The DC slime pit
Wednesday, Dec 9, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A story posted yesterday by the Daily Herald…
Top Illinois Republicans Tuesday denounced presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s recent call to block all Muslims from entering the U.S. […]
“Banning any race or religion, as Donald Trump has suggested, is anathema to American values and should be rejected,” [Sen. Mark Kirk] said in a statement. “Instead, the American people need both parties to develop a clear and concise strategy to destroy the Islamic state and prove that our security transcends political rhetoric.”
* The folks at EMILY’s List are apparently too busy reading DC-based publications to notice some mere local reporting. Here’s their press release from late this morning…
EMILY’s List Exposes Trump-Kirk Agenda
Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, denounced Illinois Senator Mark Kirk for aligning himself with the extreme and dangerous policies espoused by Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Earlier this year, EMILY’s List put Senator Kirk “On Notice” for his radical anti-woman and anti-family agenda, making his seat a top target for Democratic takeover in 2016.
On the heels of Donald Trump’s outrageous and unconstitutional proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, the Washington Post reported that Kirk “simply denied that Trump’s antics would have any impact on his contest.” Trump holds a commanding lead in all national polls of the Republican presidential primary.
“Senator Kirk has a long record of supporting dangerous and discriminatory policies that are in lockstep with Donald Trump’s offensive and incendiary rhetoric,” said EMILY’s List Communications Director Marcy Stech. “The people of Illinois don’t want an extreme Trump-Kirk agenda that demonizes entire segments of our population and puts American women and families in danger.
“As headlines predicting Trump-related losses down ticket start to pile up, maybe Senator Kirk should do some soul-searching about why he’s so tied to someone so toxic.”
They take an off-hand, brief comment about Trump’s impact on his own race and inflate that into a grand, unholy alliance with Donald Trump?
Sheesh.
EMILY’s List needs to apologize for this one.
Also, what “radical anti-woman agenda”? He’s one of the only pro-choice Republicans in that entire town.
…Adding… Kirk started banging on Trump way back in July…
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk is joining the group of people calling out Donald Trump for his controversial comments on immigration.
In a recent interview, he said he had a message for Trump:
“In a typical Chicago way, to my Mexican-American friends, I would say, ‘Donald Trump callate’ — shut up.”
And…
Kirk agrees with other Republicans that what Trump has been saying on immigration since he began his presidential campaign, like claiming many undocumented immigrants coming from Mexico are “killers” and “rapists”, are reflecting poorly on the rest of the party.
“I would say that Trump is probably hurting the Republican Party with his over-the-top comments on the spirit and character of Mexicans, which is not correct,” Kirk said. “I went to school in Mexico. It’s not a country of rapists and criminals.”
And his “radical anti-woman agenda” apparently includes voting against a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.
- AC - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 11:52 am:
Well, if Kirk said some crazy things once in a while, they wouldn’t need to manufacture facts in order to make their arguments. /s
- A guy - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:00 pm:
I’m decidedly pro-life and Republican. Sen. Kirk’s positions make it harder on me to support him, but I do, based on a longer scorecard and the simple fact, no one of greater value has challenged him in a primary. Pro-life is important to me, but so are many other issues.
Emily’s list nearly exists for this issue alone. They’re shooting a hole in their own foot on this one. This treatment to a guy who’s been 100% with them on their marquee issue. Oy.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:03 pm:
Kirk agreed with Trump on banning Syrian immigrants.
I’d say that is aligning himself.
Fair play, no foul.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:04 pm:
Good on Kirk on this one.
These DC “communications” types are third-rate across the spectrum.
- DecaturGuy - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
Duckworth needs to either repudiate or stand by Emily’s list. she demanded the same from Kirk on Trump.
- thunderspirit - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
There are many legitimate reasons to disagree with Senator Kirk; the release from EMILY’s List has exactly none of them.
- crust - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:09 pm:
Claiming there is a “Trump-Kirk Agenda” is one of the most absurd things I have ever read. Kirk may have said some crazy things once in awhile, but he doesn’t even tangentially cross into the Donald’s Fantasy World. EMILY’s List– You’re Fired!
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
I don’t know what is more absurd at this moment, the false claims of a “Trump-Kirk Agenda” by EMILY’s list, or some of the contorted reasoning in the initial comments here attempting to justify this false claim.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
Fools
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:21 pm:
Kirk is about as close to Trump as he is to Durbin.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:36 pm:
If this is how they treat their “friends”…
- Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
Shhh, Rich. Emily’s list has an agenda to float. They don’t expect people like you to challenge them with, you know, facts.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
“- Juvenal - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 12:03 pm:”
You are wrong
Being Pro Life is not anti woman and they are full of hate and a major reason that I left the Democrat party.
I am not a fan of Kirk but they are so full of venum that it is clear that they are not good people.
It are like facist. Destroy anybody that doesn’t agree with you 100% and demonize them to death.
- AC - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
==I left the Democrat party==
Sure, that’s why you called it the “Democrat Party”. /s
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
–It are like facist.–
Hard to argue with that kind of reasoning.
Louis, doesn’t “some” mean more than one?
- Patrick Mauro - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Kirk has repeatedly exaggerated his service record. No apology given.
He is anti Syrian refugee, agreeing strongly with Trump.
I back Duckworth, a real gallant soldier.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
Way to miss the point, Patrick Mauro. Did you even read Rich’s post before commenting?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
Flocks of GOPers denouncing Trump’s statement about banning Muslims, but very, very few saying they wouldn’t support him if he’s the nominee.
And the Teflon Don gets by with another one.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
I’ve come to expect this from any niche group that raises money from a cause, so I can’t see the EMILY’s List folks doing anything to rectify this.
- Joliet Grandmother - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:50 pm:
Hey Patrick Mauro, you are way off base on Kirk’s actual statement and his record. You and the ladies from Emily’s list need to say two words: I’m sorry. Get your facts straight before commenting. Kirk’s record and what he does for those who wear the uniform hold him in good stead.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 1:53 pm:
Patrick - if you’re being paid to post pro-Duckworth comments and you’re being paid by the word, you should really put together a lengthier rebuttal.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
@wordslinger: “–It are like racist.–”
Hard to argue with that kind of reasoning. Louis, doesn’t “some” mean more than one?
That comment does go way beyond absurd. I didn’t think it possible until I saw it with my own eyes. Is there a dunce cap award available for presentation today? We may have a winner.
- Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 2:21 pm:
Dear EMILY–Do your research first then write something fact based! Stop this hysterical babble.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
–That comment does go way beyond absurd. I didn’t think it possible until I saw it with my own eyes.–
Louis, you are aware that the subject of this thread is ridiculous hyperbole, correct?
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Dec 9, 15 @ 4:19 pm:
@wordslinger: “Louis, you are aware that the subject of this thread is ridiculous hyperbole, correct?”
Word, I can never please you. My pointing out the additional ridiculous hyperbole to defend the prior ridiculous hyperbole seems to have made you grumpy.