Offensive Rhetoric By Kirk Returns, Hasn’t Learned A Thing Since DHS “Coffins” Comment
Continuing his trend of outlandish and offensive rhetoric, Mark Kirk once again showed he just can’t help himself. This time, Kirk has compared Senate Democrats who are defending the rights of women to make their own healthcare decisions to defenders of slavery in the 1850s.
From Roll Call, referring to Senate Democrats who are standing strong against an abortion provision that was snuck into the anti-trafficking bill:
“They are making the same mistake that Democrats made in the 1850s when they defended slavery,” [Kirk] said.
This over-the-top declaration is just the latest in a string of offensive comments Kirk has made. Most recently, Kirk suggested that Republicans should build “coffins outside each Democratic office” in the event of an attack during a DHS shutdown.
“It is outrageous for Mark Kirk to compare the defense of women’s health care rights to the defense of slavery, and you have to wonder how on earth he thought it was OK to say something this offensive,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Just like when he argued for the building of coffins outside of Democratic offices during the potential DHS shutdown, Mark Kirk’s ugly rhetoric reveals someone absolutely terrified about his reelection chances because he’s wildly out of touch with Illinois. Illinois deserves better than a Senator like Mark Kirk who compares standing up for women’s access to healthcare to standing up for slavery. What was he thinking?”