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Kirk previews campaign theme: Recovery

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* US Sen. Mark Kirk is basically freely admitting that he’ll extract as much 2016 campaign advantage out of his recovery from a massive stroke as he can. AP…

When U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk suffered a debilitating stroke in 2012, he faced a grueling recovery and serious questions about how he could continue his political career.

Now the Illinois Republican, who won the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to run for president, is one of the Democrats’ top targets as they try to recapture control of the chamber. But far from downplaying his disability, which requires him to rely on a cane or wheelchair at times, Kirk believes it gives him a unique advantage.

Kirk says the setback has raised his public profile, noting that more people now stop to greet and encourage him. He believes it will help steel him against attacks by Democrats lining up to paint him as too extreme for a state that, before he took office, had only elected one GOP candidate to the Senate since 1968.

“Now I’m definitely a disabled American with a wheelchair,” Kirk said in an interview. “That makes me not quite the demonizable Republican candidate that you would think.”

I can see where he’s trying to go with this, but, wow, does that last sentence ever sound way too cynically calculated.

* Politico…

“I can hopefully be a powerful example for people who have gone through this,” Kirk said recently in an interview in his Senate office.

Yet any physical lapse by the senator, who is often escorted around the Capitol in a wheelchair by aides and uses a cane to walk, could also signal to skeptical voters that he’s not up to the rigors of a grueling job. […]

“A lot of my verbal skills kicked in one night, when I was at a fundraiser, over a glass of pinot grigio. So I’ve been insisting on pinot grigio everywhere,” he quipped.

Yet Kirk is frequently tired. He takes periodic naps on a couch in his office. His physical stamina is bound to be put to the test during a long, high-stakes campaign. […]

“I would say probably the chief limitation that I suffer from for my political future is fatigue,” Kirk said. “Most times people who suffer strokes want to sleep for about a year. In my case, you are always kind of a little bit tired.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:24 am

Comments

And if Duckworth is the Democratic nominee he’ll have to run on his record.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:30 am
“With the November election barely behind us, it is disappointing to see Representatives Foster and Duckworth immediately turning their attention to politics, particularly considering the major challenges confronting both Illinois and our nation.” - GOP Chair Tim Schneider, 1/19/2015

http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/303801/tammy-duckworth-exploring-senate-run-mark-kirk

Comment by Anonymiss Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:36 am
It’s an interesting dynamic. On one hand you have the Senator insinuating that he is going to take advantage of his medical issues to further his upcoming campaign. On the other hand any opponent that attempts to exploit the Senator’s physical limitations being seen as cruel and unfair. If Sen. Kirk overplays his disability it could backfire however I see this as a positive for him more than a negative.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:37 am
Of course Kirk is cynically going to use his stroke to his advantage. What else does he have?

I’m more interested in the fact that Kirk signed that letter sent by tea party favorite Tom Cotton to the Iranian mullahs. A sitting US senator from Illinois openly sending a letter to a foreign nation that is specifically designed to undermine a sitting US President also from Illinois in his negotiations with that foreign nation? Astounding arrogance and recklessness.

Comment by slow down Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:39 am
““Now I’m definitely a disabled American with a wheelchair,” Kirk said in an interview. “That makes me not quite the demonizable Republican candidate that you would think.””

Assuming he’s not running against another disabled veteran…

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:42 am
As the kids on Instagram say, #nofilter

Comment by Anonymiss Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:45 am
I don’t think Mark is the cynical one.

Spend a day or two with him and see how he copes with his challenges. He sees things from a very different perspective than most of us, thankfully, have to.

Kirk is just as smart (or too smart, some would say) as he ever was. But now, everything he does is a physical challenge…walking, speaking, even shaking hands.

Walk a mile (so to speak) in his shoes and then call him cynical.

Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:48 am
With all due respect, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his service, but urge him to retire and spend the rest of his days with his friends and family in much less stressful environment.

Comment by Gantt Chart Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:55 am
I hate the idea that Dems should run Duckworth to take disabilities off the table. That is both cynical and stupid and pandering like that is what the GOP tried with Alan Keyes in 2004.

