Mistakes show Kirk isn't ready for Senate

While some false statements are mere errors, a false statement made with an ulterior motive rarely is. Congressman Kirk made and repeated a number of false statements about his military record with the motive of promoting his candidacy. That does not add up to "mere error."

Kirk has responded evasively since the false statements came to light. For instance, he claims that he corrected one "error" by saying he served "during," not "in," the current war in Iraq.

The statement remained misleading after the slight change. If he wanted to clear the air, he would have explicitly acknowledged that the statement was false and deleted any reference to it. He failed to do that because he wanted to continue to capitalize on the false impression.

His recent responses have been similarly disingenuous in other respects.

Finally, who on Kirk's staff made the false statements in the first place, and who is now giving him bad advice about how to deal with the problem? Presumably, they're the people who have been on Kirk's Congressional staff and will, if he is elected, be on his senatorial staff. Do we want a Senator who surrounds himself with dishonesty and ineptness?

Kirk, it seems, struggles to tell the simple truth and stumbles managing a sticky situation. Maybe he could get away with that before, but he's in prime time now, and apparently not up to it.

Seth Eisner

Arlington Heights