Mark Kirk Backpedals On Climate Bill Vote After Pressure From Right

Aspiring Senator and self-described moderate Republican Mark Kirk is fast backing away from his vote in favor of President Obama's cap-and-trade bill.

Kirk has been hit hard from the right since casting one of only eight Republican votes in favor of the controversial climate bill. If recent interviews are any judge, Kirk is bending to the pressure.

In an interview on WIND's "Big John & Cisco In The Morning," Kirk gave the impression that he could switch his vote should the bill return to the House:

If this comes back -- and I don't think it will, I think this bill has died in the Senate -- I will be going through every detail and thinking about all of my constituents who got a hold of me on this issue. Because there has been an issue that I've heard nothing else about in the last couple of weeks.

The North Shore Congressman sounded a similar theme in an an appearance on "Fox Chicago Sunday," with an explicit pitch to downstate voters skeptical of the legislation:

"I've always backed energy independence policies, but I've heard from people on this issue like no other. The energy interests of Illinois are far broader and deeper than my North Shore district."

Watch the full interview:

The backpedal already seems to be paying dividends among conservative bloggers, as Progress Illinois notes.

"Well Hallelujah!," wrote Backyard Conservative. "I will rethink my lack of support for Kirk." Marathon Pundit didn't give Kirk credit for repentance, but wrote that "it looks like he got the message."

Comments

[mamala4]

Looks like Bush, sounds like Bush, votes like Bush...must be a Bush!

[VOTER]

Kirk isn't the favorite GREEN color of 10th District Dems, Republicans and Independents, he's
the sickly yellow pollution color of Limbaugh Lemmings.

[mamala4]

How much do you pay for your health care Congressman?

[VOTER]

He will never answer your question and it is a great one too.

[mamala4]

And Congressman Kirk, our reputation and image will NOT be repaired by electing you...

[VOTER]

True.

Like Illinois needs a Senator Mark Bushed Kirk.

[mamala4]

Backpeddling...how about flip flopping....he's a loser.

[geoboy m]

Kirk shows evidence of having a brain… but still lacks evidence of having a spine.

[mamala4]

What brain? He twitters from the Pentagon...

[BUTCHER111]

Mark Kirk’s slogan will be, “Standing Strong! Unless the special interests don’t like that!”

[Expatslacker]

Or more accurately unless his constituents don't like it. Wise man if he wants to get elected to the Senate.

[VOTER]

Wrong - his constituents in the 10th are in favor of it.

It is the GOPers outside of his district that he went crawling toward.

[Westof405]

This guy is the same dimwit who went to China and told the Chinese not to buy US bonds because the US was not to be trusted. Is this who you want in the Senate-someone who has no faith in his own country?

[sushi27]

Yes he did - and he is not moderate - he talks a good game, but backed every single Bush/Rep vote in Congress.

[NickConrad]

So he's against the green buses before he's for them then he's against them again. I have my own personal reasons to loathe the political aspirations of this man, but come on please show me next year that I'm in the majority on that one.

[LMPE]

Ah yes, and this guy says that he wants to restore integrity to Illinois politics. He's off to a great start.

[jannielee]

The best way for Mark Kirk to restore integrity to Illinois politics would be for him to move to New Jersey.

[Expatslacker]

Seconded.

[mamala4]

Oh you mean the garbage state....

[VOTER]

Texas is a good choice too.

[Mabo]

Uh...isn't this just another visual example of what a moderate is?? Finger to the wind and sway with the breeze. Whichever way it blows is the way they will go. No standing on their own principles or voting the way they promised their constituents that they would. They shouldn't be moderates...they need to be called Followers, because that's what they do.

[Chitownfool]

Hey Kirk I'm high on the Kush right now! It's all I smoke all day every day!!

[TLV]

I suppose he though this made more sense.
From The Sierra Club:
"The Bush Administration's proposed changes to Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) would to close a loophole that exempts 8500 pound to 10,000 pound trucks from CAFE standards. However, the proposal would create an incentive for automakers to add weight to their other trucks, qualifying them for weaker standards. The proposal would create more truck weight classes, with different fuel economy standards for each classification."

[Chitown95]

Mark Kirk is and has been a disaster. He goes the way the wind blows. He is a complete phony.

[BeauRadley]

Ah yes Markie--way to show a lot of courage.