Op-Ed

Republicans beware: Mark Kirk is a liberal

Tamara Holder Contributor
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What does Illinois Tea Party candidate Michael Labno have to do to get some attention around here? Does he have to be more like Christine O’Donnell: should he make some bizarre comment about meatballs, get caught buying vibrators and boil some frogs?

Or does he have to be more like Illinois Republican candidate Mark Kirk: shall he create an imaginary life story where he single-handedly killed Osama bin Laden with his .50 caliber sniper rifle, was awarded a medal of honor and then devoted his life to reading fairytales to nursery school students?

On October 5, 2010, Rasmussen Reports announced that a “statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Kirk picking up 45% of the vote, while Giannoulias earns 41% support. Four percent (4%) back Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones. Another five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided.”

Rasmussen cannot justify its failure to name the “some other candidate” who has 1% more support than Jones. Disappointing. Rasmussen had a duty to name Labno in the interest of fairness to all parties, to ensure more accurate reporting by the media, and because voters rely heavily on polling numbers to help them make a decision.

Labno shouldn’t be ignored for his lack of wack.

Warning to Republicans (or those who are considering voting Republican): If you vote for Mark Kirk, you will be voting for a liberal. So, if you are going to vote for a liberal, then make it easier on yourself and simply vote for Alexi Giannoulias, since he’s the real Democrat.

Wait, before you get all worked-up and accuse me, an Illinois Democrat, of trying to persuade the right to lean left, please continue reading because my point has zilch to do with Giannoulias…I simply want to make sure that the person you vote for accurately and properly represents you.

Michael Labno may be your guy, instead of Mark Kirk. Why?

Kirk is a Republican. Or is he? Kirk voted to allow the government to confiscate your legally owned firearm in the event of a national emergency. He is pro-choice, saved millions in funding for Planned Parenthood and was just one of 17 Republicans to vote to fund abortions for female inmates. Kirk is for cap and trade and voted for TARP not once, but twice.

Labno is a self-proclaimed “recovering Republican; three years sober, officially.” He wonders why we still haven’t found Osama bin Laden and is disappointed with the Republicans’ support of the bailouts. He wants small businesses and community banks to thrive again. He is pro-life and pro-guns. Labno owns his positions and he hasn’t manufactured his qualifications or made up outlandish stories to gain support.

Fred Newbrough, one of Labno’s Facebook friends, wrote, “We are tired of the same old games by the GOP…Kirk is the most horrible candidate imaginable for the Senate. He isn’t even reliably fiscally conservative. The good thing is that you, Mike, are in the race. Illinois has a real choice: a Tea Party choice, a conservative choice, a libertarian choice.”

Illinois voters, before you allow a senator to drive you to Washington, make sure “some other candidate” isn’t hidden in a blind-spot; otherwise, he may crash before you even get to your final destination.

Tamara N. Holder is one of the nation’s rising attorneys and legal analytical stars.  She is a Contributor for the Fox News Channel.  She has received recognition from some of the country’s most respected people, organizations and publications.  Tamara founded The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC, in 2005.  Her work includes: criminal defense, expungement, race discrimination, police brutality, public policy, and pro bono practices.  Seeing the need for outreach in this area, Tamara founded www.xpunged.com, a practice that provides a second chance to those individuals who have expungeable offenses under Illinois law.