwing their mailings in the trash.

[Lancey Howard]

Good on Steele, he did something right.

Agreed.
The man deserves credit where credit is due.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[MSF BU]

Is that the case? I’m glad to read it, I just had not heard. I always make it a point to do little research and contribute directly to good candidates who have a chance to win. The internet makes it much easier.

[MSF BU]

I like the 1976 Orrin much better myself.

[Lawgvr1955]

Screw Kirk. He sold the country out IMHO with his vote on Cap and Tax. Make an example of him and other RINOs will take notice.

[BillyBoy]

>> at this rate burris will get a second term <<

Unlikely since Burris isn't running for a second term, and even if he was he has such dismal approval ratings he's be toast in a RAT primary (though Kirk is so bad a second Burris term would be preferable to him IMO)