Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is under fire for a racially charged taunt uttered during a Thursday night debate with Democratic challenger Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
In noting her desire to serve in the Senate and be a part of decisions to go to war, Duckworth noted her ancestors had been serving in the US military since the Revolutionary War. “My family has served this nation in uniform, going back to the Revolution. I’m a daughter of the American Revolution. I’ve bled for this nation. But I still want to be there in the Senate when the drums of war sound. Because people are quick to sound the drums of war, and I want to be there to say this is what it costs, this is what you’re asking us to do. … Families like mine are the ones that bleed first.”
Kirk responded: “I had forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.”
Tammy Duckworth is a vet who lost both legs in Iraq. Her family has served since the Revolutionary War. And yet… pic.twitter.com/DHd3kWrUsN
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) October 28, 2016
Duckworth was born in Thailand to an American father and a Thai mother of Chinese descent. Duckworth lost both legs while serving as a combat helicopter pilot in Iraq.
Kirk wants to run away from Trump, but makes the most racist and misogynistic comment of possibly the entire campaign season.
Her silence spoke volumes. Surely it’s not the first time she’s had to deal with a patronizing jerk. At least he didn’t grope her, at least there’s that.
I really don’t understand Kirk’s point. What an odd comment
I sincerely don’t get it. I don’t feel he was being racist - he may be, I could be wrong - but I’m really trying to understand what exactly he’s getting at here.
I would say this was unbelievable, but this election cycle has pretty much made that word meaningless.
Kirk manages outing himself with a trifecta- racist, misogynist and asshole- all at once. Usually openly racist misogynistic assholes take a little more time to reveal themselves.
I’m thinking it’s just that he didn’t know that her dad was from America, and assumed both her parents were Thai. You’d think this would be the sort of thing he’d know about, but presumably not. What a dumbass. I mean…did he think she just made that up?