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Chicago Magazine pulls a dishonest fast one

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Illinois

* Part 2 of Carol Felsenthal’s interview with Mark Kirk’s ex-wife Kimberly Vertolli looks almost like a complete 180 from yesterday’s installment. From yesterday…

CF: So at this moment, with that promise, is it your intention to support him and campaign for him?

KV: No, I will not because there’s a person who is a very pernicious force on his team who is wielding a disproportionate amount of negative influence on him. As long as she’s there, I can’t be his moral conscience.

The “promise” mentioned is that Kirk told her he would flip-flop after the election and support repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” But, in yesterday’s report, that wasn’t enough to win her support, because of her hatred for the “Sevengali” figure Dodie McCracken, whom she blamed on her divorce. Vertolli’s comments prompted HuffPo to run the headline: Mark Kirk’s Ex-Wife Won’t Vote For Him.

* Not quite. From Part 2…

CF: If you were still registered to vote in Illinois could you see yourself casting a ballot for Mark Kirk?

KV: Oh, absolutely. Great leaders have foibles, they’re not perfect, they’re human beings, they disappoint us sometimes. The best we can do is use our best judgment with the choices we have and do our best to influence them to go on the right path. If I had the choice between Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias, it’s not hard. I’m really disappointed that Obama is going to be coming out and campaigning for Giannoulias. I think it’s beneath [the President.] [Obama] knows about those risky lending practices [of the Giannoulias family’s Broadway Bank]. Giannoulias has horrible judgment, and the President knows it.

CF: Do you think Mark Kirk will win in November?

KV: I feel pretty confident he’s going to win.

It looks to me like Part 2 may have been withheld in order to gin up some media controversy. Whether intentional or not, it was truly dishonest journalism to run all those nasty quotes yesterday and then run the positive stuff today. Chicago Magazine ought to be ashamed of itself. In the end, we belatedly discover, Vertolli is voting for her ex, but isn’t supporting him, whatever that means. And she despises Alexi Giannoulias…

I think he has no business running for the seat. He’s inexperienced, unqualified, he has a terrible record whenever the public’s trust has been placed in him. I don’t think he’s necessarily a bad person; he’s a typical silver spoon candidate. He used daddy’s money to get the position of Illinois treasurer.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:31 am

Comments

I agree with you, Rich, and will go farther: the entire article is shoddy journalism. Publishing a smear from his ex-wife who transparently still has an axe to grind about another woman in Kirk’s life is a useless distraction.

Comment by Confused Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:38 am
So, KV is not registered to vote in Il and therefore she cannot vote for Kirk. But says she would vote for him if she were an Il voter. How will HuffPo handle this to correct yesterday’s very misleading headline?

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:39 am
Absolutely right, this is disgusting journalism. Hopefully the media crucifies Chicago Magazine for this one.

Comment by A.B. Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:44 am
Wow..if I hadn’t aleady canceled my subscription a couple of years ago, I would be doing it now. Chicago Magazine which has been declining for years has hit a new low.

Comment by Niles Township Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:47 am
“And she despises Alexi Giannoulias…”

I don’t the ex Mrs. Kirk, but I’m guessing that never in her wildest dreams would she ever think that she and Mike Madigan have anything in common.

It’s kinda funny though, because many people despise Alexi G.

A two-year (actually a year and half, but who’s counting?) undistinguished state treasurer record along with a dubious background of accomplishment and work ethic, gee what’s not to like?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:50 am
I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see if there’s a Part 3 that will come out tomorrow.

Comment by Davey Boy Smithe Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:52 am
Anon-
Actually the ex Mrs. Kirk has a lot more in common with Madigan than you might think. Her quote about not voting for Bush is very indicative of her politics.

Comment by A.B. Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:04 am
I didn’t vote for Bush in the fall of 2004, because he’s too liberal, like Kirk.

Comment by Conservative Veteran Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:07 am
Anon@10:50 we are having a statewide election this year dude, so I’m thinking Alexi will have served a four year term. Way to pull the same crap you guys did with Obama’s Senate experience.

Comment by Jimbo Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:11 am
Jimbo, please….

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:17 am
Re: Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 10:50 am:

That was me.

Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:20 am
Chicago Magazine’s story is so dishonest and contrary to the established facts that it can only be described as “Kirk-esque.”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:47 am
If you were wondering why the media constantly polls poorly,

http://www.pollingreport.com/media.htm

you now have an example to help you understand why.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:49 am
Nice bait and switch from Chicago Magazine. What are they trying to do, compete with the national media windbags? Sleazy at best.

Still, KV is not supporting Mark Kirk because he doesn’t support DADT. She does. She served in the military and this is her top issue. It’s clearly very important to her. To me, that’s the story.

Say, where is LeAlan Jones on DADT? I know of at least one lobbyist who might send a check to his campaign if he’s in favor of repeal…

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:15 pm
Also a pretty darn strong defense of Kirk’s military and teaching record by Kim. Seems like everyone is ignoring that too.

So did the reporter pull this stunt or Chicago Magazine, or both? And the press wonders why the public distrusts it so?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:23 pm
You mean Chicago Magazine and the HuffPo spun a story to smear a Republican, and people here and elsewhere promoted it and bought into it hook-line-and-sinker? I’m shocked. SHOCKED.

I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to hear if there is a part 3 has an in-depth discussion of whether she believes Kirk’s body tempurature fell to 82 or merely 89 when he was in the Lake as a teenager. These are the issues people care about.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:31 pm
Not sure what everyone’s so up-in-arms about. Chicago Magazine and Carol F. are not to blame. Both parts of the interview have both positive and negative remarks about Kirk. Maybe it’s Kimberly Vertolli who can’t seem to sort out her exact feelings.

