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* The “embellishment” scandal has undoubtedly hurt Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, but to keep working through November it has to be tied to something bigger. This latest effort appears to be the beginning of that…
At the same time, the Giannoulias campaign is pushing on a new front: raising questions about Kirk using his military credentials to push the Iraq war.
The Giannoulias campaign plans to use several quotes from Kirk — found by the campaign in newspaper stories and a House speech — to construct a narrative that “when Congressman Kirk has a political objective, he will say anything to reach it,” Giangreco said.
An Oct. 27, 2002, Daily Herald story said that “Kirk said he has seen classified information that convinced him the resolution was needed.”
Two years later, in 2004, the Herald reported that Kirk “said he had seen ‘direct’ evidence that Hussein presented a threat.”
Kirk made his “moral certitude” speech as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in June 2003 — chaired at the time by a Republican — began a review of the “quantity and quality” of what the U.S. intelligence community knew about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Even when members of his own party called for an investigation, Giangreco said, “Congressman Kirk went back to the House floor to repeat the lie. He dug in his heels and repeated what was not true.”
The Giannoulias campaign has posted several videos in the past few days to bolster their case. Here’s the list…
* Kirk claimed he knew “with moral certitude” that there were WMDs in Iraq
* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed he commands the war room in the Pentagon
* Kirk “misremembered” receiving the Navy’s Officer of the Year award
* Kirk falsely claimed he was the Navy’s Intelligence Officer of the Year
* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed that he was shot at while flying over Iraq
* Congressman Kirk ridiculously claimed he could have stopped the war in Kosovo
* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed he was a nursery school and middle school teacher
* Congressman Kirk ridiculously claimed he is the reason every GOP vote against the stimulus
* As a US Senator, Congressman Kirk said he would lead the effort repeal the health care bill
Kirk is responding by touting his veteran’s record. The NRSC’s press release is far more blunt…
As failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) fails to capture momentum in the race for the U.S. Senate this November, he’s attempting to buoy his flawed candidacy by desperately questioning U.S. Representative Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) military expertise after Kirk honorably served in our nation’s military.
* Let’s look at some more videos, shall we? From the Quinn campaign…
* Democrats Endorse Forrest Claypool over Dem Candidate Joe Berrios…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:16 pm
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The War is not a factor. Questions about who said what when is so 2006. Tying Kirks comments on Iraq to today isnt a winning argument. A majority feels that Iraq was OK. A majority has recognized that mistakes were made. A majority has moved on to real problems in 2010.
This wont motivate Dem. This wont change GOP voters. This wont move independants.
Discuss the issues boys and quit yer nonsense.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:28 pm
there is no question that kirk’s flat-out lies to his fellow members of congress makes him, at best, a flawed candidate for bi-partisanship. i don’t think many republicans will put much stock in what kirk thinks or has to say — although those who agree with him will be willing to use his wonderful presentation graphics, at which he’s excelled, according to many people who have seen them.
any voter who thinks that kirk will be able to bridge the gap between the political parties doesn’t understand washington. the senate, even more than the house, is an elite group that doesn’t take kindly on “exaggeration,” let alone outright lies to convince other members to vote their way. even if his penchant for lying doesn’t influence illinois voters it will decidely influence the members of the senate. alexi represents a potential senator who could fill the shoes of barack obama. mark kirk could only fill the shoes of roland burris, and that isn’t something that anyone should aspire to…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Is it just me or do others think the Claypool video should have identified the Democrats who were there to endorse him? I also think it would have been better if it used more than one speaker.
Comment by Draznnl (Rhymes with orange) Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:30 pm
Too bad for Claypool that none of the dems that endorsed him can deliver a single vote at the precinct!
Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:34 pm
A bit hard for me to take what Alexi is striking at considering that he has traveled with Richard Blumenthal for campaign contributions in Canada The CT AG that repeatedly told everyone he served in Vietnam when he in fact didn’t). If Alexi really wants us to think that military liars shouldn’t be elected, then why does he travel and collect money with one?
Also, I do see Alexi filling Roland Burris’ shoes quiet well too; both candidates have that outstanding potential.
Comment by Davey Boy Smithe Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:34 pm
Somebody want to tell the Quinn campaign that attaching their signs to utility polls is illegal?
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:40 pm
Aren’t Democrats supposed to endorse other Democrats? Schakowski should reign from the democrat party and join the Independents!
Comment by Demo Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:44 pm
I thought the Cook County Dems would excommunicate from the county party any committeemen who endorsed an independent in the General Election?
