Congressman, McCain Bundler On Palin: I Would Have Picked Someone Else

On Monday, John McCain dismissed the notion that there was dissension among conservatives over his choice of Sarah Palin as vice president.

"Really," he asked the Des Moines Register editorial board. "I haven't detected that. I haven't detected that in the polls. I haven't detected that among the base... so again, I fundamentally disagree."

If McCain is truly unaware of Republicans souring on the Palin choice, then he's not paying attention.

In fact, around the time that McCain was speaking to the Des Moines Register, a Republican congressman and McCain surrogate and bundler was unwilling to say that Palin was qualified to take over the presidency on moments notice.

Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois told the Chicago Tribne that had he been the Republican presidential candidate, "I would have picked someone different" for VP.

Pressed whether she was qualified to be one heartbeat away from being Commander in Chief, Kirk replied: "Quite frankly, I don't know."

In making his remarks, Kirk becomes the first elected official associated with the McCain campaign to publicly air his queasiness with Palin. The Illinois Republican bundles donations for McCain, having raised between $100,000 and $250,00 for the campaign. Kirk, additionally, is a member of McCain's "National Campaign Committee Members and Supporters," and is considered an important House liaison for the Senator.

The Jerusalem Post wrote in late August that Kirk, a former naval officer, "is expected to be given a senior position in the Department of Defense if McCain is elected president."

That Kirk would not express such deep reservations about Palin is reflective of just how far the Alaska Governor has fallen in her standing among voters and even within conservative crowds

In a September 2008 interview with the Tribune, Kirk said he was "encouraged" by Palin's nomination, saying that "hopefully it will be the Republican nominee who becomes the first female vice president." A Politico article on September 4, had Kirk proclaiming that the Alaska Governor would go over well in his district.

"Her initial introduction was as a young, good-looking female governor -- and that created a positive impression. And the second impression is she killed the bridge to nowhere, and that was huge," he said. "That was my battle."

Comments

[visitingmoi]

Kirk is in trouble. I am amazed he feels the need to distance himself from McCain/Palin. He won't be the first if McCain's numbers keep going down.

[nobillary1]

I am totally blown away by the fact that Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois had the cojones to come out and speak the truth! I was afraid that ALL Republicans had blinders on where Sarah Palin is concerned, but with the various other conservatives voicing their honest opinions about her also, I'm glad some are awakening from whatever potion she put in all their drinks at the RNC Convention.

But this gentleman, Rep. Kirk, should be honored to be the first Pol to say what he really thinks, out loud for everyone to hear! Plus, when you also taken into consideration the fact that he said it knowing he had in all probability, doomed any chance of a possible McCain Cabinet Position, makes it all the more stunning!

Rep. Mark Kirk, You are my hero tonight!

[RanceSpergl]

The "first" pol to say what he really thinks? He's your "hero" for stating the obvious? Are you one of those who are going to "win" in Iraq?

Lame lame lame.

Maybe we could start another country somewhere and you could go live there.

[SDSL]

Kirk is out of his mind if he thinks that people in his district believe Palin is qualified. I live in the district and there are many more Obama-Biden signs than you can imagine. Many people think Palin is a joke and a danger to the country if she were to be elected.

There are also many Dan Seals signs around and I hope Kirk goes down in defeat this November.

[Serious Lee]

I live in Illinois, too.

Kirk will be lucky if he is reelected.

IL-10: Poll Shows Dan Seals Within Striking Distance of Kirk 9/29/08

[ILOVELOSANGELES]

Just as Republicans are trying to distance themselves from Bush/Cheney they are now trying to get away from the McCain/Palin trainwreck that is about to happen. Democrats will win in a landslide with a majority mandate to get the USA back on the right track.

[Chicago48]

Frankly I think he made a good choice in Palin. Look -- John McC is older than old and he needed someone Young (and handsome) to make him look good. Palin fit the bill, as would have Bobby Jindal. But it had to be someone under 50, because if he ran with an old guy, he would have blown off the younger generation for sure. People are still attracted to her, she's still drawing crowds -- he isn't. If he's mad about anything, that's it, that he's not drawing crowds w/o her.

