Congressman Kirk--Desparately Seeking Endorsement

As an Illinoisan and a Sarah Palin supporter, the news that Congressman Mark Kirk was seeking Governor Palin's endorsement for his bid for to be Illinois' junior Senator was quite intriguing to me. For those outside of the state of Illinois, Congressman Kirk is best known as one of the eight Republican representatives who voted for Cap and Tax legislation. The mainstream media generally labels Kirk as a moderate Republican, which means, to many of us, he is a RINO. The fact that he is seeking a strong conservative endorsement seems to indicate that he is trying to gain conservative support among Illinois Republicans who may think he is too liberal to receive their vote.

To Kirk's credit, he has served in the Navy and has spent time in Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Kosovo. Also, he was born in the lovely town of Champaign, Illinois (which just so happens to be my hometown). Also, he voted against the "stimulus package", along with the other Republicans in Congress, and is opposed to government run health care.

However, in edition to his support for Cap and Tax, Kirk has a very liberal position on abortion which includes non-support for a ban on partial birth abortions. He just so happened to leave this detail off of his Senatorial campaign website. He also has received a D from the National Rifle Association for his stances on the second amendment for his strong pro-gun control stances. Kirk is also slightly left on center on areas such as taxes and immigration.

What irks me most about Mark Kirk is his tendency to make decisions based upon political expediency rather than principles. For example, he voted for Cap and Tax legislation as a Congressman representing one district in Illinois. However, if he is elected to the Senate, he states that he would not vote for such legislation:

"Let me say briefly about cap and trade. I voted for it because it was in the narrow interest of my Congressional district. But as your representative," Kirk said, then getting interrupted by booing. "As your representative, representing the entire state of Illinois, I would vote no on that bill coming up."

Lovely, a political flip flop all in the name of getting elected. I don't see how Cap and Trade would be in the best interest of any district, but apparently, Kirk does. Kirk has also flipped and flopped on his opinion of Governor Palin. Upon Senator McCain's section of Governor Palin as his running mate, Kirk called Palin the "Patrick Fitzgerald of Alaska" , a compliment, as Patrick Fitzgerald is a US Attorney in Illinois who is known for cleaning up corruption. He was the one who, later on in 2008, orchestrated the investigation and arrest of Illinois former governor, Rod Blagojevich. However, later on during the campaign, Kirk said that he would have picked a different Vice Presidential candidate and that he wasn't sure that Governor Palin was qualified. Now, Kirk is asking for her endorsement? The question isn't so much what Governor Palin would think about Kirk's flip-flopping opinion of her, but more a question of Kirk's propensity to make statements and take stances, not out of principle or conviction, but out of political self-interest.

When Governor Palin stepped aside from the Governor's office she said the following:

And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! And I'll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and LIFE... I'll work for and campaign for those PROUD to be American, and those who are INSPIRED by our ideals and won't deride them.

I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don't care what party they're in or no party at all. Inside Alaska - or Outside Alaska.

Does Mark Kirk sound like someone whom Governor Palin would support?