I’m Mark Kirk, candidate for the United States Senate and I approve this message.
I coordinated the Project “Abuelita” that reunited grandparents with their grandchildren in Illinois.
Working as your Senator, I will help Latino families who want to start their own businesses and combat gangs.
These are difficult times. Latino families in Illinois deserve a senator who works for them.
Thoughts?
…Adding… More on Project “Abuelita” from the campaign…
“Working with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, and his Latino Advisory Board secured tourist visas for the 13 grandparents in a program called Project ‘Abuelita’ - Spanish for grandmother.” (The News Sun, 8/4/06)
“The first wave of seniors came in December from Tonatico - another Mexican town with a large population living in Waukegan. Kirk is planning to help another wave of grandparents from Tonatico and La Luz visit over the summer. He is also trying to start the program in San Jose, Guanajuato, which also has a large number of emigrants living in Waukegan.” (The News Sun, 5/1/06)
…Adding More… The Giannoulias campaign is suggesting that Kirk is releasing a Web video ahead of the expected Dream Act vote next week to cover himself if he votes against it.
…Adding Still More… Giannoulias campaign response…
“Washington insider Mark Kirk is at it again - this time lying to Latino families about his record on issues that matter to them. With this new ad, it seems Congressman Kirk misremembers that he has been opposing common-sense immigration reform and has failed to support the DREAM Act. That’s not a champion Illinois’ Latino families can trust,” said Kathleen Strand.
“Alexi believes the United States needs comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, protects the rights of all workers and modernizes our legal immigration programs. Unlike Congressman Kirk, he supports the bipartisan DREAM Act.”
…Adding Even Still More…From the Kirk campaign…
Ads have shipped Telemundo and Univision….will start tomorrow or Friday
While Kirk was reuniting families, Alexi was running his bank into the ground, right?
Seriously, good ad IF Project “Abuelita” is known in the Hispanic community. Anyway, it is a good strategy to outreach into the Hispanic community which is often overlooked, especially if Kirk has a couple of more Spanish ads in the bag to run as the campaign wears on.
this is a very good ad. in many other cities and states
public officials are adept in this same fashion and do
ads or public service announcements in Spanish. You
would think the Dems would have jumped on this. oh,
wait, they are all about dividing the pie among the tribes,
not communicating.
Sometimes people overlook that Kirk’s current district has a sizable Latino population, especially in Wheeling, Waukegan, North Chicago, etc., and that he is used to interacting with them, and representing this population and their needs–not just the 10th’s “rich North Shore business owners.”
I’m very happy to see this wholly legitimate Spanish language outreach ad for his senate run.
Kirk is fluent in Spanish. Even though the ad does not address any issues Hispanics in Illinois face, The average Spanish speaking voter will like it and I believe he will get lots of miles out of this ad merely by the fact that he went and made it.
Not going to work. He refuses to co-sponsor the DREAM Act with Durbin for immigrant kids, and said that birth control in Mexico is a solution for illegal immigration - ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS! Refuses to come up with sensible solution for the 11 million undocumented here. Pandering is not going to fool the Latinos.
Other than using a word that doesn’t exist and invoking a program that no one outside of those he’s helped have heard of, it’s great. The fact that no one else is advertising in Spanish will be noted by Latino voters. I hope other statewide candidates take note.
It is a good ad, but not great. The spoken part is fine. My problem is that it lacks Kirk interacting with anyone. If his program was such a hit, you would think he could have gotten one of those families living in Waukegan to sit with him for the ad. I give it a B
- Ray del Camino - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:36 pm:
I think it is a bright idea–particularly when many other R’s (close the border, bash the immigrants, etc.) don’t seem to care about the Latino vote. Smart move, pretty decent ad, though he has a dreadful Gringo accent.
this is the one area that you got to hand it to kirk. he has long taken an interest in mexican-related issues and he has every right to crow about it. don’t know if this wins many votes, but i’ll hand him this one…
he went to school in mexico and there are yard signs all over the liberal parts of the north suburbs with his name in hebrew-a direct appeal to jewish voters. Alexi is going to take a beating in the latino and jewish communities if he doesn’t get his act together stat.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
I’ve seen Kirk at Hispanic events speaking to them in their language and seen nothing but positive reactions. They appreciated his efforts and he received a great response.