Now, obviously Duckworth is a viable candidate and is not Keyes. But people are voting for someone who will take votes and positions on issues, and I have enough optimism in the people of Illinois to believe they will focus on that. While both Duckworth and Kirk have gone through much physical hardship, this is not a TV show trying to pull at heart strings. I think voters get that.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:59 am
Kirk was exposed as a serial storyteller in his last campaign, but was fortunate to draw a weak opponent in a Republican wave year.
His shamelessness is showing again.
His biggest handicap is his inability to tell the truth

Comment by truthteller Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 9:59 am
@ Adam Smith

I know plenty of disabled people who don’t make the disability the center of their professional life or use it as a shield against professional criticism. I know a few disabled people who would bristle at the very thought of doing so. And while “He can’t be cynical because he’s disabled” is an extreme of naivete, not cynicism, it’s still a distortion of reality.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:05 am
Senator Kirk is starting to suffer the same fate as Congressman Schock: a loss of key, close staff is proving to be a hindrance.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:12 am
Black, white or green, fully abled or differently abled, vegan or bacon connoisseur, I don’t care. What matters is what people believe and live at their core. And, how they have voted if they have already served in office. Mr. Kirk was always an iffy voter IMO, and after the stroke it’s not even a question anymore, he should retire. He should be applauded and thanked for his service but it’s time to go. I am really hoping that he has a center-right challenge in the primary. Ideally he would just not run, leaving the seat for an open primary.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:16 am
Didn’t know much about Kirk, but his stroke brought him more into the spotlight. Sorry for his suffering, but on a political basis can’t say I care for him. Agree he / we would be better served if he retired.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:30 am
===Yet Kirk is frequently tired. He takes periodic naps on a couch in his office. His physical stamina is bound to be put to the test during a long, high-stakes campaign. […]

“I would say probably the chief limitation that I suffer from for my political future is fatigue,” Kirk said. “Most times people who suffer strokes want to sleep for about a year. In my case, you are always kind of a little bit tired.”===

I thank you for your service to the state, but Senator is a 6-year commitment full of committee meetings, hearings, and legislative debates. You do the state a disservice if you are too fatigued to do your job, Mark.

You really should get together with Rauner, identify an acceptable replacement, and step down now.

Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:32 am
Might as well face the big question head on.

But I doubt that Duckworth was going to demonize him for being in a wheelchair.

His signing the Cotton letter was just pathetic. Brush up on your Constitution and history, senator.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:42 am
chi

Duckworth is the most electable Dem statewide assuming that Lisa Madigan does not run for the Senate seat.

Comment by tominchicago Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:43 am
Given what is going on with Congressman Schock, GCS is right: now would be a good time for Senator Kirk to resign and work with Governor Rauner. Schock is damaged goods, and this stuff will keep popping up and will remain at the forefront of Illinois Congressional Delegation news for quite a while. Giving someone a nearly year head start before the primary would be ideal.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:49 am
I do worry about his stamina and his ability to stand up to the rigors of a race in 2016. But as far as how he has done as senator since his return to Washington following his stroke I have few complaints. When I have something to say about policy, my practice is to contact both of Illinois’ senators simultaneously with the same message. Kirk and his staff have been responsive and prompt each time I’ve felt a need to either ask a question, or put my position on the record, or complain about something. I cannot remotely say the same for the communications with Durbin and his staff.

Kirk’s co-sponsorship of the Iran sanctions bill is pretty popular. And I also want to say that those criticizing the 49 senators for their letter to Iran should probably read up on some history to see how many other times that politicians from both parties have tried to interfere with (or thwart) presidential actions with which they disagree and believe to be dangerous for the country and citizens they serve.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:57 am
His loss of staff to Rauner is his handicap. Everything else is him shaping the field of battle.

What happened to Kwame as a candidate? Why would a solid Chicago guy with a proven work ethic and cred from both sides of the aisle in Springfield get overlooked?

Comment by Toure's Latte Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:00 am
I defended Senator Kirk against people bringing up his stroke. No more. If he wants to make it an issues everything is fair game now.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:08 am
- Toure’s Latte -,

I’m thinking Sen. Raoul might be more apt to run for an open AG seat…

To the Post,

The “new” Kirk Crew have challenges for their challenges. Maybe by making this front and center, especially now, that Crew can shape any/all Kirk accomplishments as a Senator as victories of spirit and grit with Illinois benefiting.

