Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) told CNN Tuesday she will reject all “non-diversity” nominees until President Biden makes a commitment to appointing Asian American Pacific Islanders in key executive branch positions.
Exchange of the Day
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was interviewed on CNN by Dana Bash:
BASH: In your view, where does it end? Should statues, for example, of George Washington come down?”
DUCKWORTH: Well, let me just say we should start off by having a national dialogue on it at some point. But right now we’re in the middle of a global pandemic. And one of our countries that are opposed to us, Russia, has put a bounty on American troops’ heads. What really struck me about this speech that the president gave at Mount Rushmore was that he spent more time worried about honoring dead Confederates than he did talking about the lives of our 130,000 Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19, or by warning Russia off of the bounties they’re putting on Americans’ heads. His priorities are all wrong here. He should be talking about what we’re going to do to overcome this pandemic. What are we going to do to push Russia back? Instead, he had no time for that. He spent all his time talking about dead traitors.
BASH: That may be true, but George Washington, I don’t think anybody would call him a traitor and there are moves by some to remove statues of him. Is that a good idea?
DUCKWORTH: I think we should listen to everybody. I think we should listen to the argument there, but remember that the president at Mount Rushmore was standing on ground that was stolen from Native Americans who had actually been given that land during a treaty.
Charlie Sykes: “This was worse than a gaffe. It was political malpractice, because it threw Trump a lifeline at time when even Republicans are rattled by Trump’s dark and divisive message. Confederate statues are one thing, but George Washington? Mount Rushmore? Seriously?”
Senate Poised to Allow Duckworth’s Newborn on Floor
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), “who this month became the first sitting senator to have a baby while in office, has submitted a resolution that would allow senators to bring a child under one year old onto the Senate floor during votes,” Politico reports.
“Senate leaders appear poised to approve the request.”
Duckworth Gives Birth to a Girl
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “on Monday gave birth to a daughter, Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, becoming the first sitting senator to have a baby while in office,” the Chicago Sun Times reports.
“Duckworth, who turned 50 on March 12, is one of only 10 women in the history of the nation to give birth while in Congress, with the other babies born to members serving in the House.”
Quote of the Day
“We don’t live in a dictatorship or a monarchy. I swore an oath—in the military and in the Senate—to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, not to mindlessly cater to the whims of Cadet Bone Spurs and clap when he demands I clap.”
— Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), on Twitter, in response to President Trump’s suggestion that not applauding at the State of the Union was treasonous.
Duckworth Will Be First Sitting Senator to Give Birth
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) told the Chicago Sun Times that she “is expecting her second child, another girl, in late April, a few weeks after she turns 50.”
“The birth will make Duckworth the nation’s first senator to have a baby while serving in the chamber.”
Duckworth Rips Trump as a Draft Dodger
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who lost both of her legs during an explosion in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Army, blasted President Trump as a “five-deferment draft dodger” during her remarks on the Senate floor, WTVR reports.
Said Duckworth: “I spent my entire adult life looking out for the well-being, the training, the equipping of the troops for whom I was responsible. I will not be lectured about what our military needs by a five-deferment draft dodger.”
She added: “I have a message for Cadet Bone Spurs: If you cared about our military, you’d stop baiting Kim Jong-un into a war that could put 85,000 American troops — and millions of innocent civilians — in danger.”
Duckworth Calls Kirk ‘Unhinged’
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) “unhinged” after the senator referred to President Obama as the “drug dealer in chief,” Politico reports.
Said Duckworth: “If you look at all of the things that he said, I think that he lacks the ability to control what he’s saying. If you look at the numerous gaffes he’s had over the years,” Duckworth said Tuesday after she addressed the City Club of Chicago. “I do think he is unhinged.”
Tweet of the Day
The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly deleted a tweet posted from its official Twitter account that criticized disabled veteran Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a double amputee.
Kirk Finally Apologizes for Comment
Four days after touching off a firestorm of criticism by describing a fellow senator as a “bro with no ho,” Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) apologized in a brief statement issued by his office, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Said Kirk: “I apologize to the people of Illinois for my inappropriate remarks last week.”
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who is challenging Kirk for Senate, told the Chicago Sun Times: “I think every woman in Illinois needs to hear an apology from Senator Kirk personally.”
Durbin Insists Fundraising Email Isn’t an Endorsement
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) “says a fundraising e-mail isn’t the same as him making an official endorsement in next year’s Senate race,” according to River Bender.
“Durbin sent out a fundraising request on behalf of the Senate bid of Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), calling her ‘a friend’ and ‘a champion,’ but he says that’s not a formal endorsement. He says he’s helping with fundraising since the campaign is heating up earlier than he’d hoped.”
Duckworth Will Run for U.S. Senate
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will announce a 2016 Senate bid likely on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
“She is aiming to win the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.
Foster Eyes Senate Bid in Illinois
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) “has been feeling out major Illinois Democratic donors about a 2016 run against Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL),” the Chicago Sun Times reports.
“Foster, who represents the west suburban 11th Congressional District, is putting himself in play as Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) — who could have the nomination for the asking — also considers a run. The two centrist Democrats would share much of the same high-end Illinois Democratic donor base.”
Kirk Warns Duckworth Not to Challenge Him
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) says Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “has a bright future ahead of her” — as long as she doesn’t get in his way in 2016, The Hill reports.
Said Kirk: “She has a very bright future ahead of her. After only one term … you know, when you run for the Senate, you have to give up your congressional seat. If she gives up her congressional seat and loses against me, that’s a very sad ending to a bright career.”
He added: “To fight and lose a Senate race against Kirk is a terrible start to a career.”
[speech_bubble type=”std” subtype=”a” icon=”pwdome.jpg” name=””]It’s touching that Kirk is so concerned for Duckworth’s career. [/speech_bubble]
Duckworth is Open to Senate Bid
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is “interested, open and curious” about a 2016 Senate run against Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) but for now is focused on the impending birth of her daughter, who is due any day, the Chicago Sun Times reports.
“Duckworth is the only Democrat in Illinois who can cut into the enormous goodwill Kirk has stockpiled as a result of a massive stroke that kept him out of the Senate for almost a year. Both Duckworth and Kirk use wheelchairs and canes.”
Duckworth Is Leaning Against Senate Bid
Greg Hinz is “hearing all kinds of talk in Democratic circles that the woman whom many have considered the strongest potential challenger” to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “now is leaning heavily against a contest.”
“Ms. Duckworth is about to be a mother. She’s expecting a daughter next month, and party insiders say that won’t leave much room for hopping around the state to campaign for the Senate — especially when she’d have to give up a safe House seat to do so.”
“That would leave an open field, and it could be pretty competitive. Among potential candidates on my list: U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, who has a nicely nonpartisan style about him; state Sen. Kwame Raoul, a fast-rising Chicagoan who represents some of Barack Obama’s old state Senate district; and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who passed on earlier chances to run for higher office but still pulled in 59 percent of the vote last week. And, Gov. Pat Quinn.”
