Mark Kirk Loses Endorsements From 2 National Advocacy Groups

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk continues to suffer the fallout from the derogatory comments he made Thursday during at televised debate with his challenger for Illinois' senate seat. Two national advocacy groups — the Human Rights Campaign and Americans for Responsible Solutions — that had endorsed the Republican incumbent withdrew their support Saturday after Kirk insulted the heritage and military service of U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.

After surprising many by backing his campaign in March, the Human Rights Commission revoked its endorsement of Kirk in an open letter posted Saturday to the online publishing site Medium. In its 36-year history, this is the first time the largest LGBT rights group in the United States has gone back on its support of a candidate.

"Senator Kirk’s comments about his opponent’s heritage were deeply offensive and racist," HRC President Chad Griffin wrote in an open letter announcing the group's move. "His attempt to use Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth’s race as a means to undermine her family’s American heritage and patriotism is beyond reprehensible."

"Attacking someone because of her race and ethnicity is inexcusable for anyone, but especially for a sitting U.S. Senator," he added.

Kirk made the comment in Thursday's debate after Duckworth — a U.S. Army veteran who was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and whose mother is Thai and of Chinese descent — talked about her family's tradition of U.S. military service, which included her father, a World War II veteran.

"I had forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington," Kirk responded.

RELATED: Did Mark Kirk Go Too Far Talking about Tammy Duckworth's Family Heritage?

The HRC's decision to pull back the endorsement came from the bipartisan group's Public Policy Committee of the Board of Directors, which then voted to endorse Duckworth and pledged to contribute the maximum amount to her campaign. The HRC originally endorsed Kirk "because he has been a strong supporter of our cause time and again, scoring a 100 percent on HRC’s most recent Congressional Scorecard," Griffin wrote.

Critics, however, blasted the group Friday when it didn't immediately withdraw Kirk's endorsement. At the time, an HRC spokesman called Kirk's remark "wrong and inappropriate" and said "he should rescind his comments immediately," a statment that contained less outrage and milder language than Saturday's open letter.

Kirk apologized for his comment on Twitter, and Duckworth used the same social media platform to accept it.

But Kirk's apology didn't impress the HRC, with Griffin saying it "failed to adequately address the real harm and magnitude of [Kirk's] words."

Later Saturday, Americans for Responsible Solutions — a gun legislation group founded by Democrat and Arizon's former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords — pulled its endorsement of Kirk.

RELATED: Democrat Gabby Giffords Endorses Republican Sen. Mark Kirk

"Senator Kirk’s racist attack on Congresswoman Duckworth is unacceptable and represents a low point, even in this election season …," a statement from the organization said. "While we believe the path to responsible change and communities safer from gun violence must include Republican champions, we cannot continue to support Senator Kirk. A man who is not worthy of your vote cannot be worthy of our endorsement."

Like the HRC endorsement, support for Kirk from the ARS in August came as a surprise. At the time, the group pointed to Kirk breaking from party ranks to back a 2013 gun bill in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting.

And also like the HRC, the ARS shifted its support to Duckworth on Saturday:

"Congresswoman Duckworth is an American hero and a powerful voice for stronger gun laws. She will be an exceptional United States Senator."

Read the open letter from the Human Rights Campaign and the statement from Americans for Responsible Solutions.

UPDATED (9:52 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29)

photo via Patch archives

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