Good for him for reaching out to the Latino voters. It’s smart. As others have noted, the DREAM Act really is where it’s at for Senate candidates, so I’m not sure this ad helps overcome his opposition to a sensible policy. We’ll see.
Is he running this downstate too? Oh, right, nevermind.
“Common-sense immigration reform” is a matter of opinion. I think that means building a brick wall, along the Mexican border, and deporting as many illegal aliens as possible. Rep. Kirk disagrees. He tries to help the illegals.
===I think that means building a brick wall, along the Mexican border===
What, chain link with razor wire is too tacky? How about the Canadian border? Don’t we need to close that too? Or is it OK for Canadians to waltz right in and take all of the comedy writing jobs that Americans don’t want?
Um…I like it. The ad gets an “A”…It’s intimate, i.e. he is speaking directly to the voter (yeah, I know it’s the camera) and God knows I love my abuelita…cue Hector Lavoe…now…
Last time I checked we don’t have an illegal immigration problem involving Canadians. I’d like us to take action to deal with actual problems, not pretend ones. The only influx of Canadians into the US is for our health care facilities and they happily pay for services rendered. I don’t believe we should slow that down.
There can be a commonsense immigration reform package if the first two steps are a secure border and strict enforcement of current laws. Many people would be surprised that many conservatives and Republicans would then support some sort of integration of illegals into the legal system.
Applies to people from 15 to 35(!!!) and also lets them sponsor their own relatives for admission, so it’s a larger amnesty than advertised. As for the existing illegal population, it went down by one million in a year. How did I miss all those people being deported?
Oh, they went home on their own. As the rest would, if only the LAW would be enforced
And, since some ability in English is a requirement for citizenship, I have never seen how foreign language ads are “legitimate”.
Pat, there’s a record number of deportations this year, as well as audits of businesses that hire illegals. Easy to find the information, if you care to.
I’ve been collecting old and unusual political buttons and bumper stickers for a long time. Especially in Chicago’s melting pot there have been specific cultural “reach-outs” in various languages by candidates, pretty much forever. (Including radio ads.) It’s a sign of respect and inclusiveness, sometimes humor–not necessarily an indication that the “target” can’t speak or understand English. At least that’s how I’ve always seen it.
A Savy well produced producto of the RSCC….Im impressed with his espanol. In the rovian mold of W it wasnt so much that a right wing Repub would do anything for the community but he made a gilitzy effort to do some outreach. Another page out of the book of votes democrats continually take for granted
I’ll give Kirk points for releasing an ad that most conservatives would never touch. Now, if he actually supported these people and the communities they live in, I’d be more impressed.
While they work for people like him and his rich friends in Highland Park and Lake Forest, they’re forced to live in poverty and overcrowded homes in communities like Waukegan, which have become financially crippled from the massive increase of illegal aliens.
Hola, mi nombre es Mark Kirk, y soy un miembro de mentirosos patológicos anónimo. De hecho.. Soy el presidente de la organización! Yo no siempre mentira. No, cuando yo era un niño, le dije la verdad. Pero entonces un día, me agarraron robando dinero de mi madre monedero. Me mintió. Le dije que era tareas - que mi profesor me dijo que hacerlo. Y ella se dispararon! Sí, eso es lo sucedido!
Después de eso, la mentira fue fácil para mí. Me mintió acerca de mi edad y se unió al ejército. Yo tenía trece en el momento. Sí.. Fui a Irak, y me resultó herido captura un proyectil de mortero en mis dientes. Y me hicieron un tres estrellas general! Y luego conseguí un trabajo en el periodismo, escrito por el National Enquirer, geográficas! Sí.. Yo estaba haciendo veinte mil al año.. mes! De hecho, me ganó el Premio Pulitzer ese año! Sí, esa es la venta de entradas. Y entonces mi primo muerto – Harold Washington - y me tomó difícil. Quizá demasiado duro - que traté de suicidarme. Yeahh.. Yo no suicidarme! Seguro! Yo estaba médicamente muerto durante una semana y media! Era una mujer que me sacó de it - Indira Gandhi! Sí, derecho.. Y ella me habló mentirosos patológicos anónimo.
