Opinion

Kirk vote on treaty hardly courageous

Posted January 09, 2011 10:00 pm

Illinois has two Senators of opposing parties, now, so we can expect a lot of situations ahead when their votes will cancel each other out. Both Senator Durbin and Senator Kirk agreed that “don't ask, don't tell” should be repealed, and for those “aye” votes, thank you both.

However, during a Senator's tenure, there will also be opportunities to make courageous votes, going against one's party and popular opinion. Senator Durbin, who assumed office on January 3, 1997, made such a courageous vote on October 11, 2002 when he was one of 23 Senators to vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. The final vote was 77-23. On Dec. 22, the Senate ratified the new arms control treaty with Russia, by a vote of 71-26. Senator Kirk was one of the 26 “nay” votes. Considering the importance of the START treaty to national security, it is doubtful that Senator Kirk's vote will go down in history as courageous.

Diane Niesman

Wheaton

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