The U.S. Senate race has taken on a unique twist, as Republican candidate Andy Martin has questioned party opponent Mark Kirk's sexual orientation, according to the Huffington Post.
Martin, described in the Post item as "a noted conservative dirty trickster," states in the ad that "Illinois Republican leader Jack Roeser said there is a 'solid rumor that Kirk is a homosexual.'"
Kirk's campaign manager, Eric Elk, said in a statement that " [ t ] he ad is not true and is demeaning to the political process. The people of Illinois deserve better." Kirk, a naval intelligence officer, is on active duty and is unavailable for comment, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
On his Web site, Martin has a page devoted to the differences between Kirk and himself. He calls Kirk "one of the most liberal members of Congress" who "voted to endorse partial-birth" abortion, which Martin calls "infanticide."
According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady issued a statement criticizing Martin's radio spot: "His statements today are consistent with his history of bizarre behavior and often times hate-filled speech which has no place in the Illinois Republican Party. Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."
In a press conference held Dec. 28 at the law firm of Kluever & Platt, 65 E. Wacker, openly gay Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jacob Meister criticized Martin's tactic: "The use of sexual orientation in this race, whether overt or by innuendo, can no longer be tolerated. Mr. Martin's statements are clear attempts to use sexual orientation as a political weapon and are criminal in their perpetuation of ignorance and prejudice."
Meister also took aim at a Democratic foe, saying, "During the course of this campaign, my sexual orientation has been the source of underhanded remarks from my opponent, David Hoffman. ... Despite the enormous economic, national-security and domestic-policy challenges on which I have tried to focus my campaign, some think it more important to question someone's sexual orientation than to propose their own ideas on how to confront the many problems that desperately need our attention."
Meister also compared Hoffman to former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, saying that she, Martin and Hoffman use "the subtle innuendo of the 'family values' issue ... to [ imply ] that people who are lawfully refused the right to marry or begin a family are somehow less 'qualified.'"
Getting back to Kirk, Meister added, "Under the current circumstances, and in accordance with the very laws that he has whole-heartedly advocated, under current law Mark Kirk is subject to being removed from military service."
The Hoffman campaign team was swift to deny Meister's remarks about its candidate. Hoffman's campaign manager, Michael Powell, told Windy City Times, "The notion that David Hoffman is somehow slurring Mr. Meister about his sexual orientation is the most preposterous thing that has been said during this campaign—and a lot of preposterous things have been said. Jacob Meister keeps insinuating that David Hoffman is somehow critical of his sexual orientation, and that's just ridiculous. David is for gay marriage, he's for repealing [ the Defense of Marriage Act ] and [ wants to ] get rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Martin, once known as Anthony Martin-Trigona, has campaigned for various offices in Illinois, Florida and Connecticut, the Sun-Times noted.
