By supporting Mark Kirk, Illinois GOP leaders playing right into Democrats’ hands

National columnist, author, and former undefeated professional boxer Matt Barber has weighed in on several Republican races including the Illinois GOP U.S. Senate primary – we linked his entire article here. Matt has given us permission to excerpt the section relevant to Mark Kirk, which follows.


GOP: It’s Sink or Swim in 2010

By J. Matt Barber

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Unfortunately…obstinate RINO leadership in other states, such as Illinois, appear determined to play right into Democrats’ hands. They’re obtusely heeding [Democrat National Committee Chairman Tim] Kaine’s duplicitous counsel, throwing establishment weight behind candidates who appear as though handpicked by the DNC.

Take Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk, for example. Kirk, who seeks to fill President Obama’s old Senate seat is, based on his voting record, about 49 parts Democrat and one part Republican. In fact, a “Sen. Kirk” would, politically speaking, be largely indistinguishable from “Sen. Obama.”

According to Illinois based ChampionNews.net, Kirk:

  • voted against a ban on the horrific practice of partial-birth abortion, having supported – every demand of the pro-abortion industry;
  • voted “yes” on cap-and-trade;
  • voted “yes” to fund ACORN;
  • voted “yes” to shut-down Guantanamo Bay;
  • voted “yes” on CAFE standards;
  • voted “yes” to prohibit drilling in ANWR;
  • voted “no” on the successful surge in Iraq;
  • voted “no” on school prayer;
  • received an “F” from the National Rifle Association on gun rights; and
  • publicly supports the U.N. “Convention on Climate Change.”

But that’s just the tip of the “oops-it’s-not-really-melting” iceberg. Multiple media reports also indicate that this tax-and-spend liberal is widely rumored to be apractitioner of the homosexual lifestyle (à la Bawny Fwank). Although Kirk recently denied the charge, he has, nonetheless, eagerly supported nearly every legislative aspect of the extremist homosexual agenda.

For example: Kirk has opposed a constitutional amendment to protect natural marriage. He also both co-sponsored the speech-chilling and freedom-killing federal “hate crimes” law and voted to grant homosexuals preferred government status through the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

So, you have to ask: What business does Mark Kirk have even calling himself a Republican? And why is the Illinois GOP backing this Democrat in Republican’s clothing rather than, say, Patrick Hughes (endorsed by Mark Levin), one of Kirk’s solidly conservative primary opponents?

If Kirk wins Illinois’ Feb. 2 primary, voters are left an illusory choice. Republican vs. Democrat becomes a distinction without a difference: a dream come true for Tim Kaine.

Did we learn nothing from 2009’s conservative GOP sweep (Gov. Bob McDonnell, Va., Gov. Chris Christie, N.J., and AG Ken Cuccinelli, Va.)? Seriously, even in liberal New York, Doug Hoffman – a last-minute conservative, third-party dark horse – came out of nowhere to nearly defeat Democrat Bill Owens in the state’s 23rd Congressional District. Remember?

We remain a center-right country. In fact, a recent Gallup poll established that Americans identify as conservative vs. liberal by a nearly two-to-one margin.

So, whose advice will Republicans follow in 2010? Will it be that of a fork-tongued Democratic emissary like Tim Kaine? Or will it be that of the GOP’s highly motivated, itchin’-to-vote, grass-roots Party faithful?

Matt Barber is an attorney concentrating in constitutional law. He is author of the book “The Right Hook – From the Ring to the Culture War” and serves as Director of Cultural Affairs with Liberty Counsel.