Another day, another instance of Rep. Mark Kirk twisting the facts.
Last week, we noted his falsehoods about the uninsured population in America. Yesterday, we thoroughly debunked his bogus claim that the federal unemployment insurance benefit extension he voted against would lead people to cash in after two weeks of work.
Then, during an appearance on WLS' Don Wade & Roma Morning Show today, Kirk falsely asserted that the Chinese are drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba. Listen here:
Vice President Dick Cheney made the same claim last week in front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, adding that "even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply."
But the assertion that the Chinese are drilling in the Gulf of Mexico -- first put forth by George Will -- is completely false.
Jorge Piñon, an energy expert at the University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy, told The Miami Herald that “China is not drilling in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico waters, period.” The Congressional Research Service agrees.
After being called out on the mistake, Cheney backtracked last Wednesday, saying: "It is our understanding that, although Cuba has leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off the coast of southern Florida, which is closer than American firms are allowed to operate in that area, no Chinese firm is drilling there."
Why then, Rep. Kirk, are you still peddling this trash a week later?
And then there's this ...
Since Barack Obama stepped onto the national stage, public officials from John Ashcroft to Ted Kennedy to Mitt Romney have mistakenly referred to him as "Osama." Today, Mark Kirk added himself to this illustrious list. However, I think it goes without saying that he picked a most inopportune context.
Listen to Kirk express his support for a policy "where if we see Obama there's a shoot-on-sight order":
Obviously, Kirk meant to say "Osama." But geez ... talk about a gaffe.
From the June 18 broadcast of WLS' Don Wade & Roma in the Morning:
DON WADE: The big news this morning is John McCain said, "We're going to have drilling offshore." That's what I want. That's a change. President Bush now says -- he's going to have a statement in the Rose Garden at 9:30 about drilling offshore. Sixty-seven percent of Americans say: "Drill offshore." Let's find out what Congressman Mark Kirk thinks.
ROMA: Well, we've asked him your litmus test before and he too --
DON WADE: Good morning, congressman.
KIRK: It makes no sense to allow the Chinese to drill on the Cuban side of the line in Florida without us tapping into the very same oil fields. We've got the Venezualans, the Dutch, and the Chinese all drilling in the gulf under leases from Cuba because it's on their side of the line. It makes perfect sense that the United States makes sure our team gets that oil before Castro does.
ROMA: Well, can Nancy Pelosi hear the beating of the drums
KIRK: You know, the mood of the country has shifted quite a bit and so I think it's time for a long-term set of solutions on our energy crisis. Probably the other big decision we should make is to restart the nuclear industry of the United States.
[...]
DON WADE: In fact, yesterday in a conference call, Barack Obama's advisers were asked, "If Osama bin Laden were caught, should he get to challenge his detention in U.S. courts?" And the advisers said that -- should that right to challenge detention that they get at Gitmo based on the Supreme Court ruling, should that be applied to bin Laden? -- and Obama's advisers said, "Yes."
KIRK: Yeah, and I would much rather have a policy where if we see Obama there's a shoot-on-sight order.
DON WADE: Well, okay. I'm with you, but I don't know whether that's going to make 67 -- well it might --
ROMA: I don't think Osama bin Laden -- no one ever sights him.
UPDATE: Kirk apologizes to Obama for mixing him up with Osama.
UPDATE 2: More from Kirk's appearance on WLS.
Anonymous on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 15:56
Do not be mistaken. Kirk and the others who have "confused" Obama and Osama mean to do it and mean the consequences they hope will ensue.
Anonymous on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 21:42
Kirk spread lies to us his constituents about the "mobile biological weapons factories" in Iraq long after Army Intelligence had reported that they were for making hydrogen to inflate balloons for target practice. Now Kirk is having a Republican linked group called "Central Research" call us in the 10 Congressional District with push polls spreading lies about Kirk's opponent Dan Seals in the guise of a pollster doing a survey. It's illegal, but Kirk is continuing it anyway. He should be in jail!
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 14:39
There is no letter "O" in arabic -the proper pronunciation (and spelling) is Usama, or Usameh.
This should clear up any confusion.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 14:59
They are either truly stupid or truly evil.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:07
If they plan to shoot Osama on sight what the heck are they whining about Habeas Corpus for?
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:32
Why do such retarded men even hold public office? This man has no moral standards whatsoever. A pathological liar an still holds public office? He should do the right thing and resign.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:40
Fail!
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:50
I would like to see how the Republican's interpretation of polling data came about. They have a history of reading more into data that can be proven. When Gallup polls are concerned, there is a made for oder practice the public is not aware of. In any event, they need to show or site the data they are referring to.
Joseph
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:55
Kirk is the most disingenuous representative in the House. He pretends to be all things to all people and then continues to act in lockstep with his neocon pals.
It sickens me that he's managed to hold on to his office for so long. Go get him, Seals!