Comment by Pioneer P. Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:47 pm
How about Kirk’s claim on the floor of Congress that he worked for the CIA?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRaf-XfoD8
Denying the accuracy of the Congressional Record, Mark Kirk said he is not working for the Central Intelligence Agency. The Congressional Record, the official verbatim transcript of everything said on the floor of the House of Representatives, shows that on June 23, 2004, Kirk said he “is” working for the Central Intelligence Agency. Kirk’s Democratic opponent, Lee Goodman, pointed out that Kirk’s employment by the C.I.A. while serving in Congress would be unethical and illegal. When questioned about the matter by a reporter for the Waukegan News Sun newspaper, Kirk said the Congressional Record was wrong. Kirk said that although he used to work for the C.I.A. while he was also working for the U.S. State Department, he no longer works for the spy agency.
Watch the video…he said “is working.”
Comment by easynow Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:51 pm
Pioneer P.: that concept went out the window after the party failed to do anything to those committeemen who endorsed alternate candidates in the primary, didn’t it?
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:53 pm
If Jan’s the best the Gump can do, berrios will have no problem. She’ll probably cost him votes if people ever figure out who she is.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 12:54 pm
Knowing what they know now, if a vote to repeal Obamacare suddenly came up in Congress today, don’t you kind of wonder how many Dem senators and congresspeople might eagerly (and independently) vote for repeal in an attempt to save their electoral hides in November?
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:06 pm
watching the claypool video without sound: a microsoft word created campaign sign with career democratic politicians endorsing career democratic politicians with 20 people from evanston wearing the same black tortoise shell glasses in the background.
Alexi had a great opportunity to share his views on the middle east, unfortunately he blew off jewish voters to plan what looks like a desperate attack about iraq-a war his president ended last week.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:14 pm
Is some of the footage from the primary? I don’t recall it being cool enough during general election season to wear a knit cap and a vest…
Also the signs make me smile a bit because this weekend in Springfield, I saw yard signs for Brady, SLC and Whitney, but not a single Quinn sign.
Also saw two or three SLC billboards and one Brady billboard outside of Bloomington on the way back home
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:18 pm
Also in terms of Alexi and a narrative, I think he is better laying off of Kirk and going with jobs. I think Democratic turnout is going to be lower and the more he can do to help that by talking jobs the better for him, because Quinn is not going to do much for turnout.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:20 pm
Alexi is fighting this race like it is 2008 when it is 2010. That strategic error may cost him the election.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Mayor Daley not running again.
Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Kerry could not make the case against the Liar in Chief and Vice Liar in Chief in 2004. May not be good for Alexi to follow that path. He’d pretty much have to indict a majority of Americans including many fellow dems to make it stick. Telling us we blew it big time is probably not gonna gain him many fans, but he would be right on. On the other hand, Obama opposed the war and he is El Jefe. And the country is about ready to return to the good old Bushco. days. We are such a sorry mess.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:42 pm
I take credit for anonymous 1:42.
Comment by Vole Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 1:45 pm
Kirk is srggling in a race that should have been a walk away. Given that the phrase mob banker has done little to hurt Alexi in a pop cultrue raised on the Sopranos, the Goddfellas and the Godfather, perhaps he needs some other ammo.
You would think somone invested in miltary intelligience would be a bit better with strateg…. then againb Kirk may e laying in the weeds waiting to o a big blitz with his large resources coser to the election.
Still, he needs some new attacks and some ideas on creating jobs (besides drilling oil wells in the gulf)
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:05 pm
Ghost,
This is still a D state ….
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:12 pm
hmm, oneman, i still question that conclusion. if this truly were a democratic sanctuary, democrats would have elected governors more consistently over the last few decades. i think any candidate who assumes that illinois is a d state will be sad on november 3rd…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:18 pm
Any state that re-elected Rod has to be a D state…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:45 pm
“Is it just me or do others think the Claypool video should have identified the Democrats who were there to endorse him?……”
Let see there was the wife of the felon,
the ex-sen who went to work for Blago to pad the pension, the alderman who was palsy with ERV, Cong. Jr. likely big star in Blago II, Hooli, the state rep who rented from the mob gambler who got Alexi all the heat…..
Need anymore?
, I also think it would have been better if it used more than one speaker.
Comment by Joe Knows Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:47 pm
Oneman
Looking at the recent polls, a lot of those D’s have shifted to calling themselves independent again. And for a D state we sure have elected a lot of GOP consitutional officers
Th independent in this State, or moderates, tend to impact the oucome of large statewide races. Kirk should be doing a lot better in my oppinion then he is. Kirk had strong moderate credentials which work well statewide, an Alexi cam with a lot of bagge from his bank and brite start.
The problem with the D or R thing is you have a group of people (we tend to cal them moerates) who float around the center, and shift around on canidates based on issues instead of voting straight party line.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 2:50 pm
I can’t believe the best Mr. Claypool can do is have the wife, although she is a Congresswoman, of a felon, be his Spokesperson. What is he thinking? Does he want to lose votes?
Comment by anon Tuesday, Sep 7, 10 @ 3:51 pm