[afgail]

Palin is not smart but she has a few tricks. If she doesn't know the answer to a question she talks about the nouns in the question. Works just Jim Dandy in Alaska where the 90% of the adult population has only a 10th grade education. May not work as well in the lower 48.

[pie8ter]

"is expected to be given a senior position in the Department of Defense if McCain is elected president."

Well he now knows that's not going to happen. So he speaks his mind.

[VOTER]

More likely,
He has been driving around Lake County and counting
Dan Seal lawn signs.

[pomawg]

Give until it hurts, If Obama loses we'll feel real pain. DONATE: http://www.barackobama.com

[mizzou66]

Fundamental, fundamentals, fundamentally....is this word, and variations of, McCain's favorite word or something? Someone please ship that man a thesaurus....

[GeoLee]

One of the early signs of dementia is the ever increasing restriction of a facile vocabulary. After hearing his comments to the Iowa editors and watching him have difficulty gettng off the stage today, he sure is reminding me of a family member who died after several eyars with Alzheimers.

[peacegurl48]

Even though I disagree with their politics there are intelligent, competent conservatives who get the absolute horror of the Palin pick...I love it!

[RanceSpergl]

"intelligent, competent conservatives"

Do you have a dictionary? Look up the word "oxymoron". You do have a dictionary, don't you?

I didn't think so.

[GeoLee]

That was harsh. There are many who are intelligent competent conservative whose intelligence is dictating a vote for Obama this year.

[395spoons]

He gambled...hope he looses! He would treat the White House as a gambling hall and all his decisions would be based on that too! Scary thought!

He is a compulsive gambler and that's a bad omen for a President!

[doctordoubt]

And she's a complusive liar. Great ticket, yes? Tomorrow should tell the tale, no matter how they spin it. She will have to answer questions with infomation, not cute remarks and side steps. Hopefully this will put to rest the idea that joe six pack is qualified to be POTUS. There is a reason so many of them are Rhoades Scholars.

[GeoLee]

I believe it is "Rhodes" Scholars.

[lohy]

The floodgates are opening prior to the debate... How bad must it REALLY be down there in Sedona?

[VOTER]

John Sidney McCain, the Third managed a kind of "win" by simply
showing up last week.
Sarah Palin will get the same kind of "win" tonight.

Watching the GOP running all over the place in search of
a Leader would be humorous if it wasn't just PATHETIC.

Kirk, is a "moderate" Republican, meaning he has NEVER voted
against the Bush Administration, unless it was SAFE for him and for Bush to do so.
This way he could come home and talk about his "independence."

Moderate Republicans no longer exist.
Mark Kirk should not be re-elected. His lack of leadership is
reason enough. Vote for Dan Seals.

BTW - There is an ad against Dan Seals running on the tube
here in Illinois. Freedom Watch produced the ad. Nice name but
what isn't said it that Freedom Watch is a Bush lobbying group
with mainly former Bush officials running it. Warmongering Moneychanger!

FREEDOM WATCH IS LYING ABOUT DAN SEALS.

Why isn't Mark Kirk distancing himself from their ad?

Why, indeed!

[Rawkcuf]

Palin is the reason we need to spend more money on education!

Not being aware of the gradual disfavor with Palin shows a distinct lack of interest in the feelings of constituents, or the brazen bull headedness to refuse to admit something less than positive, yet true.

[candlepower]

You know what maybe just maybe even that bunch of no-goods might be worried about what will happen if they get four more years.
Just think "President McCain and vice president Palin"
it's the opposite of viagra

[BarackMarley]

Even George Will and Newt Gingrich are referring to Palin as a huge, avoidable gamble. When your own party and pundits can't support you what does that say.

Watch Gingrich and Will Criticize Palin Here
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/gingrich-and-will-call-palin-huge-gamble/

[grantlingel]

anyone with half a brain would have picked someone else.

http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[lohy]

Well, now, there you go....'Nuff said..

[loax]

Every one knows she should just head North - To Alaska!