Carl brought it up last week and now the skepticism on Mark Kirk's claims of military glory is traveling through the Internet. Salon picked up the story last Friday.
The Nitpicker also picked up the story. In this latest post on the topic, Nit reminds us that Kirk's overplaying his military experience is not new. In 2005, Kirk claimed on this official website that he was a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nit broke the story that Kirk's claim was not true and that Kirk never really came clean after being busted, quietly scrubbing his website, but making no affirmative correction or apology. Then, Kirk claimed to have been "deployed" to Afghanistan. Nitpicker points out that the alleged "deployment" isn't exactly the same sort of deployment faced by our troops. Kirk just arranges through the power of his office to spend a week or so close to the operation so he can make his political claims of military glory.
We're also closing in on the facts of Kirk's claim that he was named "Intelligence Officer of the Year” in 1999 for his combat service in Kosovo. It appears that there is no such official Navy-wide award. Sometimes a squadron makes such an award to a junior officer and the reserves can make a similar award....and bingo. The answer is only a quick Google search away. It appears that when pressed, and when they think the story will not get out too far, Kirk's folks will come clean. Eric Elk admitted to Springfield reporter Bernard Schoenberg that it was a reservist award. Schoenberg also got a backhanded admission from Kirk himself that the "combat" in Kosovo was more like a quick flyover.
Kirk should come clean on the source and meaning of this award award and his "combat service in Kosovo". Thenk, he should probably apologize to the men and women who really do the work for which he takes credit. So far, the only proof he was able to muster has been a flight suit photo reminding us all that George W. Bush has one too.
Despte all the claims of deployment and combat, the reality is that Kirk uses his position in congress to get on planes making a short flyovers near combat zones as a glorified passenger so he can make grandiose claims of military glory to use in political campaigns. I'd guess that Snoopy saw more combat with the Red Baron than Kirk ever saw in Iraq, Afghanistan or Kosovo.
Kirk uses his doctored-up military record as some sort of proof of his toughness and bravery, but when it comes to his congressional votes, he's been flip-floppy and scared. Now, he's faced with a vote on the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Kirk's got his finger in the wind so see which way it blows. He used to support gay rights, but now he's got the tea partiers to contend with and he's running scared. His opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, has upped the stakes by taking a firm stand against DADT. Isn't making the tough decisions, and sticking to them, the real proof of toughness and bravery?
5 comments:
These days Roskam doesn't have to open his mouth, yet he never resists (wish he would!). All he has to do is show up and stand there. What a fool!!!
I wonder if he and Shimkus are giving each other lessons? That was a sick mental pic!
If we had a real press, these guys would never have been elected to office in the first place.
KIrk made the claim that he was the only sitting congressman serving active duty in Iraq. Add to that his melodramatic twitter claims that he is writing 'from the frontline.' The only award he deserves is one for "Drama Queen of the Year'
Well surprise, surprise...Kirk voted against DADT. What a hypocritical fool.
Lets see if Chris Matthews makes sure he includes everyday on his show this politician's phony military record.
He's been doing that with Blumenthal since the news broke about him.
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