Senator Mark Kirk has now admitted that his photo op with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland was driven by his interest in keeping his job and not any real commitment to actually doing that job. He not surprisingly admitted it by explaining of his GOP colleagues: “’I think they all understand that I have to be separate from the leader,’ Kirk said, noting that he represents Illinois, which tends to lean Democratic.”
Kirk’s own campaign (desperately) released an internal poll they conducted that showed the majority of Illinoisans want the Senate to hold a confirmation hearing and a vote on Judge Garland.
“Mark Kirk is quickly working to erase any goodwill he has from meeting Judge Garland by admitting that he’s taken his Supreme Court position because of electoral politics,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Illinois needs a U.S. Senator who will lead because it’s the right thing to do, not because it polls well.”
