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* Umm…
After Sen. Kirk addressed the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, media members were asked to leave the room during the question and answer session. Later, Kirk explained the stroke he survived in 2012 makes question and answer sessions difficult.
“That’s just a Kirk thing. I’ll take the hit for that. Ok,” Kirk said.
Yikes.
…Adding… Kirk’s campaign explains that he has a tough time hearing in environments like that with a lot of background noise, glass clinking, people talking, etc.
* Bernie…
Even before the Obama administration late last week said that a $400 million cash payment to Iran was linked to the release of a group of American prisoners, U.S. Sen. MARK KIRK R-Ill., like many Republicans, was calling the payment ransom.
The administration used the term “leverage” to say why it held back delivery of the money it said was owed to Iran because of an arms deal in the 1970s until hostages were released.
Kirk, talking to the editorial board of The State Journal-Register on Tuesday, was critical of the cash payment.
“We can’t have the president of the United States acting like the drug dealer in chief,” Kirk said, “giving clean packs of money to a … state sponsor of terror. Those 500-euro notes will pop up across the Middle East. …. We’re going to see problems in multiple (countries) because of that money given to them.”
A drug dealer in chief? No dog whistle there.
* And it was the Iranian’s money, after all…
In a conference call with reporters, two senior administration officials intimately involved with the financial and prisoner negotiations sought to refute what they described as false reports about what happened. They weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
There was no way that Washington could have avoided repaying the money to Iran in the short-term, one of the officials insisted.
The 1981 Algiers Accord between the U.S. and Iran that set up the tribunal made repayment mandatory, and allowed for either claimant to seize assets in international courts if the other reneged on a ruling, the official said. Iran had lived up to its commitment by repaying $2.5 billion awarded for claims by U.S. citizens and companies.
A ruling on the military fund was expected soon, the official said, as Iran asked last year for the tribunal to hear its case and Tehran and Washington had been negotiating proposals for a hearing. Given that interest rates in the early years of the fund were as high as 20 percent, the official said Iran stood to receive a much more substantial award than $1.3 billion in interest. As a result, the U.S. opted to settle with Iran.
* Tammy Duckworth, by the way, has a new TV ad…
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Republican Senator Mark Kirk has been endorsed by Americans For Responsible Solutions, an organization started by former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords (D-Az.) and her husband, Mark Kelly, that encourages elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.
“Senator Mark Kirk has been a steady voice for bipartisan, responsible change that helps keep guns out the wrong hands, saves lives, and makes Illinois a safer place to live. He has stood up to the gun lobby and worked across the aisle for plans that reduce gun violence and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans,” said Peter Ambler, Executive Director of Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC. “We need more Republican leaders in Congress like Mark Kirk, and that’s why we are endorsing him for re-election in 2016.”
Senator Kirk was one of two Republican Senators to receive an endorsement from Americans For Responsible Solutions.
“In the wake of tragedy at Sandy Hook, Republicans Sens. Pat Toomey and Mark Kirk broke from the gun lobby and supported a bill to help prevent felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill from obtaining firearms at gun shows and online,” Giffords and Kelly wrote in a CNN op-ed. “This week, they are earning our organization’s endorsement.”
Senator Kirk has been a leading voice on common-sense, bipartisan gun reforms and legislation. Last year, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence honored Senator Kirk with the Lincoln Award for his efforts in combatting gun violence in Chicago- he was the first Republican Senator to receive this honor.
“I’m honored to have former Rep. Giffords’ group’s support, not only for our campaign but for our effort to make streets, neighborhoods and schools safer,” said Senator Mark Kirk. ” The only way to break through the partisan gridlock in D.C. is by working across the aisle to reach bipartisan solutions, and I remain committed to working with Republicans and Democrats alike to get the job done and end the cycle of gun violence.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:29 am
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If he can’t answer reporter questions and he spouts off some pretty weird stuff, then perhaps it’s time for him to retire.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:34 am
Set aside the dog-whistle stuff for a second, I don’t even get the analogy. What is the similarity to a drug dealer?
Comment by The Captain Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:35 am
===What is the similarity to a drug dealer?===
Kirk said it was the cash transaction that made the analogy work. “Those 500-euro notes will pop up across the Middle East.”
