GOP Condemns Senate Ad Calling Frontrunner Gay

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Campaign 2010

(CBS)

The Republican Party is shunning a perennial political candidate, this time running for an Illinois Senate seat, after he launched a political attack ad questioning the sexuality of his main Republican primary opponent.

Candidate Andy Martin launched a radio ad on Monday against Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), the current frontrunner for the GOP nomination in the 2010 Illinois Senate race. The ad calls into question Kirk's sexuality. Martin claims Kirk "lives in some kind of 'Animal House' in Washington with another gay congressman," reports CBS 2 Chicago.

Martin says his ad is based on a "solid rumor on the Internet," CBS 2 reports. The attack is the latest of many over-the-top claims from Martin, yet WBBM Newsradio 780 is required to run the ad because it cannot censor political advertising.

The Illinois Republican Party released a statement condemning Martin and his ad.

"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," the statement said. "Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican Candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."

Martin, who has run for political office several times, was convicted of attacking two photographers in Florida, CBS 2 Chicago reports, and was denied admission to the Illinois Bar for "moderately severe character defect." He reportedly once ran for Congress to "eliminate Jew power in America."

In a bid for the presidency in 1999, Martin ran a television ad in New Hampshire contending that his opponent George W. Bush "had a cocaine problem" and suffered from "alcohol abuse," the Chicago Tribune reports. He also reportedly attacked Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, claiming he is a Muslim and questioning whether he is a U.S. citizen.

Kirk's office released a statement calling Martin's claims "untrue and demeaning to the political process," CBS 2 reports. Jacob Meister, an openly gay candidate for the Democratic Senate nomination reportedly called the ad reminiscent of McCarthy-era tactics and said it could damage Kirk's military career. Kirk is on active duty as a Naval Intelligence officer.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by kansas1946 December 29, 2009 6:14 PM EST: Just another case of Republicans eating their own.; Reply to this comment


by cleric60 December 29, 2009 3:36 PM EST: On Mark Kirk's website, it states he is a man of integrity. If he acts with integrity, he will either openly confirm or forcefully deny this rumor about his sexual orientation ASAP. This is an issue of trust. No attempted cover-up. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth would confirm his integrity.; Reply to this comment

by skeetchamp December 29, 2009 2:59 PM EST

he forgot the GOP only uses these tactics against Democrats, not other Republicans.

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by nowhiningallowed December 29, 2009 4:52 PM EST: Dems are hardly the innocents they try to come off as or would have us believe....vitriol comes out of the mouths of both parties....only the foolhardy refuse to accept and recognize this reality....


by Marine_Vet December 29, 2009 2:29 PM EST: Sounds like most republicans these days. I sure won't be voting for any of them.; Reply to this comment

by superdem1 December 29, 2009 2:04 PM EST

The Illinois Republican Party is criticizing Candidate Martin's statements only because:
1. He's calling another Republican gay.
2. He's hurting Republican chances of holding a Senate seat.
3. He's drawing national ridicule to the Republican image.

Now, if these things were being said about a Democrat, in a Christian mega-church or tea party mob, they would draw thundrous applause. Destroying a military man's reputation over a rumor, or recognizing the rights of an actual gay person - these things mean nothing to Republicans. Republicans believe what Candidate Martin says, they just don't want to lose power over it.

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by cleric60 December 29, 2009 2:25 PM EST: Did I miss something...the Illinois Republican Party is offended by Martin's statements and ad. Excuse me superdem1, who or what gave you the power to look into the minds and hearts of Republicans? Persons, who value respect and integrity, regardless of what party they belong should be offened by Martin's actions. Again, "who, regardless of what party they belong to, is without sin, should cast the first stone."


by NowBeWithThat December 29, 2009 1:44 PM EST: Ok, so he's crazy. Next!; Reply to this comment

by aldon61 December 29, 2009 1:27 PM EST

Martin, who has run for political office several times, was convicted of attacking two photographers in Florida, CBS 2 Chicago reports, and was denied admission to the Illinois Bar for "moderately severe character defect." He reportedly once ran for Congress to "eliminate Jew power in America."

In a bid for the presidency in 1999, Martin ran a television ad in New Hampshire contending that his opponent George W. Bush "had a cocaine problem" and suffered from "alcohol abuse," the Chicago Tribune reports. He also reportedly attacked Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, claiming he is a Muslim and questioning whether he is a U.S. citizen.

Sounds like a typical Republican, wonder why the party is denouncing him. This guy is mainstream, just ask Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly and Palin, they'll campaign for him.

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by nowhiningallowed December 29, 2009 1:41 PM EST: Typical Republican? At least the state party stepped up to the plate and denounced and severed any support of this candidate. Sounds to me like you have a problem with the Republicans doing the right thing. Is there no satisfying you left leaning types?


by aldon61 December 29, 2009 2:09 PM EST: Actually I'm now an independent (former republican). I still "lean" a little to the right, not left. What I've seen over the last 9 years has repulsed me to politics in general, but particularly to the "hard" right. I listen to talk radio and have heard more hate coming through the air-ways from the right. The far left is equally inane, although I don't hear as much hate as from the right. The left commentators like Olbermann and Maddow deal more with humor or satire and I find them more entertaining and quite frankly more intelligent. Neither side is representive of my political spectrum, so I call them as I see them. Until a Viable 3rd party is formed, it's people like me that decide the elections. It's a bitter pill, one way or the other, arsenic from the left, strycnine from the right, not much of a choice is it?


by PVperson2 December 29, 2009 1:10 PM EST: Hey, finally a forthright republican that speaks what ALL republicans think behind their lying faces.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 December 29, 2009 12:55 PM EST: bubbadubba December 29, 2009 12:23 PM EST
You mean like the moral standards of Mao and Stalin and communist atheist regimes?
Now those were people you can trust.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Absolutley. There are not any religious regimes from the past that had low moral standards.; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob December 29, 2009 12:55 PM EST: "his history of bizarre behavior and often times hate-filled speech, which has no place in the Illinois Republican Party,".

Rush? Hannity? DeMint? I fail to see the distinction between Martin and the rest of the Republican Party. The guy fits right in.; Reply to this comment