Comment by huh? Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:31 pm
Cherry picking quotes in order to gain attention, come up with sensational headlines, is not the exclusive property of Chicago Magazine. Neither is the public crucifixion of the former wives of prominent politicians. Which is why you should be careful to get the full story before forming an opinion.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm
Sorry for teeing off. I’m not a fan of Alexi, but he has been treasurer for three years. Other than that, he was either a bad banker, or lying about his credentials.

Comment by Jimbo Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:00 pm
Well part 1 was still pretty insightful. Can’t unring the bell.

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:35 pm
Kimberly Vertoli has serious personal problems.

Once again, I can look back and say “I told you so.”

Andy Martin

Comment by Andy Martin Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 1:41 pm
and Chicago Mag is owned by which bankrupt, fraudsters?

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:05 pm
That’s what I love about this blog. Where else could you have Andy Martin, aka Anthony Martin-Trigona self-righteously commenting about other people having “serious personal problems”?!

Comment by girllawyer Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:26 pm
I don’t know what to make of the contradictions other than it’s terrible editing. A good editor would have sent her back to straighten it all out, or at least make her confront the subject on the contradictions. Are there are editors left in Chicago journalism?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:39 pm
==I don’t know what to make of the contradictions other than it’s terrible, editing==

If by terrible you mean targeted and biased, you’re correct.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:57 pm
On balance KV admires and respects her ex. Disagrees with him on some issues where she is more liberal. She thinks he’s qualified and would vote for him. Not vindictive or spiteful.

She also provided the most forthright and rational response to the Resume questions to date. Too bad she didn’t craft the campaign’s response strategy.

The most important point she makes is that Kirk is getting bad advice from an inexperienced adviser who keeps him hunkered down in a fox hole. Kirk doesn’t have A Team talent on his staff and it shows time and time again.

Comment by Roscoe village voice Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:03 pm
I don’t swee the problem here. KV is conflicted about MK. What’s so surprising about that? She sounded conflicted in the first part and she sounded conflicted in the second part. There is no question that the interview was newsworthy. And I think it gave valuable insight into MK from the point of view of a conflicted ex-wife.

Comment by lets get real Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:11 pm
C’mon George. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. You are reading way to much into these statements, especially in light of the poor job Chicago Magazine did on this article (as the general consensus on this thread seems to indicate.

I offer you this:

http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:31 pm
Um, Cincinnatus. What comment are you referring to?

Comment by George Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 4:38 pm
Quite frankly, I have met Mr. Kirk 3 times, with significant conversations with him each time. From a Southern Illinois point of view–yes, so many of us are Conservatives down here–it is rather good to know that he listens to Conservative influences–even if it is the woman his “Ex” cannot stand. The article actually confirmed that to Conservatives-did Mr. Kirk a favor down here–even if the intent was to demean him by the author. Illinois is a big state—we need him to listen to all of us if he is to fairly represent us. There is no doubt in my mind that he has the experience and skill. His opponent is a joke. Kirk really is making an impact here.

Comment by Heartland Voice Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 4:39 pm
George,

Boy, that’s a food question! Luckily, I have one of those AFDB on my desk.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 4:40 pm
Rich,

The quote from Andy Martin has no business here; and if truly fom Andy Martin, could perhaps be the the most incredible exampl of the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK, ever exhibited on this site.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 5:04 pm
=I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see if there’s a Part 3 that will come out tomorrow. =

I’m betting that the pattern we’ve seen will continue. Kirk will be accused of everything under the sun, be absolved, accused again, absolved, accused again…so that when Giannoulias hits him before election day, no one will no what the truth is anymore or care.

Objective: Desensitize the Voters so that nothing–even the truth–will stick to him.

MJM’s right.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 5:49 pm
ANDY MARTIN defending Kirk against Vertolli?!!! Now there’s another surprise. What no trip to Afghanistan where he can’t even communicate to defend himself to align this latest “smear”?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 5:55 pm
=There is no question that the interview was newsworthy. And I think it gave valuable insight into MK from the point of view of a conflicted ex-wife.=

Could be what a constant daily doses of “ambiguity” at a personal level do to someone. What “condition” is your “condition” in?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 6:58 pm
What a lively debate. When I read “dishonest fast one” in the headline, I was expecting something big. Capitol Fax- YOU pulled a fast one on me! Let’s all calm down and stop being so dramatic. I read both parts and the biggest thing I got out of it was that this ex-wife is bitter that Kirk is under the control of this other woman. If anything- the readers are the ones who jumped to conclusions.

Comment by Mar Lo Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 8:20 pm
=this ex-wife is bitter that Kirk is under the control of this other woman.=

The ex-wife has plenty to be “bitter” about with regard to this “other woman”–and it’s well known.

Sort of like “just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be”.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 8:24 pm
But then again, it’s not really about the women, is it?

It’s about Kirk, control, and who’s really “on top or bottom”.

Oh, look! A kitty!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 8:25 pm
I don’t know why any one would expect a glowing report on a candidate by an ex-. In the end, she’s pretty fair to him as a pol. That’s about as good as one can hope. Her views as an ex-wife are understandable. Her emphasis on “the other woman” suggests that the rumors about Kirk might not be quite on target.

That was a pretty good trick from Chicago Magazine to put out all the negative first. You’d think Kirk would be more upset than some folks here are.

Comment by Peggy SO-IL Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 9:37 pm