* Congressman Mark Kirk said far more at that event earlier this week than previously reported.

As we’ve already discussed, media coverage has mostly focused on Kirk’s referring to President Obama as “this guy” when talking about how Obama could be made a one-termer and then his health insurance reform bill could be repealed…

“This is a good example of why Washington is broken. You have Congressmen like Mark Kirk who are more interested in disrespectful name calling than in going to work in Washington and getting things done like passing financial reform and healthcare reform.”

But as I wrote yesterday, the substance of his remarks are probably more important. Kirk began his presentation thusly…

“I’m Mark Kirk and I can’t wait to vote against the health care bill next week.”

That got some loud applause.

And he summed up this way…

“As your senator, I would lead the effort to repeal this bill.”

In between came the rationale…

“I will just say, if it goes through, there is one thing about the bill not commonly known, all of the pain of the bill is upfront, and all of the gain is later. The bill includes ten new federal taxes, and dramatic cuts for senior healthcare under Medicare between 2010 and 2014. The actual benefit of the bill doesn’t start until 2014.

“In between this time and then, is a presidential election. If we can win in the White House, and we’re on the way to making this guy a one termer.

“If we move to repeal this bill in 2013, all you’re doing is removing the pain and not a single American would have benefited from it yet.”

You can listen to the full audio by clicking here.

David Axelrod responded…

“As for health insurance reform, people across Illinois and the country will have greater security this year, once the President signs this law.

“Small businesses will receive tax credits to help them afford health coverage for their workers.

“People with pre-existing conditions will finally have access to coverage they can afford.

“The lifetime caps on coverage that insurance companies impose today will be banned, and they will no longer be allowed to throw people off their coverage, just because they become seriously ill.

“The gaps in Medicare prescription coverage will be filled in, saving seniors across our state hundreds of dollars our of pocket.

“So if Congressman Kirk wants to travel our state and explain why he wants to take all that away and put insurance company bureaucrats back in the driver’s seat, he should.

“It may titilate a roomful of partisans, but I don’t think it’s going to impress the people of Illinois,” Axelrod said.

* Kirk also provided yet another explanation for why he flip-flopped on the cap and trade issue…

“I am against the cap and trade bill because I am for increased employment in the state of Illinois.”

In the past, Kirk used national security and cost as reasons for voting for the bill…

Kirk was the only member of the GOP’s Midwest delegation to vote for the bill. He told the Daily Herald he backed the plan because he wants the U.S. to end its reliance on foreign oil, especially the fuel produced in unfriendly nations such as Iran.

“They are arming against us with money we send them,” Kirk said. “We (must) defund the terrorists and the unstable regimes.”

Kirk also said he discussed the proposal with officials from Midwest Generation, which operates a coal-burning power plant in Waukegan. To his surprise, they supported the legislation.

The energy- and building-code regulations included in the bill actually are less stringent than those already in place in Illinois, Kirk said.

But when he decided to run for Senate, he got such an earful that he changed his mind and came up with this excuse…

“I voted for it because it was in the narrow interest of my Congressional district. But as your representative… representing the entire state of Illinois, I would vote no on that bill coming up.”

Kirk also addressed the “flip-flop” charge the other day…

“If you’re going to change your view on an issue, do it up-front, do it in public, do it on YouTube.”

The problem with Kirk’s “openness” comment is that Kirk rarely allows reporters to cover his events. The YouTube video of the first instance of Kirk’s flip-flop was taken by somebody who fed it to the national Democrats. Reporters weren’t invited to the event. Lynn Sweet…

Kirk’s staffers refuse to release Kirk’s campaign or governmental schedules in order to discourage routine press coverage, so remarks Kirk makes on the stump are rare. During the primary campaign Kirk’s political operation declined–even after the fact–to release any details of where he went to speak or raise money.

You can listen to the full cap and trade Kirk audio by clicking here.

* In reply to all of this, Kirk is trying to change the subject back to Alexi Giannoulias. From a press release…

Kirk Campaign Launches “Giannis Watch”

Online clock will track how long it takes Alexi Giannoulias to explain $1.2 million loan to Nick Giannis in 2002 despite criminal record;

Giannis arrested last week for bank fraud, contributed nearly $115,000 to Giannoulias campaigns, convicted on gun charge in 1996

* Related…

* Obama Skirts Illinois Visits So Far as Democrats Battle Scandal: “He is going to get tarred with the outcome in Illinois whether he comes here or not,” [David Yepsen] said. “It is going to be portrayed as a referendum on him.”

* Illinois Senate Candidate Mines Health Care Opposition

* Kirk takes shot at health care legislation

* A tough stretch for Giannoulias

* Running for Obama’s Old Seat, and Set on Derailing His Plans

* Illinois GOP borrows Brown’s strategy in bid to grab Obama seat

* Charged Chicago Donor Also Gave to Obama’s Campaigns