My only suggestion now? Now long-winded policy of political press releases. Short, smart, sharp, and solid. Anything wavering from that runs counter to this tact you’re choosing.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:09 am
I also want to say that those criticizing the 49 senators for their letter to Iran should probably read up on some history to see how many other times that politicians from both parties have tried to interfere with (or thwart) presidential actions with which they disagree and believe to be dangerous for the country and citizens they serve.

[citation needed]

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:13 am
Kirk was always a weak candidate and Senator, his signing of the letter was a death knell. His staff is gone, now any shred of credibility is gone. It’s all yours Tammy.

Comment by Just an Old Guy Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:14 am
Kirk’s campaign theme was never going to be “Accomplishment!”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:15 am
Mark Kirk and the rest of the GOP Senate have proved there is actually no bottom they can sink to in their endeavor to throw this country under the bus just because the president is a black man.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:19 am
Watching him on Chicago Tonight several months ago, I don’t think he’s in full possession of his faculties anymore, either, which might help explain/excuse the letter to Iran.

Comment by Levi Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:21 am
The letter to Iran has nothing to do with Kirk’s faculties. He has a long history of saying silly things.

Besides being a serial embellisher of his life experience, he did go to China once and told officials there to stop buying U.S. Treasuries because the United States was going to default.

That betrayed a profound ignorance of just about everything.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 11:32 am
Mr JM@11:15– As Rich likes to say, “teh google is your friend” but here are a couple of items to get you started.
The first is a letter from Dem House leadership headed by Jim Wright to Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega Saavedra during the contra time which as you can see did not go over well on the other side of the aisle.

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/20/us/congress-letter-to-nicaragua-dear-comandante.html

The second is a piece from London Times written by Tim Sebastian following the opening of KGB files and covered in Forbes and elsewhere. It details the extent to which Sen. Kennedy and others communicated with and attempted to use the Soviet Union to undermine Reagan and to influence the 1984 election. “Kennedy’s (1983) message was simple. He proposed an unabashed quid pro quo. Kennedy would lend Andropov a hand in dealing with President Reagan. In return, the Soviet leader would lend the Democratic Party a hand in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election.”

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/ted-kennedy-soviet-union-ronald-reagan-opinions-columnists-peter-robinson.html

Again, there are other examples of congress and lawmakers being at odds with presidential foreign policy and attempting to do something about it, if you don’t already know about them and care to look. The letter from the 49 senators which may or may not have been a good idea is neither unique or racially motivated.

Sorry, Rich, I don’t want to thread jack away from Kirk, but I did want to respond to Mr. JM.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 12:00 pm
===#nofilter===

A friend of mine noticed this long before I picked up on it, but Kirk has been making some rather odd, intemperate remarks since the stroke. Yesterday I was at an immigration event with Archbishop Cupich, Gov. Rauner and Reps. Schock, Dold and Kinzinger.

Kirk was there too and noted how he demanded the U.S. House pass a clean DHS funding bill. He omitted the really odd thing he said about the bill previously, that if House Dems wouldn’t vote for the DHS budget with the immigration language in it, then coffins should be placed outside the doors of the Dems who voted no. Seriously?

Then Kirk further noted that he was sponsoring an amendment that would grant citizenship to any undocumented U.S. soldier that earned a combat action badge. He said that was smart because then these undocumented immigrants would fight so hard they’d defeat the Taliban with ease.

Everyone in the audience looked at their shoes, or smiled awkwardly. It was such a weird thing to say to a pro-immigration audience. Military service would be enough under the DREAM Act, but Kirk wants them to face combat now?

Those were two odd statements from yesterday. There are many more over the past year. I don’t know if it’s a speech issue or a thinking issue, but he clearly lacks a filter and I hope he decides to step down at the end of this term and focus on his health.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Sadly, his ego and sense of self will never allow him to step away voluntarily.

Comment by slow down Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 12:58 pm
Kirk will certainly overplay his hand on this, just like he did with his military service 5 years ago. The difference is, he won’t have a huge wave year for Republicans in a midterm election to bail him out.

Comment by econ prof Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 1:18 pm
Mark Kirk will have bigger problems than his stroke to contend with when running for re-election.

He’s been a “do nothing” Senator and I don’t see him winning re-election unless his opponent is the petulant Pat Quinn or maybe Hot Rod Blagojevich if he gets out of prison in time to run.

Nobody on the conservative block of voters is excited about Kirk- not the gun rights folks, the pro-life folks or fiscal or social conservatives.

