GOP Senate Candidate Polls Readers On Iran Sanctions

In a curious move that could provide fodder for critics, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill) is polling members of his email list about their preferred position on the debate over leveling targeted economic sanctions against Iran.

The Illinois Republican Senate candidate sent out an email on Tuesday morning that piggybacks off the news that Iran was hiding an underground uranium enrichment facility. Kirk emphasizes that the U.S. "must take action t bring Iran's leaders into compliance with their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." Then he conducts his own personal poll:

"Should the U.S. enact targeted economic sanctions to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons?" the email reads.

Certainly, the decision to pose such a question could be an attempt by Kirk to foster interactivity with potential voters - though, in this context, it's hard to see much of a debate developing over whether or not to apply targeted economic sanctions against Iran.

But, from a strictly political context, the polling question could feed an unhelpful narrative developing around Kirk. The Illinois Republican has already been labeled as a finger-to-the-wind politican, whose policy positions flow with changing electoral dynamics. Before announcing that he would run for the Senate, he voted in favor of the cap-and-trade bill in the House of Representatives. Once he announced his bid, he announced that he would oppose the same piece of legislation, explaining that his constituency was different.

"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 explained. "As your representative, representing the entire state of Illinois, I would vote no on that bill coming up."

Here is the email:

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[RockChalk]

I get an email every few weeks from Rep. Kirk and it always includes one or more interactive polls or questionnaires asking for his constituents opinions. How dare Mark Kirk ask the people he's representing to voice their opinion! Who does he think he is?! A Representative?!

I'm all for articles on substantive issues like Kirk's Cap and Trade issues, but this is petty sniping. I know the site has a hard on for ripping on Kirk whenever possible, but you don't need to make issues out of absolutely nothing.

These kinds of polls are in constituent mailings all the time. Whenever Kirk sends out an email on an upcoming vote he always asks for the constituencies opinion, even if he's pretty much made up his mind on how he'll vote. He's simply reaching out to his district. I appreciate the effort on his part to convey that he values constituent contact. Would you prefer he just said "I'm voting for sanctions, if you don't agree with me I don't wanna hear about it!"

[balancedsolution]

why do all these GOP'ers have the same Bush Haircut?

is it in their DNA?

do they all go to the same barber?

never understood this mystery.

if anyone can help clarify this, it will make my life smooth easier.

[sheaintsayin]

Another amazingly blatant display of disrespect for the White House and the Congress...as in usurping the United States government, as in why isn't he, and those others being interviewed by the CIA?

[Byjingoes]

It's OK. This is a non-issue. If you subscribe to your congress person's newsletter, you'll probably know that this is pretty standard "interactivity" mechanism for these district emails. You automatically "sign up" for the email alert if you take the poll (if you hadn't already).

Even if this were some how unprecedented, the question suggests a rather moderate approach to a hard problem.

With all that is on fire everywhere, this is space wasted.

[Frenbar]

As much as a corporate stooge as this guy is, I still prefer is position on this issue over that of the vast majority of Democrats.

I'll take someone who puts his finger in the wind to vote with the majority of his constituents over someone who is bought and sold by AIPAC and committed to voting as such, just like Iraq.

[blood1]

WOW, I wonder if he consulted MSteele on this incredibly stupid idea or if he came up with it himself.

So now, the GOP have decided to try and run around and tell the world that OUR President's foreign policy is being done, not by diplomats or government officials who actually know how to negotiate, by but his constituents. Gee, I thought I had stupid Senators here in TX, but IL, you are certainly giving them a run for their money if this guy gets to the Senate.

[eyepatch]

I bet he didn't polls his constituents when
it came to the Iraq debacle!

Mark Kirk was the Illinois George W. Bush
poster boy I will be glad to see him fade
from the political scene just like Denny Hastert

[rigmoten]

why not leave ALL foreign policy to popular opion?
I would like to know what the people of the US think the US should do in Iraq a) leave b) stay forever c) don't know or in Afghanistan a) leave b) waste all of our resources by propping up a corrupt government or c) don't know

[Whitley2009]

Maybe we should poll the readers about sanctions for this GOPER maroon.

[Ponderus]

Kirk =

Nasty

Piece

Of

Work

[ptobe]

I'm certain each and every person on his email list is an experience international policy expert with lots of expertise on Iran.

Otherwise he'd be a m0r0n and that can't be ... can it?

[Cambridge9]

Actually, I do believe that most of the members on his e-mail list are already pretty much of the same mind that he is . I'm assuming that his e-mail list contain very few Dems.

[logan9]

I'm on his list because I told him how ignorant he was!

[ObamAtomic]

"mark kirk is an idiot" that statement is the whole true.

[dans5843]

Who is this nut polling?
Waiters/Bus Boys
Bakers
Meter Maids
Plumbers
etc. etc., He should be reading about history.

His office right now is not answering his telephones in Illinois after 5p

[mamala4]

They never have....

[foxisms]

There's always somone willing to stir up the cistern. What beter way to pander for funds from the defense industry. Start with a provacative little poll on sanctions all the while showing how willing you are to goad someone into "just asking for" a little invasive relationship.

[Kingstone]

This guy went to China and made anti- USA remarks. His Republican friends laughed when Chicago lost US Olympic bid and said nothing about it. Condemn that anti- American sentiment right now Joke!
No one here in Illiniois takes you seriously, go ahead and waiste your Insurance Co. money.

[mamala4]

And all his physician friends who are anti-reform and give him big money....why is it that we send millions to Iraq to ensure that all Iraquis have universal health insurance and Kirk, who is pro-war and staying in Iraq, won't give US citizens the same?

[vgirl1]

This Republican, dear people of Illinois, is blowing in the wind. Your answer is to also blow him into the wind.

[illinois4O]

Absolutely!! Will do!!!!!