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Kirk blasts Duckworth over 'unhinged' comment: 'She is so desperate'

Published  August 24, 2016 10:12pm CDT
2020 Election
FOX 32 Chicago

FOX 32 NEWS - Senator Mark Kirk on Wednesday said it’s "sad" that Democrat Tammy Duckworth has questioned his mental ability. He suffered a severe stroke four-and-a-half years ago.

The issue arose after Kirk launched another attack on President Obama's dealings with Iran.

A White House spokesman weighed in on Mark Kirk's statement that sending hundreds of millions of dollars in cash to Iran was not acting like a commander in chief, but more like a "drug dealer in chief."

“I don't think that kind of rhetoric is consistent with the views of most people in Illinois about the efforts of President Obama to advance our interests around the world and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” said the White House spokesman.

“I just don't think that's language befitting of a United States senator. And I think it diminishes the office. And I think he should be - he should apologize,” Duckworth said.

Duckworth's been demanding all week that Kirk apologize. She said he's made a series of statements that are "unhinged." 

“I would say it's "unhinged" to send $400 million in cash to terrorists,” Kirk said. “Remember, the State Department has changed its story very much on this.”

Kirk then played his own version of the partisan "outrage" game, taking offense at Duckworth calling his mental capacity into question in the wake of the severe stroke he suffered.

“She is so desperate to run for office. She would denigrate any stroke victim in America and make fun of them. And that's awful. You shouldn't do that. For people who have strokes, they can make tremendous comebacks, mentally and physically. And I have picked up my new sport of tower climbing. I have climbed the Willis Tower four times now,” Kirk said.

Since the stroke, Kirk normally uses a wheel chair, as does Duckworth. She lost her legs when she was shot down in Iraq as she piloted an Army helicopter.

Kirk and Duckworth made those comments Wednesday after a forum downstate where they appeared back to back.