Groups pull endorsements after GOP senator’s comment on Duckworth’s Thai ancestry
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, right, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, left, face off in their first televised debate in what’s considered a crucial race that could determine which party controls the Senate, Thursday at the University of Illinois in Springfield, Ill.
CHICAGO >> Illinois Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, already facing an uphill battle for re-election, is entering the crucial final week before Election Day weakened by comments about his opponent that critics attacked as racist and “beyond reprehensible.”
Two organizations whose endorsements Kirk touted as indicators of his independence withdrew their backing over the weekend, issuing blistering rebukes. Both said they’re now supporting Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Democrats are relying on winning Illinois as they look to regain control of the Senate. The party must pick up four or five seats to do so, depending on whether they retain control of the White House.
Kirk spent the weekend largely outside the public eye. Though he attended some community events, his campaign didn’t advise reporters or the public beforehand — a highly unusual move for any candidate in the waning days of a campaign, but one that allowed him to avoid rehashing the incident in the media. Duckworth, who graduated from McKinley High School in Honolulu and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, had a full campaign schedule, including get-out-the-vote events with civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
Kirk, who’s seeking his second term, apologized Friday for mocking Duckworth’s immigrant background and her family’s military service.
Duckworth, a veteran who lost both legs when the helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down in Iraq, said during a debate Thursday that her family has “served this nation in uniform going back to the Revolution.”
Kirk responded that he’d forgotten the congresswoman’s “parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.”
Duckworth’s mother is of Chinese descent, born in Thailand. The congresswoman, who was born in Bangkok, says her father first went to Southeast Asia while serving with the Marines in Vietnam.
Human Rights Campaign, a gay-rights group, and Americans for Responsible Solutions, a gun-control group led by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, both cited the remarks.
“Senator Kirk’s racist attack on Congresswoman Duckworth is unacceptable and represents a low point, even in this election season,” said Americans for Responsible Solutions Executive Director Peter Ambler.
Human Rights Campaign said it was the first time in the group’s 36-year history that it had reversed an endorsement.
“Attacking someone because of her race and ethnicity is inexcusable for anyone, but especially for a sitting U.S. Senator,” HRC President Chad Griffin said.
Kirk Campaign spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said Monday Kirk is proud of his leadership in fighting discrimination and gun violence. Kirk has an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association and was the second GOP senator to support same-sex marriage.
“The HRC and ARS decisions are unfortunate because they were based on politics instead of reality and further exemplified just how uncomfortable they were in supporting a Republican who was a leader for their efforts,” Demertzis said.
Kirk had frequently pointed to the endorsements from the two groups, which typically back Democrats, as he works to persuade Illinois voters that he’s a moderate who can work with both parties.
Illinois typically elects Democrats to statewide office, and leans particularly Democratic in presidential election years — factors that led to Kirk being widely considered the GOP’s most vulnerable Senate incumbent.
25 responses to “Groups pull endorsements after GOP senator’s comment on Duckworth’s Thai ancestry”
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Senator Mark Kirk, hopefully soon to be the EX-Senator, has sealed his own fate. He’s got no one to blame except his own big, fat, ignorant mouth. Karma will take care of this dude.
people use race and ancestry for or against each other all the time.
Obama has played the race card all this time.
Obama doesn’t “play the race card”. What he has done, rather, is to put all the dirty laundry of America’s racism out on the table for all to see. This is a good thing, because until that is done we cannot fully address the matter and resolve it. Yes, it is difficult and uncomfortable whenever ANY issue is brought to the forefront, but I for one am glad that the big elephant in the room is being focused upon front and center. This sure beats the alternative of pretending that there is no racism in America simply because we have laws on the books that prohibit racial discrimination.
You are correct. The festering, simmering pot of racism was always there, but having a black family in the White House brought it to full boil. And Trump – an overt racist with a decades long record of racist acts and words – helped lift his followers out of the shadows and the sewers they lived in, into the light. Trump gave a voice to sociopaths and racists.
Trump and his family will look great in the White House and he doesn’t need a grandma to babysit at our expense.
Good comment
Maybe you use race and ancestry in your own conversations, but, I suspect only with people who are willing to listen to you – and probably just once.
I’m 70 and am a blonde haired blue eyed haole and have not had a problem with race in my life because I see the good in others and look for what I have in common but others.
I hope Duckworth wins. She deserves it. We are very proud of our UH graduates and she is one. The senator’s ignorant remarks make him a good trump man. There is no room for Trump’s racist vitriol nor his appalling ignorance in Hawaii.
What no linkage to Trump in the article? Talk about missed opportunities. Someone at the AP is going to get a good talking to over this one.
Ok…that was uncalled for. If anything, I am grateful for good people coming to the United States, becoming citizens, and defending and fighting for our great country.
these pinheaded frightened caucasians just keep putting their feet in their mouths and their heads up their, … well, you know. The walls are closing in and they will die a slow death. Yay!
Nice to see that that there is no racism in these islands, Kwhy. Oh, sorry, Kway.
It’s a too-common attitude of, “OK, I’m here now so those who come after me or don’t look, dress, eat, worship, think,…, like me are not as ‘American’ (or ‘local’) as me.” We all came from someplace else, including the Indians and Hawaiians. We need to treat each other with respect.
Apparently you’re also surrounded by the those same walls. Attitudes determine who’s inside, not ethnicity.
The stroke he had in 2012 revealed his racism.
Yep. Ke Akua doesn’t like racists.
…racism has no place on this earth!
Xenophobia is not hardwired into our DNA. It has to be learned. Any adult who even casually makes racist remarks in the presence of children is inadvertently programing them to fear others who are unfamiliar or different. This fear will have a long lasting impact on the children’s ability to participate in our increasingly global community, locking them into the shrinking comfort of those who are just like them. For the sake of our keiki, let’s not spread our fears to the next generation. Let it die with ours.
“like”
agree ith Kimo. I realize, however, that one does not need to be white to be a racist. I see it in all races, including some Hawaiians and some Micronesians.
Best in your new future out of politics, Sen. Kirk.
We’re taking back the Senate.
Possibly the House too, but that’s less critical — because they have zero say in Supreme Court appointments.
No, HanabataDays. The GOP wins two new “D” seats in Nevada (Heck) and Colorado (Green) and lose one in Illinois (Kirk).
Duckworth is happy about te whole situation.