Oh, estaría sorprendido cómo muchas personas famosas pertenecen. De hecho.. en uno de los encuentros conocí a mi esposa - Morgan Fairchild! Sí, soy un hombre cambio ahora, y todos porque de mentirosos patológicos anónimo. ¿Por qué, I - incluso yo tengo mi foto en la tapa de revista Newsweek. Sí. Cada día! Sí.. que la venta de entradas! Sí, usted querido!
I can’t stand when politicians attach the word “common sense” to a contentious issue. If these issues were common sense, they’d be easy to solve. Immigration reform has too many moving parts and legal nuances for there to be any one “common sense” solution.
Here’s a common sense issue: fix potholes. One particular person’s conception of immigration reform (regardless of what it is)? Not common sense.
- Ray del Camino - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
Very good positive ad. I’m actually glad he didn’t parade around people he helped…that sometimes annoys me. He said his piece directly to us, and it was worth listening to.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:05 pm:
While Kirk was reuniting families, Alexi was running his bank into the ground, right?
Seriously, good ad IF Project “Abuelita” is known in the Hispanic community. Anyway, it is a good strategy to outreach into the Hispanic community which is often overlooked, especially if Kirk has a couple of more Spanish ads in the bag to run as the campaign wears on.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:16 pm:
It isn’t going to hurt…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:16 pm:
this is a very good ad. in many other cities and states
public officials are adept in this same fashion and do
ads or public service announcements in Spanish. You
would think the Dems would have jumped on this. oh,
wait, they are all about dividing the pie among the tribes,
not communicating.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:18 pm:
a production note….looks like there was very little editing
in this ad. he’s comfortable speaking and reading in
Spanish and it shows.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:19 pm:
Kirk must be feeling good about his chances to do a Spanish language ad whose content is sure to honk off the full-mooners on the right.
- Verdicto - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:25 pm:
Didn’t Blago also try and impress us all with his Spanish speaking skills?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:27 pm:
Sometimes people overlook that Kirk’s current district has a sizable Latino population, especially in Wheeling, Waukegan, North Chicago, etc., and that he is used to interacting with them, and representing this population and their needs–not just the 10th’s “rich North Shore business owners.”
I’m very happy to see this wholly legitimate Spanish language outreach ad for his senate run.
- Me - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:30 pm:
Kirk is fluent in Spanish. Even though the ad does not address any issues Hispanics in Illinois face, The average Spanish speaking voter will like it and I believe he will get lots of miles out of this ad merely by the fact that he went and made it.
- Elder - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:32 pm:
Not going to work. He refuses to co-sponsor the DREAM Act with Durbin for immigrant kids, and said that birth control in Mexico is a solution for illegal immigration - ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS! Refuses to come up with sensible solution for the 11 million undocumented here. Pandering is not going to fool the Latinos.
- chitownhv - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
Other than using a word that doesn’t exist and invoking a program that no one outside of those he’s helped have heard of, it’s great. The fact that no one else is advertising in Spanish will be noted by Latino voters. I hope other statewide candidates take note.
- Draznnl (Rhymes with orange) - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
It is a good ad, but not great. The spoken part is fine. My problem is that it lacks Kirk interacting with anyone. If his program was such a hit, you would think he could have gotten one of those families living in Waukegan to sit with him for the ad. I give it a B
- Ray del Camino - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:36 pm:
I think it is a bright idea–particularly when many other R’s (close the border, bash the immigrants, etc.) don’t seem to care about the Latino vote. Smart move, pretty decent ad, though he has a dreadful Gringo accent.
