Readers of this blog know that I have been enthusiastic about Mark Kirk running for the Senate from Illinois since at least January of 2009. I would link to the posts showing my support for Representative Kirk, but there have been so many, it’s not worth it. In any case, I wish my enthusiasm was still as high, but it’s not.
As I am sure you have read, Representative Kirk has "exaggerated" a few things on his resume relating to his service in the Navy Reserves. John Kass’s column here, "Kirk's embellishments let foe wriggle back into race," recounts the problem. And there is yet another article about the issue in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune.
Not only is my enthusiasm down, but I am really irritated at Representative Kirk. This wasn’t necessary. Serving in the Reserves was impressive enough by itself. He didn’t need to exaggerate. And, as John Kass noted, by doing so, he has let the Democrats back into this race. With Blagojevich and Burris and everything else, this should have been a slam dunk for Mark Kirk. It was our chance to get a Republican senator. And now he has made it way more difficult than it needed to be.
In May I wrote about the problem Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was having because, at least a couple of times, he said he served in Vietnam when he didn’t. He did serve in the Marine Reserves, but he did not serve in Vietnam. I concluded that post as follows:
"The answer may be less in what he said, or over-said, in the past and more in how he reacts now and what he says in the future. Will he sincerely apologize? Or will he treat it as just another political attack, to be refuted and defended against? In this year of the anti-politician, one wonders if admission and apology might work better than aggressive defense."
The same can be said for Representative Kirk because until he really deals with this issue, not only will he lose support, but his supporters will lose enthusiasm.
Before this thing hit, I signed up as a volunteer on Representative Kirk’s website so I could get a bumper sticker for my car. I got one, and I put it on right away. I am not going to take it off, but with all of this, I am not sure I would be putting it on if it wasn’t already there.
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