If he thinks “moderate” Illinoisans are going to carry him to victory, then he’s doomed.

John

Comment by John Boch Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 1:41 pm
JB, who carried Kirk to victory last time? Was it you?

And who would you call a “do-something” senator these days? Congress couldn’t pass a bill for free beer on Fridays.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 1:54 pm
Kirk is a shining example of how well socialized medicine works for Americans who face unexpected illnesses.

Comment by Ghostbusters Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:14 pm
==Congress couldn’t pass a bill for free beer on Fridays.==

Thanks for the laugh, Wordslinger!

Comment by jogger Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:26 pm
- “Now I’m definitely a disabled American with a wheelchair,” Kirk said in an interview. “That makes me not quite the demonizable Republican candidate that you would think.” -

I’d give you a hand with that strategy, Senator, but I only have one left.

Comment by Max Cleland Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:30 pm
Adam Smith please.

This is a guy who voted for ACA but has been on the government insurance plan (i.e. you and mine, our taxdollars) for over 30 years. And we paid over $2 million for his rehab on top of his nearly $3 million salary he has received as Chief of Staff and congressman.

And this guy got paid $175,000 while rehabing — not doing his job — while he voted against UI for people who lost their jobs.

Mark Kirk. One Rule for me, another set of rules for everybody else because GOSH DARN IT I’M SPECIAL!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:36 pm
voted against ACA….sorry.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Anonymous, you must be confused as to how insurance works. Larger pool mitigates the risk for the very few who are unfortunate enough to have to use it.

ACA has plenty of debatable issues around it. You clearly just don’t like this person. He’s not the only Member who has had this kind of issue. And it can happen on either side of the aisle.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 2:54 pm
- Larger pool mitigates the risk for the very few who are unfortunate enough to have to use it. -

Which is why you’re supportive of universal coverage, eh?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 3:14 pm
Anon 2:36 - you do know that MOCs and Senators pay premiums, deductibles and co-pays, right?!

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 3:37 pm
Like Rich noted yesterday, the presidential year electorate will be starkly different than the ones that elected Kirk and Rauner.

On top of that, the map has a decided D lean. At best, McConnell will be fighting for fifty one or two seats.

He’s gone.

Comment by HappyToaster Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 4:09 pm
I heard a Kirk campaign staffer refer to him as a “disabled veteran” last year. That’s really offensive, considering my friends who were killed and wounded in combat.

Previously we received a photo of him in flight suit next to a fighter, with a handwritten caption “combat veteran over Kosovo.” (He was on a fly along for a photo intelligence flight.)

Now give him credit for helping veterans, but he or his staff go overboard touting his record.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 5:24 pm
Sorry it happened to Mark Kirk. Sorry that Tammy Duckworth also had her share of health problems. But—if your current health restricts you in any way from serving in the capacity of a U.S. Congressman or Congresswoman, then step down or step out. We need the best qualified to lead our country out of the wilderness that we are currently in. We don’t want your potential challengers telling us that they have suffered the heartbreak of psoriasis when they run in the primary against you in order to try to win any sympathy votes that might be out there. We have to travel through the Donner Pass in the winter of 2016. We don’t want a vegetarian leading our wagon train through the pass in the event that the worst possible scenario just might happen. Our kids and grandchildren’s lives and futures are at stake.

Comment by Ethan Hawk Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 5:41 pm
I want to follow up on the Iran letter issue. That was a move to supercede the authority of the president, who happens to be a very popular Democrat from Illinois.

There’s no way that Kirk or his team thought that through in terms of re-election, or he never would have signed it. Seven other Republican senators refused to sign it, so Kirk would have had some company standing up to the Obama hater crowd.

A dumb, dumb move for a guy who’s supposed to be pretty smart.

Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 6:59 pm
Lays his cynicism out there in public. Signs THAT letter to Iran. Voted against ACA. Provides a lockstep vote to the hard right when it counts, and votes “moderate” only when the media are looking and his vote is released.

Here’s hoping he’s a one-termer.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 7:05 pm
@DuPage Dave

I think the Iran move was made out of desperation and wishful thinking. The Democratic percentage of the Jewish vote was down in 2014. But that will swing back up on presidential year turnout.

It gives him and his team the fiction they’re going after a key swing vote.

Comment by HappyToaster Tuesday, Mar 10, 15 @ 10:28 pm