- bored now - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:41 pm:
this is the one area that you got to hand it to kirk. he has long taken an interest in mexican-related issues and he has every right to crow about it. don’t know if this wins many votes, but i’ll hand him this one…
- David Ormsby - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:43 pm:
Kirk seems proficient in Spanish, not fluent. But not bad.
- Piling on - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:46 pm:
according to my English-Spanish dictionary, the appropriate word for this campaign would be “mentiroso”
- shore - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:48 pm:
he went to school in mexico and there are yard signs all over the liberal parts of the north suburbs with his name in hebrew-a direct appeal to jewish voters. Alexi is going to take a beating in the latino and jewish communities if he doesn’t get his act together stat.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
I’ve seen Kirk at Hispanic events speaking to them in their language and seen nothing but positive reactions. They appreciated his efforts and he received a great response.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 2:58 pm:
Good for him for reaching out to the Latino voters. It’s smart. As others have noted, the DREAM Act really is where it’s at for Senate candidates, so I’m not sure this ad helps overcome his opposition to a sensible policy. We’ll see.
Is he running this downstate too? Oh, right, nevermind.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:03 pm:
–…there are yard signs all over the liberal parts of the north suburbs with his name in hebrew-a direct appeal to jewish voters–
LOL, what is Kirk’s name in Hebrew?
Moses? “You should have seen it — I raised my staff and before you know it, the waters receded…”
Noah? “Talk about rain! My only regret is I couldn’t find a second unicorn…”
Methuselah? “I feel great, like an 850-year-old…”
- downstate hack - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:15 pm:
A good Ad, can’t hurt him at all. Shows at least he is willing to reach out to the Latino constituents.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:23 pm:
wordslinger,
In a similar vein, I believe Giannoulias roughly translates to “failed mob banker,” or maybe “Obama/Durbin lackey” but I’m not sure…
- Conservative Veteran - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:24 pm:
“Common-sense immigration reform” is a matter of opinion. I think that means building a brick wall, along the Mexican border, and deporting as many illegal aliens as possible. Rep. Kirk disagrees. He tries to help the illegals.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:32 pm:
===I think that means building a brick wall, along the Mexican border===
What, chain link with razor wire is too tacky? How about the Canadian border? Don’t we need to close that too? Or is it OK for Canadians to waltz right in and take all of the comedy writing jobs that Americans don’t want?
- GetOverIt - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:38 pm:
Um…I like it. The ad gets an “A”…It’s intimate, i.e. he is speaking directly to the voter (yeah, I know it’s the camera) and God knows I love my abuelita…cue Hector Lavoe…now…
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:44 pm:
Last time I checked we don’t have an illegal immigration problem involving Canadians. I’d like us to take action to deal with actual problems, not pretend ones. The only influx of Canadians into the US is for our health care facilities and they happily pay for services rendered. I don’t believe we should slow that down.
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:49 pm:
There can be a commonsense immigration reform package if the first two steps are a secure border and strict enforcement of current laws. Many people would be surprised that many conservatives and Republicans would then support some sort of integration of illegals into the legal system.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:52 pm:
OK, then, what about Lithuanians, Polish, etc? lol
Let’s stick to the ad, people.
- Pat collins - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 3:52 pm:
Dream act ,
Applies to people from 15 to 35(!!!) and also lets them sponsor their own relatives for admission, so it’s a larger amnesty than advertised. As for the existing illegal population, it went down by one million in a year. How did I miss all those people being deported?
Oh, they went home on their own. As the rest would, if only the LAW would be enforced
And, since some ability in English is a requirement for citizenship, I have never seen how foreign language ads are “legitimate”.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:04 pm:
Pat, there’s a record number of deportations this year, as well as audits of businesses that hire illegals. Easy to find the information, if you care to.
