Back in June I wrote about my frustration with Mark Kirk. Representative Kirk took a Senate race that should have been an easy win for the Republicans and turned into a close contest by his exaggerations and embellishments, especially about his service in the Navy Reserves. The thing that was really frustrating was how unnecessary it was. Just being in the Reserves was impressive enough. So now, with Labor Day past (the day that used to mark the beginning of the fall campaign), how do I feel?
I am still a little frustrated, but I have come to realize two things. First, while Representative Kirk should not have done what he did, consider what we are really talking about. We’re not talking about taking bribes or about saying one thing before the election even though you know you are going to do something different afterwards, the kinds of things so common among Illinois politicians. We’re talking about puffing on a resume. It’s not great, but it’s not the end of the world, either.*
Second, and more importantly, I realized that this election is too important for me to let some personal irritation stand in the way electing the better candidate. Because that is the point. We are down to two candidates. One of them is going to win. Either we are going to send a senator to Washington who will be an automatic vote for whatever Barack Obama, Harry Reid (assuming he is still there) and Dick Durbin want. Or we can send somebody to the Senate who will not vote for every big spending, big government, big deficit measure the Democratic leadership wants to pass.
This election is not about puffing on resumes – or even loans to mobsters. This election is about who is going to Washington and what they will do when they get there. If you think big government is always the solution to our problems, if you think more and more government spending is the way to get the economy going, then you should vote for Mark Kirk’s opponent. Because he will support the Democratic leadership in doing that. But if you think government doesn’t know everything, if you think letting people spend their own money might help the economy, then Mark Kirk is your candidate.
Also, if you have listened to Mark Kirk talk, whether about foreign affairs or things at home, you know that he is somebody we can send to the Senate who really knows about the problems we face, both here and in the world. And he has good ideas as to what we should do about them.
To those Republicans and conservatives who may not like all of Mark Kirk’s positions, I will defer to William F. Buckley, Jr., whose rule was to vote for the most conservative candidate –who could win.** In Illinois in 2010, that’s Mark Kirk.
And so, my enthusiasm is back. The bumper sticker is still on my car. And the yard sign went up on Thursday.
-----------
* I would not be surprised if the Democrats have another example or two of puffing that they are holding back to bring out just before the election. But those things should be looked at with a view as to why they are being publicized just before the election.
** “The Tea Party and the GOP,” The Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2010.
I agree. Mark Kirk shouldn't have puffed but he is the much better candidate.
Sue
Posted by: sue | October 03, 2010 at 02:52 PM