CHICAGO–Senate Candidate Mark Kirk embellished his role in pushing a bill to curb business with Iran? Rep. Howard Berman, who sponsored the bill, claims Kirk is exaggerating his role in its development according to the Chicago Sun Times.
A Kirk representative claims Berman is pulling a fast one two weeks before the election. Berman backs Democratic Candidate Alexi Giannoulias. However, when Berman doled out praise for work related to the bill, the Congressional record notes Berman praising Rep. Rob Andrews with no mention of Mark Kirk, reports the Chicago Sun Times. Why would Andrews receive praise but not Kirk?
Mark Kirk Fabricates Military & Teaching Experience
Other Mark Kirk “exaggerations” include falsely embellishing his military career as well as his teaching career. Kirk claimed to win a prestigious award for his military service, which was not true. Kirk also claimed to identify with educators due to his teaching experience. When the New York Times investigated the claim, only a part-time stint at a nursery school, while attending Cornell, was Kirk’s only stateside teaching experience. The Times found a year of teaching at a private college in the UK as well, but still had unanswered questions.
Both Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias have questionable histories. Giannoulias’ family bank collapsed causing scandal and questions about his role in the bank’s downfall. This raised eyebrows considering Alexi Giannoulias’ role as Illinois’ Treasurer; however, Giannoulias addressed his family’s bank collapse in his first campaign ad of the season as a way to identify with the current economic status plaguing Illinois.
Lies vs Mistakes: Mark Kirk’s Third ‘Exaggeration’
Why would Mark Kirk fabricate his achievements? Why would he continue to embellish his roles after being called out? If Kirk simply made a mistake and learned not to “exaggerate” in the future, it would be easy to forgive him. Everyone makes mistakes.
Once a mistake is made, how it is handled says a lot about the person. Whether he/she apologized and did everything possible not to repeat the error in judgment, demonstrates whether the person is worthy of another chance.
This is Kirk’s third embellishment. Mark Kirk’s error in judgment regarding easily checked facts, like his military award, leads me to believe Kirk feels the voters in Illinois are not very bright. I also question what else he may have mislead Chicago voters into believing.
And, if elected, what other deceptions are in store for Chicago? Is Kirk smirking as he pulls a fast one on us?
The Chicago Sun Times reported Berman did state Mark Kirk as being truthful in his claims regarding his role in incorporating Israel into the US’s satellite program. Berman even stated “a big role” for Kirk’s involvement. Why, then, would Berman lie about Kirk’s role in the Iran issue? Two weeks before the election, and there seems to be more questions than answers regarding candidates.
Sources:
Pallasch, Abdon M. (2010, October 18). Another Mark Kirk ‘Exaggeration’, Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved October 19, 2010, from http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/2811118,CST-NWS-kirk18.article
Zeleny, Jeff. (2010, June 16). In Illinois, a Teaching Career is Questioned, New York Times. Retrieved October 19, 2010, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/politics/17kirk.html
