* This Sun-Times story is attracting some national attention…
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is invoking first lady Michelle Obama as a possible 2016 opponent in a recent fundraising appeal, citing the “press and rumor mills” as his source — even though she has shown no interest in running for elected office.
It’s even doubtful President Barack Obama and the first family will immediately return to Chicago after leaving the White House, since youngest daughter Sasha will still be in high school here in January 2017, when a new president is sworn in.
Kirk’s fundraising ploy comes as the notion of Michelle Obama running for a Senate seat from Illinois surfaces occasionally — as it did in June — triggering Michelle Obama, the president White House Senior Adviser and friend Valerie Jarrett to shoot it down in interviews during the summer.
But in the world of political fundraising, denials about running for office don’t count for much because folks deny interest in running all the time and then they go and do it. Kirk’s letter uses the fundraising rule that it’s more effective to ask for money if there is someone big going after you.
* WSJ…
“I’m not one to believe rumors or engage in political gossip,” Kirk says in the letter, “but when it comes to defending the Illinois Senate seat that I’m honored to hold, I take all potential threats seriously.”
Kirk asked for donors to contribute anywhere from $25 to $1,000.
Heh.
It’s probably a smart move as far as fundraising goes. It made me chuckle, anyway.
* CNN…
While the “rumor mill” has been active for some time, Obama has explicitly said she has no plans for elected office.
Asked by ABC’s Robin Roberts whether her next move will be political, Obama said, “No, it will not be political,” and went on to say her next role will be “mission-based” and “service-focused.”
White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, a close friend of the Obamas, flat out rejected the suggestion that Obama would ever run for political office.
“No. I’m absolutely 100 percent positive that will never happen,” Jarrett said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in June.
Other outlets ran stories as well, but I think you get the drift.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:46 am:
How do you know when Mark Kirk is embellishing???
His lips are moving.
- too obvious - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:47 am:
Mark Kirk has no shame. Nothing new.
- Mittuns - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:53 am:
No matter his opponent, Kirk will lose in 2016.
- qcexaminer - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:54 am:
I’m shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, just like I was when the Democrats raised millions of $$$$ over “rumors” of impeachment.
It’s hard to believe people really fall for this stuff to the point they willingly open their wallets for these “rumors”, but as the classic Mencken quote goes, nobody ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the public.
- MrJM - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:55 am:
“I’m not one to believe rumors or engage in political gossip”
And what could ever make anyone think otherwise, Mark?
– MrJM
- VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:56 am:
Why can’t these letters asking for your money tell you the truth? What makes these candidates and incumbents believe that they will be believed by their own supporters if they are elected, when they so blatantly begin their campaigns making statements like these?
Perhaps they believe that funds are raised by supporters hopped up on political crap, so they can dish out the political crap with impunity.
There are many aspects to being an elected officials which need to change if there is any hope that government credibility among its citizens could be restored.
This is just one small part of the kabuki dance which makes politics suck.
- Lance - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:57 am:
Kirk has been doing this all summer. Truth Team had a letter from him back in July: http://www.iltruthteam.com/2014/07/senator-mark-kirk-fundraising-off.html
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:57 am:
“I’m not one to engage in rumors and political gossip — except to separate the suckers from their money.”
Probably helps with his cred among the GOP-base Obama-haters, too.
But Kirk’s first worry will be the Club for Growth and that ilk bankrolling a primary challenge from the right.
Considering the other GOP incumbents around the country they’ve gone after, I imagine they view Kirk as a GOP Ted Kennedy.
I’m guessing Truax has been courting those sugar daddies. Why not? He got more votes in the primary than Rauner.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 9:59 am:
Nick Saban famously said he wasn’t going to be the next coach at Alabama. And then he was.
Mark Kirk himself said he wasn’t going to run for Senate. And then he did.
There’s precedence for this. Hillary in 2000? At least Michelle has a residency here.
Sometimes the simplest political analysis is actually the best.
