2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumKirk likens Obama to 'drug dealer in chief' for $400 million Iran payment
Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who has made opposition to a U.S.-led nuclear agreement with Iran a major theme of his re-election campaign, likened home-state President Barack Obama to "drug dealer in chief" over a $400 million payment linked to the release of American prisoners.
Kirk's controversial rhetoric has been an issue as the first-term senator is viewed as perhaps the most vulnerable Republican incumbent nationally this fall. He is being challenged by two-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates.
The latest eyebrow-raising comment came as he spoke last week to a Downstate newspaper. Kirk echoed GOP criticism that the U.S. cash payment of $400 million to Iran was a ransom for the release of American prisoners held by the country.
The money was part of a previously announced settlement in a case stemming from money owed since 1979. The U.S. has had a long-standing policy of not paying ransom for hostages, and the Obama administration described the payment as "leverage" for the release of U.S. prisoners.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-mark-kirk-barack-obama-drug-dealer-iran-met-0822-20160821-story.html
OnDoutside
(19,956 posts)An idiot 😂
kevink077
(365 posts)He knows it.
Tortmaster
(382 posts)... he fumbled, shanked it into the woods, threw a gutter ball and landed a perfect belly flop.
This is going to go over well in Illinois.
I've donated to Congresswoman Duckworth already, but I'm gonna pay out some more love.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)SaschaHM
(2,897 posts)Is there anything other than President Obama's skin color that brought on this colorful term? No one, not even tweety, has compared this to a drug deal. Congratulations on your Senate seat, Rep. Duckworth.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)Yeah, I thought so.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)overwhelmingly!
democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)Using a racially tinged attack on President Obama while running for Senate in Illinois? Seriously?