Kirk apologizes for 'carelessness' in describing military career

Associated Press ^ | Jun 29, 2010 @ 08:10 PM | DEANNA BELLANDI

[Rabin]

NORTHBROOK — Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk publicly apologized Tuesday for being “careless” in describing his military service and background, after a series of embellishments were revealed that could threaten his bid for President Barack Obama’s former seat. As Kirk apologized, however, he also acknowledged something his campaign had flatly denied just two weeks ago.

[Rabin]

Kerry delusion syndrome spreading. Causes unclear, Chicago water suspected. "Hoof In Mouth" like victims groveling justifications, pitiful at best.

[Bullish]

So “careless” is no dem-speak for “Damn Liar”?

[Bullish]

Oops that should have said now not no.

[YHAOS]

Stick a fork in him.

He's done.

[catnipman]

My God, are there any honest, or even semi-honest, politicians from either party in Illinois? Any? Any at all? Anyone?

I mean, everybody can carry on about S.C., what with Alvin Greene and Mark Sandford, but at least they are also electing or running great people like Jim DeMint, Nikki Haley, and Tim Scott.

[doc1019]

There is absolutely no excuse for “carelessness” in describing your military career. If you served, that is evidence enough of your courage and dedication to the American idea. How and were you served is small potatoes in the long run.

If you are willing to disgrace your uniform by embellishing your time in the military ... you can’t be trusted. Nuff said.

[Bullish]

There’s something wrong with DC altogether being that he’s a Pubbie.

[marron]

“Allow me to be blunt: Congressman Kirk wasn’t careless and he didn’t misremember — he lied... One mistake is careless. Misrepresenting, embellishing or not telling the truth about 10 different phases of your military career over a 10-year period is a pattern of lies, plain and simple.”

[Seaplaner]

A letter from his office said he served in the first Gulf War when he did not. He has also referred to serving in the invasion of Iraq, although his duties kept him stateside. He said his Reserve work sometimes includes running the Pentagon war room, even though he oversees only the intelligence operations.

Although he had clearly described coming under fire while flying missions over Kosovo and Iraq, Kirk began to hedge and say the he couldn’t be sure his plane was targeted by the anti-aircraft fire. And he didn’t mention that he rode along on only a handful of flights — perhaps just three.

This is entirely unacceptable. Entirely.

Mister Kirk, you let your service, your party and your voters down. There is no recovery for lies and deceit of this magnitude.

Adios.

.

[marron]

I think he should withdraw from the race.

[Lancey Howard]

I hope this scumbag Democrat Kirk gets creamed by the other scumbag Democrat.
At least the other scumbag Democrat has the decency to wear the label, “scumbag Democrat”.

Better to be knifed in the face than stabbed in the back.

[Graybeard58]

One of you have the Illinois politics ping list?

[Lancey Howard]

A letter from his office said he served in the first Gulf War when he did not. He has also referred to serving in the invasion of Iraq, although his duties kept him stateside.

This sick p.o.s. Kirk should be prosecuted for "stolen valor".

[SmithL]

I think he should withdraw from the race.

I agree, but that would require more honor than he's shown thus far.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Often I wonder if politicians' public lives don't just naturally meld into stage roles. Their public lives are no more serious than an actor's role 99.99 percent of the time, it matters not one whit.

They are not lying any more than an actor "lies." They're just reciting, ad-libbing and embellishing, reciting, ad-libbing and embellishing with no more concern than an actor.

They're nuts IOW. Most of them at least.

[BillyBoy]

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

=================================

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

[BillyBoy]

>> Kirk said voters should trust him in part because of his career in public service. His campaign had said earlier this month that he never violated Pentagon policies in response to a blogger who disclosed a Defense Department memo referring to Kirk being “counseled” for political activity while on duty. His campaign called the document “a baseless political ploy.” But Kirk acknowledged Tuesday that he was counseled in late 2008 after he gave interviews about former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest and then for a Twitter post he said his staff made in July 2009 when he was on duty. His problems began with the revelation last month that his frequent references to being named the Navy’s intelligence officer of the year were false. Instead, a unit Kirk led won a different award. That was followed by a string of other errors and exaggerations. A letter from his office said he served in the first Gulf War when he did not. He has also referred to serving in the invasion of Iraq, although his duties kept him stateside. He said his Reserve work sometimes includes running the Pentagon war room, even though he oversees only the intelligence operations. Although he had clearly described coming under fire while flying missions over Kosovo and Iraq, Kirk began to hedge and say the he couldn’t be sure his plane was targeted by the anti-aircraft fire. And he didn’t mention that he rode along on only a handful of flights — perhaps just three. <<

>> Kirk’s apology came after a long preamble on topics from the economy to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the disastrous oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. During the news conference, his supporters often cheered him and chided reporters. <<

I have to wonder about the (paid?) "supporters" who continue to loudly applaud and cheer on this pathelogical liar at his campaign events. PhilCollins why does Kirk call himself a Republican when he agrees with the majority of the RAT party platform? Better yet, why do his "supporters" want to pull the GOP lever? They've made it abundently clear they have no problem nominating and electing a sleazy, lying, GOP-bashing, abortion-loving, gun-grabbing, pro-amnesty, cap n' trade, anti-surge, tax-and-spend socialist. So what bothers them so much about Alexi Ginnolianis? It seems all he would have to do to make their acceptable list is put an "R" next to his name on the ballot.

I had an arguement with one of Kirk's minions on IllinoisReview who is a GOP township boss in Kirk's district. Claims Kirk is a good Republican and electing Kirk will help the conservative cause. I noted that if he really feels that way about Kirk's record, then he should elect the Madigan-selected RAT representing me in the Illinois House. My RAT state legislator isn't at liberal as Kirk. If he moved up there and defeated their "good Republican", it would actually move IL-10 to the right.

Pretty sad when "Republican" Mark Kirk is further left than many card-carrying Illinois Democrats.

[uscabjd]

Take a deep breath - we want the Republican to win, and I don’t care really much about who he/she is, so long as he/she wins. Because, then we have a shot at a Rep majority, which is important b/c then we will control the Sen Judiciary Committee, who, in turn, will decide on Fed judges. It’s that simple. Like Kagen? Me neither. Stop this RINO bs.

[BillyBoy]

>> Take a deep breath - we want the Republican to win, and I don’t care really much about who he/she is, so long as he/she wins <

Yep. All that matter is "winning". Remember these great "winners" the GOP had?

Sen. Jim Jeffords

Sen. Linc Chafee

Sen. Arlen Specter

[usconservative]

My God, are there any honest, or even semi-honest, politicians from either party in Illinois? Any? Any at all? Anyone?

Nope. Pay attention to the Blagojevich trial and carefully note the links between Obama, Blago, Emanuel and Tony Rezko on the Democrat side, then pay attention to the Kirk campaign on the Republican side and note the fact that our last Republican governor is in jail for corruption.

It's only then you get a picture of how corrupt this state really is. It's run by the unions at this point, mostly SEIU-Illinois Union President Tom Balanoff who's in complete cahoots with Illinois Speaker of the House Tom Madigan (D.) Balanoff took his marching orders from none other than Barak Obama until Obama became President.

Then there's that complete, babbling idiot Daley, Mayor of Chicago who got his ass handed to him yesterday by the USSC with his precious gun ban being completely overturned. It was Daley's gun ban that turned Chicago into the murder capital of the country. More people died at the hands of dope dealers and crack-heads in Chicago last year than we lost in all of Iraq and Afghanistan.

You getting the picture yet?