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Kirk says debate comment was a “snarky remark”

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* Amanda Vinicky interviewed Sen. Mark Kirk and asked him about his last debate with Tammy Duckworth…

The backlash against Kirk was swift, after he said “I’d forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington” in response to his Democratic opponent, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (who is of mixed heritage) saying her family members have worn miliary uniforms since the American Revolution.

Critics say the comment was at least offensive and ignorant; at most, racist.

Kirk says it was meant as “a snarky remark.”

“I have been known for being too quick to turn a phrase,” he said. “Which of us in the last six years would have never said anything that anybody was not offended by?”

* She also asked him about the decision by the Human Rights Campaign and Gabby Gifford’s gun control group to pull their endorsements after the debate…

“Those organizations tend to be pretty supportive of the Democratic party,” he said. “I’m sure the DNC brought pressure to bear. And that was effective. So kinda disappointing to me because I have a great record on supporting gay rights and marriage equality.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:02 pm

Comments

I can honestly say that in the last six years I haven’t said anything that anyone was offended by. People may not agree with things I say, but offended by them? No. Words matter.

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:04 pm
If that had been me, I would have punched him for saying that. She’s far more disciplined than I would have been.

Comment by Delimma Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:05 pm
===“Which of us in the last six years would have never said anything that anybody was not offended by?”===

… in a debate for a seat in the United Stares Senate with a microphone and cameras on me?

Nope. I haven’t.

The explain is… that he’s glib?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:05 pm
If it was just a snarky remark then why did you pretend to sincerely apologize, Mark?

Will be nice not having to hear of or from this fake person ever again in a week.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:07 pm
White guy thinks his racist comment was only “a snarky remark.” Of course, to get why the comment was ’snarky’ in the first place requires evaluating the target solely on her heritage or appearance.

Is it snark? Maybe, but if it is it’s racist snark.

This guy is so terrible at apologizing — so terrible at recognizing his own mistake — that he can’t even recognize that by explaining away his racist remark as just an attempt to be snarky just means the white guy thinks racist jokes are funny, and doesn’t understand why a U.S. Senator can’t target his opponent’s race.

Just like he doesn’t understand why he can’t claim to be a combat veteran, and just like he doesn’t understand you can’t just lie about getting military decorations that don’t exist.

Good riddance to this guy. I know five year olds with more accountability.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:08 pm
===”I have been known for being too quick to turn a phrase,”===

More like diarrhea of the mouth.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:08 pm
At 1st I thought his apology was sincere. Now, not so much.

Comment by Casual observer Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Thanks for the explanation. Still won’t vote for yea.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:15 pm
Relax everyone, he was just zinging her with a clever, quick-minded retort to her family’s record of service. You know, like when someone says “I lost my legs in battle and my family has served in every US war,” you just instinctually and hilariously say “Yea but you’re Asian.” Who hasn’t done that, and recently??

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:16 pm
As you can see, I’m not a racist but merely incapable of performing the physical and mental responsibilities of the position.

Comment by Stark Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:16 pm
Oh please… we have all said something that was offensive during our lifetime. It amazes me how the media was all over 1 comment but didn’t bother to mention the fact Senator Kirk akso said no matter what your race or ethnicity if you served our country then you should be made a US CITIZEN! You sure don’t see the media reporting about the fact veteran’s died under Duckworth watch or were abused. You would rather cover that up. That is what is offensive.

Comment by FedUp Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Maybe he should shout “Zing!” when he ‘quickly turns a phrase’ so we know he’s not being an !@#$%^&*

Either that or have Doc Severinsen with a snare drum/cymbal or “Wha Whaaa” trumpet near him at all times.

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:23 pm
FedUp

You’re offended by what the media doesn’t cover more than a Senator disparaging a war hero because of her race?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:24 pm
“Which of us in the last six years would have n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ said anything that anybody was n̶o̶t̶ offended by?”

I’d wondered if striking Kirk’s double-negative might help him… nope.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:24 pm
Snooze.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Have you ever thought about the families of the veteran’s that died under Duckworth watch and/or were abused and how offended they are that she turned her back on them. Alot of those veteran’s were war heroes as well. She isn’t the only war hero out there. All veteran’s deserve respect and dignity.

Comment by FedUp Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:34 pm
===we have all said something that was offensive during our lifetime===

On live TV during a United States Senate debate?

Please.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:36 pm
Sure it was snarky. It was also racist.

Comment by Terry Salad Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Fed Up

Yes, I have. Care to answer my question now?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:44 pm
=Have you ever thought about the families of the veteran’s that died under Duckworth watch and/or were abused…=

Do tell. Veterans, like anyone else, do die from time to time. I’m sure some died while she was with the VA. Was that her fault? And what abuse, exactly?

Comment by MSIX Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 2:48 pm
You are not worth my time. DUCKWORTH is not as innocent as she acts or portrays herself to be to the public. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the issues that surround her from her time at DVA and with turning her eyes away from the issues at Hines VA when staff asked for her help.

Comment by FedUp Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:05 pm
It’s amazing to me that one ill-chosen comment by Kirk can virtually disqualify him from the race, while literally hundreds of equally bad or worse comments by the Republican presidential candidate leave him in strong contention.

Comment by Quiet Sage Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:12 pm
FedUp:
Name names and give proof to us here.
And turn your information in to the proper authorities.
Otherwise you are lying

Comment by btowntruth from forgotonnia Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:15 pm
FedUp, Perhaps Kirk could have made that statement instead, and with facts…

Comment by burbanite Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Why didn’t he just leave it with the apology?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:49 pm
=You are not worth my time. DUCKWORTH is not as innocent as she acts or portrays herself to be to the public. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with the issues that surround her from her time at DVA and with turning her eyes away from the issues at Hines VA when staff asked for her help. =

So are you suggesting that we shouldn’t judge Kirk on what he said but what he could have said? That’s a bit tortured.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:52 pm
Organizations like HRC and Gifford’s group traditionally back the incumbent if he/she’s got a good voting record on their issues. That’s why they endorsed Kirk. However, when it looked pretty clear Kirk was going down, I’m sure they were looking for a excuse to switch their endorsement to Duckworth cause you like to support a winner if they’re good on your issues. Unfortunately, for Kirk, he gave a great reason to switch their endorsement. Probably doesn’t make any difference in the outcome, but gives the groups a little more skin with our next US Senator!

Comment by Johnny Justice Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 3:53 pm
I said back then it was not a genuine apology and I was correct.

His tweet cleverly left out what he was “sincerely apologizing” for. Now we know he is really sorry folks don’t get his zany sense of humor.

I hope that newspapers who ran stories of his “apology” will run a follow up now.

And hats off again to Amanda Vinicky for demonstrating what journalism looks like.

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 4:30 pm
Go out with some dignity, man.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 4:43 pm
Shouldn’ta said it Mark. Some things you just can’t walk back or explain. I honestly don’t believe you meant it maliciously, but one just doesn’t play around with snark or crack jokes on live TV in the middle of a debate (if that is what you have convinced yourself you were doing).

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 5:29 pm
It’s not even *her* race he made fun of. He made fun of the race of one of her parents. Because bigots believe in the one drop rule.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 5:44 pm
hope Kirk shuts up before he makes snarky a banned word on CapFax :/

Comment by baloneymous Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 5:54 pm
After Tuesday, we won’t have to listen to any thing more from Mark Kirk. I look forward to Wednesday.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Nov 3, 16 @ 6:14 pm