- Geneseo Gent - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:09 pm:
Did he fight against Davy Crockett at the Alamo?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:19 pm:
I’ve been collecting old and unusual political buttons and bumper stickers for a long time. Especially in Chicago’s melting pot there have been specific cultural “reach-outs” in various languages by candidates, pretty much forever. (Including radio ads.) It’s a sign of respect and inclusiveness, sometimes humor–not necessarily an indication that the “target” can’t speak or understand English. At least that’s how I’ve always seen it.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:21 pm:
I guess I miss the untruth that Kirk says in the ad that Alexi’s folks are complaining about.
Then again since it is a positive ad I suspect the Alexi folks just decided to stick with their liar theme.
- prairiestatedem - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:27 pm:
A Savy well produced producto of the RSCC….Im impressed with his espanol. In the rovian mold of W it wasnt so much that a right wing Repub would do anything for the community but he made a gilitzy effort to do some outreach. Another page out of the book of votes democrats continually take for granted
- Cincinnatus - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 4:28 pm:
If you listen closely, I think Kirk is saying,
“no banquero mafia”
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 5:02 pm:
I’ll give Kirk points for releasing an ad that most conservatives would never touch. Now, if he actually supported these people and the communities they live in, I’d be more impressed.
While they work for people like him and his rich friends in Highland Park and Lake Forest, they’re forced to live in poverty and overcrowded homes in communities like Waukegan, which have become financially crippled from the massive increase of illegal aliens.
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 5:03 pm:
Hola, mi nombre es Mark Kirk, y soy un miembro de mentirosos patológicos anónimo. De hecho.. Soy el presidente de la organización! Yo no siempre mentira. No, cuando yo era un niño, le dije la verdad. Pero entonces un día, me agarraron robando dinero de mi madre monedero. Me mintió. Le dije que era tareas - que mi profesor me dijo que hacerlo. Y ella se dispararon! Sí, eso es lo sucedido!
Después de eso, la mentira fue fácil para mí. Me mintió acerca de mi edad y se unió al ejército. Yo tenía trece en el momento. Sí.. Fui a Irak, y me resultó herido captura un proyectil de mortero en mis dientes. Y me hicieron un tres estrellas general! Y luego conseguí un trabajo en el periodismo, escrito por el National Enquirer, geográficas! Sí.. Yo estaba haciendo veinte mil al año.. mes! De hecho, me ganó el Premio Pulitzer ese año! Sí, esa es la venta de entradas. Y entonces mi primo muerto – Harold Washington - y me tomó difícil. Quizá demasiado duro - que traté de suicidarme. Yeahh.. Yo no suicidarme! Seguro! Yo estaba médicamente muerto durante una semana y media! Era una mujer que me sacó de it - Indira Gandhi! Sí, derecho.. Y ella me habló mentirosos patológicos anónimo.
Oh, estaría sorprendido cómo muchas personas famosas pertenecen. De hecho.. en uno de los encuentros conocí a mi esposa - Morgan Fairchild! Sí, soy un hombre cambio ahora, y todos porque de mentirosos patológicos anónimo. ¿Por qué, I - incluso yo tengo mi foto en la tapa de revista Newsweek. Sí. Cada día! Sí.. que la venta de entradas! Sí, usted querido!
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 5:09 pm:
Kirk also added that Hispanics will love him in the lead role of the recently released movie “Machete.”
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 5:22 pm:
BLS, that was classic.
- soccermom - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 5:47 pm:
Since when does 13 seniors constitute a “wave”?
- 4 percent - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 6:16 pm:
Yo querio taco bell?
- Ugh - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 6:34 pm:
I can’t stand when politicians attach the word “common sense” to a contentious issue. If these issues were common sense, they’d be easy to solve. Immigration reform has too many moving parts and legal nuances for there to be any one “common sense” solution.
Here’s a common sense issue: fix potholes. One particular person’s conception of immigration reform (regardless of what it is)? Not common sense.
- Ray del Camino - Wednesday, Sep 15, 10 @ 7:51 pm:
De acuerdo, BLS. ¡Muy chistoso!
- Liandro - Thursday, Sep 16, 10 @ 12:10 am:
Very good positive ad. I’m actually glad he didn’t parade around people he helped…that sometimes annoys me. He said his piece directly to us, and it was worth listening to.