Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is a progressive Democrat running for the United States Senate against Republican Congressman Mark Kirk. We're the people behind his campaign, and we need your help to keep this seat blue. Learn more about Alexi and help us elect a fighter for us to the U.S. Senate. |
"I'm Mark Kirk, and I can't wait to vote against health care reform next week."
That was Republican Congressman Mark Kirk last week, caught on tape barely able to contain his exuberance at voting against health care for millions. And it's not enough for him to vote against the bill:
If elected, U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk is promising he will "lead the effort" to repeal the health care reform package Democrats are working furiously to pass. The North Shore Republican made the statement at a New Trier GOP Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner last Friday.
The New York Times summed up Kirk's recent comments in an article entitled "Running for Obama's Old Seat, Set On Derailing His Plans."
At the same event, Kirk was caught on tape bragging about GOP obstructionism, gloating that "we're on the way to making this guy a one-termer." You can hear audio here.
That a Republican would take pride in being a member of the Party of No is not unusual, as we saw on C-SPAN last night. But Congressman Mark Kirk isn't running in a typical race.
The race for the Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama is one of the most competitive in the nation.
This is going to be a real battle. Alexi is a progressive who refuses to take a dime from corporations and federal lobbyists, while Kirk has raked in millions from these groups. He takes their money and he votes their way, even on landmark health care reform. Meanwhile, Alexi's been a strong supporter of comprehensive health care reform from day one. You can read Alexi's diaries in support of real health care reform and a public option here.
Congressman Kirk knows he's running in a blue state, and he's trying his best to conceal the fact that he's a typical Washington Republican who is part of the problem. In his TV ad (video here), he claims to be an "independent-minded Republican".
"Independent"? A moderate?
Mark Kirk's claims of "independence" are great for the camera, but actions speak louder than choreographed words.
Kirk is one of 37 lawmakers to sign the Club for Growth's "Repeal It!" Pledge. And Kirk didn't just sign it. He's promising that "As your Senator, I will lead the effort, if it passes, to repeal this bill."
Today, David Axelrod shot back at Mark Kirk and other Republicans who want to repeal health care reform:
I heard Congressman [Mark] Kirk in Illinois -- running for the Senate -- say he was going to lead the fight to repeal this health-insurance reform. So the question is: Is he going to look young people in the eye who now are [going to get coverage despite] preexisting conditions and say, 'You know, I don't think you should get that'? Is he going to look the small businessman in Illinois in the eye and say, 'You know what? I don't think you should get those tax credits to help you cover your employees.' It'll be interesting to see if they're willing to do that -- whether they're willing to say, 'We want to put the insurance companies back in the driver's seat,' or not.
We can't allow Republican Mark Kirk to get to the U.S. Senate lead the charge for repeal.
We can't let him get to the Senate and turn back the clock on the progress we all fought so hard for.
Help Alexi take on Mark Kirk and the right-wing spin machine. Sign up to volunteer or donate today.