Rep. Mark Kirk, Mulling Higher Office Run, Says People 'Ready To Shoot Anyone' Behind Tax Increase

UPDATED (Scroll Down)

Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, who says he will decide by the end of the month whether to run for either the U.S. Senate occupied by Roland Burris or Illinois governor, vented his anger over Gov. Pat Quinn's tax hike proposal to the Chicago's Tribune's Rick Pearson:

"I think that the decision to raise taxes by 50 percent in Illinois is political suicide," Kirk said of Quinn's proposal to raise the tax rate to 4.5 percent from 3 percent, coupled with an increase in the personal deduction. "I think the people of Illinois are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes by that degree."

Capital Fax's Rich Miller advises Kirk to tone down the volume if he's serious about running for higher office:

Perhaps someone who hasn't yet lost his or her mind in the Illinois GOP could advise this distinguished gentleman to turn it down a notch or two?

Seriously. What the heck? I mean, I've heard of dogwhistling the base, but that was like a foghorn in a library. I thought Kirk was supposed to be a moderate? He sounds a bit like Alan Keyes on meth. Or maybe Rod Blagojevich before he was hampered by federal bail restrictions.

Background on Kirk's political planning, from the Associated Press:

Kirk has previously expressed an interest in running for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Democrat Roland Burris, who has come under heavy criticism for accepting the appointment from former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The 10th District congressman said Wednesday that over the next two weeks he will analyze the issues confronting Illinois and then decide whether he should run for Congress again, or turn his attention to winning a Senate seat or the governorship.

Kirk said he is considering a run for governor because of the corruption that has tainted the state. He contended that Gov. Pat Quinn has done little to get reforms enacted.

Kirk is in solid financial shape to support a statewide run for either seat, Politico reports:

Kirk raised $696,000 in the first three months of the year, one of the highest fundraising totals of any member of the House so far. He now has $597,000 in his campaign account ...

UPDATE Kirk is standing by his earlier comments on taxpayer anger and violence, the AP reports:

Congressman Mark Kirk is standing by his earlier comments that Illinois residents "are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes" as much as Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing.

Kirk says the many people facing unemployment don't need a tax increase. Quinn has proposed a graduated income tax increase to help fill an $11.5 billion deficit.

Kirk appeared in Chicago on Thursday to introduce legislation increasing funds to target illegal arms smuggling. The Republican also says an increase in suburban heroin overdose deaths is linked to the underground drug and arms trade with Mexico.

Kirk says he'll decide by early May whether to run for governor against Quinn.

Comments

[jsgaetano]

Gooper Kirk must think Illinois is a treasonous Red State. Guess he didn't see what a flop the Teabaggers were.

Sounds like it's time to impeach Kirk for making death threats on our Governor.

[KataVideo]

Especially in his district. Wilmette? Winnetka? What are they going to do, rattle their jewelry if they're angry?

[dredeize]

Shooting? Are they THAT upset that they got their @$$e$ handed to them this past November?

[jsgaetano]

Definitely. Goopers are always violent when America rejects them and their treasonous agenda.

[crookedcountyillinois]

I'm tired of people screaming bloody murder over an increase in state income taxes. Especially when my property taxes went up 45% last year (in 2008), only because I bought my home in 2006. This amounts to a corruption tax, where it's not even clear where the money is actually going.

http://therearecrooksinillinois.blogspot.com/

And where is the mainstream press on this one? Or what about investigative journalism?

[nowarpleez]

But shooting? Even if you are against a tax increase do you support a politician advocating murder? I mean seriously, are we a civilized society? After this past week, I'm starting to think not.

[howcome]

Democrats in Illinois and CookCounty and Chicago...10.25% sales tax.... Perks , staffs ,patronage, nepotism ...... They are now floating a plan on increasing sales taxes on FOOD purchases.....BRING OUT THE FIRE POWER.

[VOTER]

howcome21-25%

Which county do you live in?
Just asking.............................

[4akinderworld]

You go right ahead. Murder is still a capital offense. It will keep the courts busy.

I don't think that even a figurative reference like that is appropriate coming from an elected official, because then the general population in agreement tends to get empowerment and pretty soon, someone gets shot and killed. Domestic terrorism.

[Shavano]

I remember less than a year ago the rethugs who ran this country called liberal dems anti-American radicals. I don't remember any of us advocating murder or secession. Now the GOP is out of office for four months and they are running around the country advocating murder, secession and revolution with impunity. I believe Bush would have had us all arrested for such talk and the GOP would have used it as an excuse to have the president declare marshal law.

The true face of the conservative movement is showing through. They truly are fascists, hell bent on a world in which they control everything and are willing to incite people to murder in order to accomplish it. We are in a battle for our country and the election of Obama was just the first step. We need to push everyone of these people out of power and quickly. Let's make sure we keep working hard for the Dems during 2010 and defeat as many of these nut jobs as possible.

