The Washington Monthly

October 16, 2009

IF THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF A MODERATE.... Rep. Mark Kirk (R), currently running for the Senate in Illinois, has come under some fire from the right for his alleged moderation. His decision to vote for a cap-and-trade bill in June, for example, led to widespread outrage in conservative circles. (Kirk has since changed his mind and now opposes the bill he voted for.)

The Illinois Republican is also known for moderation on social issues, most notably gay rights. Kirk, for example, was the lead GOP co-sponsor on an expanded hate-crimes bill, and is on record supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This, of course, is also anathema to the Republican Party's base.

So, as his Senate campaign gets underway, Kirk feels it's necessary to abandon the moderate image he worked hard to cultivate. (thanks to reader G.K. for the tip)

He supports continuing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays serving in the military.

"I think it's worked out well," he said. "Keeping that all out of the workplace makes common sense."

I have no idea what this means. For one thing, as Matt Finkelstein explained, DADT hasn't "worked out well" at all. Just the opposite is true -- it's become an inexplicable embarrassment.

For another, for someone who's endorsed ENDA to say it's "common sense" to "keep that all out of the workplace" is truly ridiculous.

By the way, in the same interview, Kirk endorsed sending tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan because Illinois is home to "the tallest building in North America."

As far as the House Republican caucus is concerned, Mark Kirk is a "moderate"?

—Steve Benen 2:00 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (12)

Comments

The Illinois GOP, like most state GOPs these days, is run by complete loons. Kirk is currently being Primary Candidate Dude. After that, he'll tack more toward the center. And Illinois voters will fall for it. They always fall for this guy.

Posted by: shortstop on October 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM | PERMALINK

What shortstop said. For the record, Alan Keyes is still the ideal candidate in the eyes of the Illinois Republican Party.

Posted by: Lifelong Dem on October 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM | PERMALINK

And Illinois voters will fall for it. -shortstop

Meh, I still think, right or wrong, something will come out about his divorce and sink his campaign. That's probably why he's been so adamant about not having a primary opponent. He remembers 2003 all too well.

Posted by: doubtful on October 16, 2009 at 2:26 PM | PERMALINK

Wouldn't "keeping it out of the workplace" actually entail not firing people for being gay anymore? After all, if it's a firing offense, you're not exactly "keeping it out of the workplace."

Posted by: Mnemosyne on October 16, 2009 at 2:33 PM | PERMALINK

He may have gotten the north shore, but Dan Seals gave him a run for his money.

Kirk will get like 10 votes from Chicago, he hasn't got a chance.

Posted by: dontcallmefrancis on October 16, 2009 at 2:50 PM | PERMALINK

Poor Kirk. By the time he gets out of the GOP primary (if he does; his RINO rep might sink him there, no matter how much he panders), he'll have tacked so far to the right there'll be no way he'll be able to win the general election. The ongoing misery of the blue state Republicans.

Posted by: gf120581 on October 16, 2009 at 3:05 PM | PERMALINK

LOL at the Andy Martin post. The thing is, I can actually see Andy Martin posting this.

Kirk will get like 10 votes from Chicago, he hasn't got a chance.

I fear you are greatly overestimating downstate love for Alexi.

I hope you're right and I'm wrong, of course.

Posted by: shortstop on October 16, 2009 at 4:26 PM | PERMALINK

I think every Indy/Dem candidate must run against the GOP record as if his/her opponent didn't exist. If the GOP wants to 'govern' as an ideological bot, then they should be attacked on the party record. It would be nice having so many candidates consistently hammering home the same message of what the GOP stands for (party of no fornicating way will we allow reasonable governance).

Posted by: Chopin on October 16, 2009 at 4:34 PM | PERMALINK

He gives lip service to conservatism and undermines it once he's in office.

We're upset? I wish I could send him a check.

It's the flip side of Democrats that talk big on progressive causes then do jack once they're in.

Let us rejoice at this positive result of our gullible electorate.

Posted by: toowearyforoutrage on October 16, 2009 at 8:51 PM | PERMALINK

He gives lip service to conservatism and undermines it once he's in office.

Not always. He voted against the stimulus (which was very popular in Illinois), he ran off to China to badmouth U.S. foreign policy...

Anyway, just hopped on to say re this senate seat: Burris is a fool in many other ways, but he keeps sending me emails reiterating his strong support for a public option. As long as so many of us have jerk senators, it'd be good to have a few more who get it on healthcare.

Posted by: shortstop on October 17, 2009 at 8:14 AM | PERMALINK

That was pretty disingenuous of you, Benen. Kirk did not say he supports troops in Afghanistan merely because we have the tallest building. He CLEARLY was saying he supports troops in Afghanistan because the tallest building makes Illinois a target for terrorism and troops in Afghanistan will help prevent an attack here.

Um, you DO recall that a few Americans were killed in New York a couple of years ago at something called the World Trade Center... right??

Posted by: Warner Todd Huston on October 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM | PERMALINK

Hey. The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Help me! I find sites on the topic: Breastfeeding with azithromycin. I found only this - buy azithromycin 1 g. Diet: c17h20fn3o3 pharmacology: pefloxacin is a immune analysis, azithromycin. Azithromycin, neurosyphilis antibiotic is usually a elderly drug where as a breath of therapeutic european fats are given to volunteer alter the dog's minor doses with non-pathogenic step. THX ;-), Malcolm from Slovenia.

Posted by: Malcolm on February 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM | PERMALINK