- Steve - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 10:01 am:
The odds aren’t good that Michelle Obama is going to be a resident of the state of Illinois after living in the White House. Mark Kirk will have a bigger challenge than rumors like this.
- Willie Stark - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 10:05 am:
Strikes me as a little dog-whistling by our noble Sen. Kirk. A clever way to appeal to the cretins who base their opposition to the Obamas on something other than the content of the First Couple’s character - and nothing gets them more cranked up and hysterical than the First Lady. You can Google it! Oh, you could never “prove” that’s an angle the “moderate” Kirk is trying to exploit, and it’s outrageous for Willie to even suggest such a thought might have entered the head of the noble senator who’s proud to represent ALL the people of Illinois. I agree with the Duck and Mit, if Kirk doesn’t lose a primary, he’ll definitely lose the general in a presidential year.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 10:14 am:
If your weak spot is Conservative (very) voters, what sends more shivers through them than this? I’m chuckling with you, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts it works.
- the unknown poster - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 10:24 am:
@ a guy
Ditto
- Leroy - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 10:56 am:
“Obama has explicitly said she has no plans for elected office.”
Replace “elected office” with “the White House” and have a good chuckle.
- JS Mill - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:13 am:
It is nonsense but it will rile the far right and any Obama haters. Internal cohesion through an external threat.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:31 am:
Some smartypants Democrats float rumors that Mrs. Obama is making plans to run against Mark Kirk. Basis? Hilary ran for Senate after Hubby Bill’s term ended. A rumor designed to create panic and fear in GOP ranks.
Instead of panicking, Kirk smartly turns it into a fundraiser appeal. Democrats in turn go crazy in indignation! How dare he! LOL!
Nationally, Democrats spread rumors of impending doom against President Obama in that the GOP has some top secret diabolical plans to start impeachment proceedings against him. The rumor gets repeatedly denied but we all know denial is a river in Egypt in politics. The Democrats then turn the rumors they started into a ton of fundraising appeals to “Stop Republicans from Impeaching President Obama! Just send $3 to support our President! LOL!
Gotta love National Politics. They can get almost as outrageous as politics in Illinois! Look at those Madigan inspired mailers against Republican house candidates! Electing Republicans to Springfield will create a “Washington Gridlock!” LOL!
So tongue waggers cluck now that Kirk is cynically dead wrong and gets a ton of press for his move, which is basically copied right out of the Democrat National playbook. The National Democrats on this impeachment thing and other self-started rumors are in the meantime portraying themselves as saintly and pure and holier than thou for pulling their “impeachment” fundraiser stunts on rumors they started themselves? The press barely notices this, but jumps on Kirk?
Give. Me. A. Break!
Senator Kirk! Send out another one just like it! In fact, send out a whole bunch! LOL!
Gotta love politics sometimes!
- walker - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:45 am:
Master politician. Little regard for truth.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:55 am:
Reminds me of the goofy reelection fundraising Scott Brown did over the supposed plan for Rachel Maddow to run against him.
Hopefully Kirk loses to a genuine progressive champion next election and is forced to continue his career out of state too.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 11:59 am:
Savvy way to use it.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:02 pm:
===Some smartypants Democrats float rumors that Mrs. Obama is making plans to run against Mark Kirk===
What makes you think the Democrats started this stupid rumor? If you’re going to level that charge, can you name names or give us a link? I first saw the Michelle for Senate rumor on Drudge, a notorious left-wing outfit if ever there was one.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
@Louis:
I enjoy rants of victims. I’ve got a drinking game that I play when somebody plays the victim on here. I needed a drink today. Thanks for giving me an excuse.
- Jocko - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
Are you telling me that U.S. Navy’s Intelligence Officer of the Year, veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and near-death drowning survivor may have stretched the truth?
That’s preposterous!
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
@47th and @demoralized: In National Politics, you don’t track down rumors. You just go with them and use them to your advantage!
Rant? Victim? I want more! More I say! MORE! Bwahahahaha!
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 12, 14 @ 3:15 pm:
If you can’t be truthful in your personal life….