Along with Rush Limbaugh explictly hoping President Obama, and thus America, fail economically, and Gingrich's proclimation that President Obama has failed, TPM and the Straits Times now are reporting that Republican Representative Mr Mark Kirk told the Chinese government not to beleive the budget numbers from the United States Government. Yep. Rep. Kirk is a concern troll of the highest order:
He said he told the Chinese that the budget deficit could be even bigger than predicted, due in part to the rising costs to the US economy of health care.
'One of the messages I had - because we need to build trust and confidence in our number one creditor - is that the budget numbers that the US government has put forward should not be believed,' Mr Kirk said.
The Straits Times
How nice. Telling the Chinese to distrust our government. Do you think he did that when Bush was President for 8 years? More, after the fold.
TPM has video:
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL): I Told China Not To Believe U.S. Budget Numbers
By itself, I suppose, this is not that big of a deal. But just imagine if Speaker Pelosi or any Democratic congressman had done the same thing during the Bush adminstration. The entire right wing echo chamber would be all over it with cries of treason. FoxNews would be blaring it 24/7.
Congressman Kirk appears to be undermining America's economy for partisan political advantage. So what else is new. Republicans have been undermining America through misrule for a generation. It just has not been reported.
SENIOR Chinese leaders have privately voiced fear over the soaring US budget deficit and are increasingly looking to diversify from the dollar, a Republican congressman said on Monday.
'We heard across the board - in private - substantial, continuing and rising concern,' Representative Mr Mark Kirk said after a trip to China that included talks with government officials and central bank chief Dr Zhou Xiaochuan.
'It's clear that China would like to diversify from its dollar investments,' the lawmaker said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think-tank.
Mr Kirk's assessment differed with that of Treasury Secretary Mr Timothy Geithner, who said last week on a separate visit that Chinese leaders had expressed 'justifiable confidence' on the future of the recession-hit US economy.
The Straits Times
So he wants to make sure that China takes actions that may undermine our economy, hurting Americans in an attempt to make Limbaugh's hopes of failure come true.
Kirk has been mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for the Senate in Illinois. We can't let Obama's seat go to Mr. Kirk, a man who clearly is an asshat.
Here's a Democrat who likely will run: Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. I like this guy. Giannoulias recently stood up for working people when he threatened to withdraw $8 Billion of the State of Illinois' money if Wells Fargo if Hartmarx, the company that makes Obama suits, was ultimately liquidated:
The fight to keep the Hartmarx Corp. suit factory in Des Plaines alive stepped up Thursday when the state treasurer threatened to pull Illinois' business from Wells Fargo & Co. if the bank backs a bid that could lead to liquidating the company.
"Unless the company remains open, they will not be doing business with the state of Illinois any longer," Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias told a crowd of workers outside the factory, who gathered on their lunch break.
snip
Wells Fargo is the custodian for the $8 billion Illinois state portfolio, according to Scott Burnham, spokesman for the Illinois Treasurer's office.
Workers Vote For Sit-In at Company Making Obama's Suits (quoting Chicago Tribune (link in diary))
On May 7, 2009, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias visited the Des Plaines factory of suitmaker Hart Schaffner Marx to rally with workers and call on the company's creditor, Wells Fargo, to help it avoid liquidation.
An ABC Report on Hartmarx and Giannoulias in early May:
It's early, but it's never too early to get behind a good candidate. This is worth checking out.
Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois Exploratory Committee
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Alexi Giannoulias was elected to his first term as Illinois State Treasurer on Nov. 7, 2006. At the age of 30, he became the youngest State Treasurer in the nation.
Giannoulias launched the nation's largest state-backed hybrid rebate program, put the state's unclaimed property on eBay and started an innovative securities lending effort that's earning more revenue for the state.
Under his leadership the Treasurer's Bright Start College Savings Program improved from one of the worst in the nation to the best thanks to its low fees and wide investment options, according to Morningstar Inc.
Giannoulias is a leader in how to run a political office ethically. He doesn't accept contributions from his employees, banks or contractors who do business with the treasurer's office.
Now he is reforming how states can help the private sector in difficult economic times. In October 2008, Giannoulias committed $1 billion of state funds in healthy banks and credit unions to give the financial institutions more money to lend to their clients and to help shore up customer confidence. The taxpayers' money will not be at risk, and the state will earn a higher rate of return than it could in many other short-term investments.
Prior to joining public service, Giannoulias was a community banker in his hometown of Chicago. Giannoulias graduated cum laude from Boston University, earned a law degree from Tulane University's School of Law in New Orleans and also played professional basketball in Greece.
Meet Alexi Giannoulias
That means he take Obama one on one on the court! :-) This is a guy who can beat Kirk and who fights with workers for justice. There's a lot to like about Alexi Giannoulias.
Update I: From dakrle in the comments, who apparently called up Kirk's office:
a staffer just told me that the comment he (2+ / 0-)
Recommended by: skywaker9, TomP
made makes no sense...as she could not explain how telling the Chinese that we are untrustworthy would make them trust us.
She said "I can't explain the comment other than to say maybe it was taken out of context."
I was never warned. I was just suddenly locked out. -TocqDville'
by dakrle on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 10:29:25 AM PDT
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Link to comment to give it some mojo