WASHINGTON — God bless the hot mike.
WASHINGTON — God bless the hot mike.
Without it, how would we know what politicians really think?
Take, for example, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill. On Thursday morning, he offered his thoughts about Senate colleague Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., near a mike he thought was off. If Graham, a bachelor and presidential candidate, wins the election, Kirk said, “he’ll have a rotating first lady. He’s a bro with no ho.”
Er, OK.
So, here’s the thing:
1. No one says that (especially not white, middle-aged men).
2. Even if people did say it, a U.S. senator shouldn’t be using the phrase, especially not in public. Like, ever.
3. Kirk is also single.
This isn’t the first time in recent months that Kirk has been caught saying something impolitic.
Back in April, he drew unwanted attention when he talked about trying to build wealth among African-Americans “so that the black community is not the one we drive faster through.”
Two months earlier, Kirk created a firestorm when, amid a fight over funding the Department of Homeland Security, he said, “The Republicans — if there is a successful attack during a DHS shutdown — we should build a number of coffins outside each Democratic office and say, ‘You are responsible for these dead Americans.’”
Kirk, not for nothing, also happens to be the single most vulnerable Senate incumbent up for re-election in 2016, running in a state that President Barack Obama carried by 17 points in 2012 and where Democrats have a top-tier recruit in Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Mark Kirk, for forgetting (again) not to say aloud absolutely everything you are thinking, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
Cillizza covers the White House for The Washington Post and writes The Fix, its politics blog.