Alexi Attack Backfires. Accuses Kirk of 'Economic Treason'

Lashing out after his miserable performance in the debate, with the polls showing Kirk with the momentum and his fundraising numbers down, what next from desperate Alexi?

He gets more shameful and ludicrous every time. Tribune: Giannoulias reaches in accusing Kirk of 'economic treason':

Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias on Thursday accused Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of “economic treason” for raising money from U.S. businessmen in China the day before a vote on overseas business, prompting Kirk to label his Democratic opponent “desperate and dishonorable.”

Kirk’s fundraiser was held not in China but via Internet video conferencing and the event was scheduled long before Kirk’s May 28 vote, his campaign said. The fundraiser with 12 citizens working in Beijing raised about $6,000—a drop in $12 million he has raised so far.

Giannoulias refused to back away from his accusation tying Kirk’s vote to the money. He said Kirk has put China’s interest ahead of that of the United States.

“It can be called nothing other than an act of economic treason,” said Giannoulias, the state’s treasurer .
Kirk, an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, blasted the Democrat.

“Alexi Giannoulias is running a desperate and dishonorable campaign,” Kirk said in a statement. “I have worn our country's uniform for 21 years and to accuse me of treason in any context is beyond the pale. Giannoulias is a desperate candidate who is now dishonoring the office he aspires to.”

Oh yeah, Kirk would sell out his country for $6,000. Kirk voted against a tax and spend bill. More. NBC 5 Chicago: Giannoulias Attack on Mark Kirk Backfires (Video):

But his press conference quickly devolved into a circular defense of his own fundraising foray into Canada.

Both fundraisers were perfectly legal, by the way. But, yeah--he sneaked out. To raise money from trial lawyers.

Even Rich Miller at Capitol Fax, no friend of Kirk, is appalled. He has a copy of the leaked memo showing the meeting was set up way in advance. The vote was set up on short notice.:

* Treason? Really?…

You gotta be kidding me.

But calling somebody a traitor is truly beyond the pale in politics. Giannnoulias ought to apologize.

More video. Apparently Alexi's sign fluttered to the ground behind him as he uttered these nutso remarks. WLS. AP.

The Tribune editorial this morning is all over Alexi:

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."

Article III, Section 3, U.S. Constitution

Be unkind and blame desperation, or be kind and blame fatigue. Either way, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias' juvenile pander to Big Labor — his charge that Republican Mark Kirk is guilty of "economic treason" — suggests that he's too reckless and immature to fill a seat occupied by Everett McKinley Dirksen, Adlai Stevenson III and Barack Obama.

As for the China bashing:

Democrats have been ringing similar gongs around the country as they struggle to find a theme, any theme, to save their majorities. This includes bashing U.S. companies that do business overseas, many of whom are among America's largest employers.

Yet the Business Roundtable reports that some 38 million U.S. jobs and roughly 30% of American GDP depend on imports and exports. "Outsourcing" is often a business requirement for U.S. companies to remain competitive, and research by Dartmouth economist Matthew Slaughter shows that companies that hire more workers abroad also hire more at home.

Like Illinois' Caterpillar, a bright spot in the dismal Illinois economy, driven by exports:

Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelmanhad a message for the Fed and the Obama Administration. "To drive economic growth, we encourage government policy makers to advance pro-business initiatives and a growth agenda. In addition, they should avoid policy decisions that may create trade tensions between the United States and other key trading partners and avoid tax policy that puts U.S. multinationals, like Caterpillar, at a competitive disadvantage compared with non-U.S. competitors.”

We need to cut taxes here so we can not only keep jobs here but keep growing in a world economy.

Cat has endorsed Kirk. So should Illinois.

P.S. Bill Baar:

Pretty tough talk from a kid who froliced on South Beach at Hotel Lorraine with Jaws Giorango and the girls while Kirk did two tours in Afghanistan. Kirk may not be Audie Murphy, but geez, the guy volunteered and served.