Lost in the coverage of Friday night’s protests was the announcement that Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, viewed as one of the most politically vulnerable senators seeking re-election, said he would support Trump if he won the GOP presidential nomination. Kirk’s comments came during an interview with WMAQ-Ch. 5 before the Trump event was called off.
* According to the Duckworth campaign, Kirk told Channel 5 “If he’s the nominee, I certainly would,” when asked about endorsing Trump.
The Duckworth campaign’s response…
“Two men are making news in Illinois tonight. One of them recently said people ‘drive faster through’ black neighborhoods, called a U.S. Senator a ‘bro with no ho,’ and suggested President Obama’s end goal for the Iranian nuclear agreement was to ‘get nukes to Iran.’ The other man is Donald Trump.
Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and John Kasich suggested Saturday they may not support Donald Trump if he becomes the GOP nominee, as violence at the front-runner’s rallies deepened the party’s chaotic chasm.
Rubio told supporters that while he was currently sticking with his pledge to back the nominee if he wasn’t the party’s choice, “it’s getting harder every day.”
Kasich said the “toxic environment” Trump is creating “makes it very, extremely difficult” to support him.
“To see Americans slugging themselves at a political rally deeply disturbed me,” Kasich said while campaigning in Cincinnati. “We’re better than that.”
Rubio and Kasich have previously committed to backing Trump should he win the Republican nomination, despite reservations about his qualifications. Their extraordinary shift came hours after clashes between Trump supporters and protesters Friday night in Chicago, and just a few days before Tuesday’s elections in five delegate-rich states.
Not surprised by Kirk. He’s already trying to ride to re-election on the backs of Syrian refugees, some of the most oppressed people on Earth.
In fact, if you take Kirk’s stance to its “logical” conclusion, he goes much further than Trump.
Trump just says “no Muslims” and get rid of all undocumented Mexicans.
Kirk says no Syrian refugees unless there’s a “100 percent guarantee” by the FBI that not one of them is a terrorist.
By that standard, you don’t allow anyone into the country, as there’s no way to reasonably give a “100 percent guarantee” that anyone is not a terrorist.
ha ha “Trump would be a ruinous president for the United States, but I will support him if he is our party’s nominee…” One of the republicans ought to get some backbone and say “even Hillary would be a better president.” I know I’m not the first to say this, but I still think it is funny.
That Kirk will back Trump if and when he’s the nominee tells you all you need to know about who Kirk really is as a politician and man. Once you declare that you will support an openly racist and xenophobic man who is promising to bring back and expand America’s use of torture, it’s time to admit you’re not a moderate. This is the real Mark Kirk and is why he will be leaving the US Senate next year.
No one thinks Trump will carry Illinois. No GOP standard bearer has ever since Bush did it in 1988.
If Trump loses big in November, his senatorial loyalist on the statewide ballot may suffer accordingly.
Early projection in the 2nd legislative from LEAPFROG..AQUINO⚡️Wins hands down..RAUNER( ALFARO) has missed every public forum..Stand for CHILDREN NOW SEEN “Sitting down” with their own children..PLANNING THEIR WEEKEND PIANO LESSONS IN EVAnston… politics are local..WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ARE FIGHTING BACK!
==That Kirk will back Trump if and when he’s the nominee tells you all you need to know about who Kirk really is as a politician and man. ==
So the Republican senator says he will back whomever comes out of the convention as the eventual R. nominee. That surprises you? Shocks you? You thought he’d back Hillary or Bernie instead?
- hot chocolate - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 6:42 am:
Just your friendly, neighborhood Speaker picking out some produce at the market eh? What a scary guy!
- hot chocolate - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 6:45 am:
My bad that was meant for the Madigan commercial post. Darn the smartphones!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 7:51 am:
Dunno what the big hurry was by Kirk and his Crew to say what he said.
Is the “guy from Oswego” (not me) that much of a threat that Kirk needed to rush such a statement?
Kev, less is more. This won’t go away if Trump’s the nominee.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 7:51 am:
Q - So, how far has Trump come over the past six months?
A - He has Kirk going from never to whatever.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 8:00 am:
Not surprised by Kirk. He’s already trying to ride to re-election on the backs of Syrian refugees, some of the most oppressed people on Earth.
In fact, if you take Kirk’s stance to its “logical” conclusion, he goes much further than Trump.
Trump just says “no Muslims” and get rid of all undocumented Mexicans.
Kirk says no Syrian refugees unless there’s a “100 percent guarantee” by the FBI that not one of them is a terrorist.
By that standard, you don’t allow anyone into the country, as there’s no way to reasonably give a “100 percent guarantee” that anyone is not a terrorist.
- NoGifts - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 8:00 am:
ha ha “Trump would be a ruinous president for the United States, but I will support him if he is our party’s nominee…” One of the republicans ought to get some backbone and say “even Hillary would be a better president.” I know I’m not the first to say this, but I still think it is funny.
- slow down - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 8:19 am:
That Kirk will back Trump if and when he’s the nominee tells you all you need to know about who Kirk really is as a politician and man. Once you declare that you will support an openly racist and xenophobic man who is promising to bring back and expand America’s use of torture, it’s time to admit you’re not a moderate. This is the real Mark Kirk and is why he will be leaving the US Senate next year.
- Norseman - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 8:31 am:
From the man who helped bring us Rauner. He’s now willing to bring us Trump.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 8:39 am:
Mark Kirk is no Ben Sasse.
- anon - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 11:06 am:
No one thinks Trump will carry Illinois. No GOP standard bearer has ever since Bush did it in 1988.
If Trump loses big in November, his senatorial loyalist on the statewide ballot may suffer accordingly.
- Leapfrog - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 11:19 am:
Early projection in the 2nd legislative from LEAPFROG..AQUINO⚡️Wins hands down..RAUNER( ALFARO) has missed every public forum..Stand for CHILDREN NOW SEEN “Sitting down” with their own children..PLANNING THEIR WEEKEND PIANO LESSONS IN EVAnston… politics are local..WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ARE FIGHTING BACK!
- Responsa - Monday, Mar 14, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
==That Kirk will back Trump if and when he’s the nominee tells you all you need to know about who Kirk really is as a politician and man. ==
So the Republican senator says he will back whomever comes out of the convention as the eventual R. nominee. That surprises you? Shocks you? You thought he’d back Hillary or Bernie instead?