And as Rich and many, many others have pointed out, this was their money we gave back.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:39 am
Time for someone to beam up Captain Kirk. Drug dealer in chief indeed. Was Kirk trying to score a little medical MJ at the White House? It might help clear his head.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:43 am
==perhaps it’s time for him to retire==
The time for him to retire was when he had the stroke and was unable to carry out the duties of his office.
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:46 am
“We can’t have the president of the United States acting like the drug dealer in chief,” Kirk said.
Really? I mean, c’mon man. Kirk’s recent statements are Trump’ing anything positive he has done in the last four years. This is not becoming of a man who wants to continue to represent the state of Illinois in the U.S. Senate.
Senator, enjoy your retirement.
Comment by Dee Lay Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:49 am
We were paying back money for weapons we never delivered to the Shah and we did it at a huge discount over what any reasonable interest would have been since 1979 (think mid-80s interest rates). We then leveraged the money we already owed to get them to release hostages before we gave them the money. If there is a party holding something for ransom in this scenario it’s the United States. In this case, I’m good with that.
I don’t know of many drug dealers who will give you the drugs after you haven’t paid them for nearly 40 years and allow you to pay a heavy discount on what you owe.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:56 am
Kirk is doing everything in his power to lose by double digits.
Comment by Angry Republican Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 11:00 am
===Those 500-euro notes will pop up across the Middle East===
In a cash economy, 500 euro notes are actually pretty difficult to spend. One can’t exactly go to a local vendor and expect 480 euros in change.
Can you imagine trying to get a gas station to break your 565-dollar-bill?
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 11:16 am
First of all, he’s right about the money going to pay off terrorists.
But Kirk is a broken vessel. He has no credibility. He is 59 going on 85, and his stroke ended his effectiveness as a political player.
The GOP had no one else besides Kirk? Get this loss over with. Watching Kirk get beaten up even when he is correct stinks.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 11:27 am
Would Kirk have preferred that the agreed-upon settlement between the two parties be made in missiles?
That was the currency used for true ransom payments to Iran for the release of hostages during the Reagan Administration.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 11:55 am
So where are all the armchair “medical experts” in the GOP when it comes to Mark Kirk?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:04 pm
The President of the United States gave the Iranian regime exactly what it wanted in order to secure the release of the American hostages.
The president in question was, of course, Ronald Reagan.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:05 pm
He has a lot of excuses available to someone who claims to be an effective senator. He’s just ducking the questions he doesn’t want to answer. Not the first politician to do this, but it doesn’t make it any more palatable when he’s playing with this racially coded language.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:17 pm
Irony definition= refusing to back Trump because he says bat *** crazy stuff…. then upping Trump with tour own crazy.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:31 pm
There has been a concerted effort for some time to avoid having Kirk speak extemporaneously in public. On the few instances where it has occurred it didn’t go well. It looks like the veil is now being lifted. If he can’t handle a Q&A with reporters how will he be able to debate Duckworth?
Comment by pundent Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:35 pm
Didnt he have great healthcare coverage to help him recover from this stroke, all the while giving the you know which finger to the rest of us about getting any kind of semblance of health insurance.
Just askin’.
Comment by Doug Simpson Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:43 pm
It is of course outrageous for Kirk to essentially call President Obama a drug dealer, but is anyone really surprised at this point? Nearly every time he opens his mouth he says something that is either ridiculous or offensive and usually both. The sooner he moves on to his inevitable lobbying job, the better.
Comment by slow down Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:58 pm
It was an awkward statement to make, but I’ve heard much worse from other politicians, doesn’t change much for me.
Comment by People Over Parties Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:58 pm
Would it be a poor strategy for Kirk to spend some time telling the voters what he has done for 6 years? His record isnt bad and when people look at it they may be inclined to vote for him. His comments are making Trump look presidential.
Comment by Regular democrat Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Would Kirk be happier if the President traded weapons for the hostages?
Oh wait.. that has been done before.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 3:37 pm
I thought the drug dealer was the one who receives the money in the transaction, not the one who pays it. Unless Kirk is implying that Obama is as good a drug dealer as he is a Kenyan socialist (Dow at 18,000?).
Comment by Samantha Eversoul Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 4:51 pm