[DASChicago]

Shavano your post was so good, I had to copy it!

"I remember less than a year ago the rethugs who ran this country called liberal dems anti-American radicals. I don't remember any of us advocating murder or secession. Now the GOP is out of office for four months and they are running around the country advocating murder, secession and revolution with impunity. I believe Bush would have had us all arrested for such talk and the GOP would have used it as an excuse to have the president declare marshal law.

The true face of the conservative movement is showing through. They truly are fascists, hell bent on a world in which they control everything and are willing to incite people to murder in order to accomplish it. We are in a battle for our country and the election of Obama was just the first step. We need to push everyone of these people out of power and quickly. Let's make sure we keep working hard for the Dems during 2010 and defeat as many of these nut jobs as possible."

[dredeize]

I agree. That was a great post.

[Chicago48]

Hoolihan is advocating taxes on food and services. With these stupid-a** proposals, people are going to vote with their feet and move to Indiana. Why would you tax food, which is a necessity?

[SaintZak]

When something dreadful happens these people need to be held accountable for their part in creating the atmosphere that encouraged it.

[serindipity803]

These rethugs are pretty free with the thought of shooting people aren't they? They blatantly incite trigger finger extremist while planting fear and hopelessness in the crowds who are silly enough to listen. Apparently this is their precipice for presenting themselves as the "New White Hope"

[loveofdemocracy]

Judas Priest! When are we going to get parental warning labels on Republicans?! This one should have been labeled RR VAGS -- "Rabid Republican" because of "Violence Arrogance Stupidity Guns"

[joeperc]

and another thing: Kirk is the most arrogant SOB I've ever heard speak to constituents.

[VOTER]

You are so right!

[joeperc]

Kirk has been called moderate because he claims to be pro-choice and votes with the Dems on social issues when the GOP allows him since he's in a split district. (Still he voted with Repubs FOR the Terry Schiavo law & any close vote when they needed him.) He also gets high marks on environmental issues. On economic issues he is as FAR RIGHT as they come. He voted for every one of Bush's budgets and all the tax breaks for the rich. He backs all the tax breaks for corporations, rails against "socialized medicine" and is rabidly anti-labor. As a result he has one of the biggest campaign war chests in the state and will be dangerous in a state-wide election- especially if the media keep calling him "moderate".

[moongal6]

We had one of "those" in Oregon. Senator Smith was only bi-partisan during election years. Other than that, it was GOP all the way.
We voted him out last November.
Perfect. We now have two Democratic Senators in OR.

[VOTER]

I live in Kirk's 10th District and we do not call him a moderate.
Anything but..............

Actually he has become a Limbaugh Lemming.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

John Porter was a moderate, this guy, I've disliked from day one.

[MizLiz]

Oh here we go again, with God, Guns, and (hatred of) Gays. These yahoos really get off on talking the big talk about shooting people, don't they? Freud would understand.

[protagonia]

They are the devil's servants.

[noaxe397]

Wow, I never thought I would say this, but here in Arizona the Republican who replaced Napolitano as governor, Jan Brewer, has insisted state taxes be raised to close the budget deficit. Now, please remember, Napolitano is a Democrat. She cut business taxes MORE than the legislature requested (controlled by Republicans for decades and almost veto proof,) Now, the Republican replacement wants to raise taxes and, guess what? Unlike the Illinois crazies. here in the wild, wild west it's all quiet. No guns bazing, no nooses, no tar, no feathers. Very different from a time about 6-7 years ago when the Maricopa County board of supervisors voted to raise taxes to pay for a baseball stadium for the Diamondbacks. Then, an anti tax protestor at a supervisors meeting shot county supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox in the back. Of course, she was a Democrat.

[DASChicago]

Bait and Switch! Blaming Obama, what's being done locally by the right-fringe. MG what's next.

[sueinmn]

The only ones with tax increases are the rich. These tax increases are the Bush expiration of tax decreases. Bush chose to ram this through using the sunset clause and was never meant to be permanent! He couldnt get the 60 vote required and used the 51 vote with sunset. So how in the he.ll do these people think Obama is raising taxes? How do they come up wit 50% increases? They are again playing on the ignorant! What I'm getting out of this is the shooters most likely would be some poor ignorant sucker that hasnt a clue that the Bush tax expiration will not and never will effect him! Are they trying to get sorry saps to act on their outragious attempts to grandstand?

They are getting more dangerous by the day! How much more do we have to put up with? I think every state should begin recall or impeach papers to shut these people up! This is not free speech when it borders treason against the very government they work for! Didnt Gingrich in his day get caught up in almost a coup??????????????????????????