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:
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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":
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Obviously, Kirk meant to say "Osama." But geez ... talk about a gaffe.
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