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Justin delved into this last night, but let’s expand on that recent remark that Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) made to Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth that was unnecessary, awkward, and led to a rather ignominious end to his senatorial career.
Kirk criticized Duckworth’s Thai heritage during Oct. 27 speech debate that later he issued an apology. However, if you are going to lose, and Kirk will lose easily tonight, at least go down with some grace. What’s more, Kirk has very little ground under his feet when it comes to military qualifications, since he basically lied about his background (via NPR):
My family has served this nation in uniform since the Revolution. I am a daughter of the American Revolution. I have shed my blood for this nation. But I still want to be there in the Senate when the drums of war are ringing,” Duckworth said. “Because people are quick to beat the drums of war, and I want to be there to tell you what it costs, that’s what you’re asking of us. … Families like mine are the ones that bleed first.”
Kirk, who was given 30 seconds to respond, was curt, saying only, “I forgot your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.” The moderator then moved on to the next question.
The remark was disparaging and racist, but also incorrect. Duckworth was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and an American father who had been a U.S. Marine.
[…]
Democrats immediately pounced and demanded an apology from Kirk, noting that his own military service record was in question. On his campaign website earlier this year, Kirk falsely claimed to be an “Iraq War veteran,” when in fact he served in the Navy Reserve and remained in the United States.
Kirk was probably the first race this cycle that the GOP could have written off. It’s deep blue Illinois, Tammy Duckworth is a fairly high-profile Democrat, she’s a war veteran who lost both legs in Iraq, and, I’ll repeat, it’s deep blue Illinois. Still, Kirk’s campaign ends in suburban Cook County, where the election is decided in the state (via Chicago Tribune):
Duckworth, a two-term congresswoman from Hoffman Estates, traveled from the South Side to the North Side of Chicago, including cutting, washing and drying hair at a salon in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the South Side.
“I’m sure we’re headed for a win on Tuesday, but we’re not taking anything for granted,” she said from the stylist’s chair. “I hope everything works out and we’re celebrating Tuesday night.”
[…]
She later traveled to Gurnee, where she found the headquarters of Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504.
“You’re my legs, you’re my doormats, and I just can’t do it,” Duckworth said, referring to the loss of her legs when her U.S. Army helicopter was shot down in Iraq.
[…]
Kirk visited a Republican campaign office in suburban Des Plaines, where he spoke briefly to a group of campaign workers before leading the group in a rendition of “Go Cubs Go.”
“If the Cubs win the World Series, the Republicans can definitely win Illinois this year,” Kirk said.
The Republican acknowledged that his campaign’s odds are slim as Democrats across the board look to capitalize on higher voter turnout in a presidential year. But he said his past successful campaigns are proof that he has always “challenged expectations.”
“Every election in Illinois is decided in the suburbs of Cook County, so we’re ending our campaign right here in Des Plaines,” Kirk said.
Ohio and Illinois are expected to be among the first Senate races to be called immediately, although the GOP’s chances are much stronger in the Buckeye State, where Republican Sen. Rob Portman is expected to win re-election in a landslide victory over former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.
