News

Kirk on defensive after latest discrepancy

Posted July 22, 2010 11:00 pm

Since Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk acknowledged embellishing his military record, the slightest discrepancy in his life story prompts another round of news coverage questioning his honesty.

This time, questions are being raised about a defining story of his youth he likes to tell. The story is about a near drowning incident at age 16, when his boat capsized on Lake Michigan.

The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that Kirk recently told a boating magazine he watched the sunset from atop his overturned sailboat 34 years ago. Local news coverage of the rescue says he was pulled from Lake Michigan in the afternoon.

Kirk was quick to blast the Tribune, calling it a "ridiculous" story and denying any embellishment. His Democratic opponent, Illinois treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, is using the story to criticize Kirk.

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