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:01
Won't America be a beautiful place when these liars and fear mongers are no longer in fashion? Bush's lack of leadership against immoral behavior makes me highly doubt that he is really a man of religion, as he claims. I don't think folks like Mark Kirk even KNOW what the high ground is...so it's very unlikely they will ever take it.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:03
Why not both?
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:13
I don't know if others here are in the same boat, but I know people right now that agree with literally everything this idiot says and I don't care what evidence you provide to refute his claims. We've reached a point in this country where you are either left or right...the middle has disappeared.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:46
Repuklicasinines beat the rhetric drums every election season. They don't have any moral fortitude. Sadly they're a deminishing cult.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:16
Repuklicasinines beat the rhetric drums every election season. They don't have any moral fortitude. Sadly they're a deminishing cult.
Why is it sad that they are a "diminishing cult"?
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:28
money
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:45
I Think that Rep. Mark Kirk Should represent his self right out of office as soon as possible.How can he represent anyone when he keeps putting his foot in his mouth. I'am sorry is not the word for him "numb" that's it. Don you need to play the tape back for yourself. If you understood what he was saying about the shoot on sight on Obama, why in the heck did you agree with him at first. The shame should be on you as well as on Rep. Kirk. What Nancy Pelosi is really hearing is comment's coming from Larry, Curly and Mo on the off shore so call oil drilling.
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 18:02
No, China is not yet drilling off of the Florida Keys, they just recently got the Cuban leases, however unless they come up with dry holes (what Rahm Emanuel was really talking about yesterday concerning unused oil leases) the Chinese will be drilling for oil within a short boat ride Key West. You should be happy. A serious question, do you people believe that gasoline comes from some sort of "magic gas pump"?
Anonymous on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 22:42
What a distasteful show. They meant every word. I hope that karma gets them well.
Anonymous on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 05:55
Do you believe in a "magic oil pipeline" that instantly makes oil available as soon as the rig is in place (try estimates of 3-10 years), or one that makes all oil pumped from American soil available exclusively to Americans? Geesh, it all goes on the world market, and if OPEC doesn't like the level of oil on the market, they can easily alter the amount of their oil going to market.
Anonymous on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 11:34
there are no chinese drilling in cuba. dick c. had to issue a public statement admitting that error. you're either misinformed (stupid) or lying.
Anonymous on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 16:15
The Cubans have let leases for oil exploration on the sea beds off of Cuba. What exactly do you think that means? What follows seismic exploration? Furthermore do not describe people as "stupid" when you have problems with the verb "to be".
Anonymous on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 10:52
I agree!!! Lets just kick some ass and not be far anymore take whats ours and call it a night. I say take back the oil fields everywhere there is terror and control them with missles... after they know we mean buisness we sell them back and write a contract with the worlds civilans.
Anonymous on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 15:53
Dan Seals for the IL-10th!
Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 12:30
OK.. All..
IIf China DOES NOT DRILL in the Gulf in Cuban Waters (?), then DO YOU ALL NOT EXPECT Drillers from other Nations to LATER DRILL in these same waters ? .
Then, we in Our Nation can then buy the Oil from them (when found) as well.at higher prices...?
That is only one of the questions we need answers.from the knowledgeable folks in Washington....
Anon
Henry Gomez (not verified) on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 01:13
It's a fact that Cuba auctioned off exploration blocks on its side of the Florida straits a couple of years ago and that among the companies that bought blocks was China's Sinopec.
The Castro regime made a big deal about it at the time as they always do with their joint ventures. The fact that no actual drilling has begun doesn't negate the argument that Cuba, with the aid of China and other countries such as Brazil and Canada, intends to explore and pump oil from its side of the Florida straits where the type of ecological disaster that environmentalists fear (and use as a reason to oppose offshore drilling) will certainly affect the U.S. The point is the U.S. has to assume the risk whether we decide to cash in on the reward or not because we don't control Cuba's side. In other words, if you can't beat em, join em.
Why the Chinese haven't begun actual drilling yet, two years after the much ballyhooed announcement is a mystery but probably has to do with lack of available resources to do the job or bickering about the details of the deal with Castro, Inc.
This isn't a real gotcha moment for the Dems. The argument remains in place though the particulars are slightly misunderstood.
Anonymous on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 09:20
Well put Henry.
It seems now we have 70% of the American public in favor of drilling in the Gulf. I wonder who Speaker Pelozi actually represents ? Maybe its her Mecca for illegal imigrants she harbors in San Francisco.
What is the Speakers plan for "short term" relief ? Lets face it folks huging tree's is not going to put food on my table, and fuel in my "work trucks". We need to approve the drilling NOW !
It may take 3 years to get the supply flowing, but you can bet your lunch money (if theres any left) that the price of oil will drop below $100 a barrel the instant the vote hits the floor.
Speaker Pelozi will not allow a vote do to the fact we have an election coming up, if her possey votes against the speaker there screwed. If they vote against what the people they represent want there screwed. Sooooo long story short Speaker Pelozi could lose that position if her puppets are forced to vote with her, and the American public reads threw the media rhetoric and vote the clowns out.
Do your home work folks, party lines are a joke. "We The People" need to take this country back.
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