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Even by the bruising standards associated with Chicago politics, the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate has raised eyebrows. National interest is intense. It's the former seat of U.S. President Barack Obama, as well as the seat impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell to the highest bidder. Republicans also see it as another possible inroad into the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.
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In a state where three recent governors and numerous lower-level politicians have gone to prison -- and other politicos have been indicted or at least investigated -- the accusations flung at U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, the leading GOP primary candidate, by underdog Andrew Martin exemplifies what convicted former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski once called a "blood sport."
Among the allegations is that Kirk is part of a Republican homosexual club, based on "solid rumors."
Martin's allegation ad began running in December when Kirk, who represents the moderate North Shore that often served as a bucolic backdrop for the late director John Hughes's movies, was on active duty with the Naval Reserve in Afghanistan.
Martin then unleashed a second ad characterizing Kirk as a "de facto pedophile" because he "did nothing" to oust former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who resigned his seat in September 2006 after sexually explicit e-mail and instant messages to former congressional pages became public.
A third radio spot -- this one accusing Kirk of misstating his military record and two major Chicago newspapers of "lying to the Illinois voters" -- hit the airwaves recently.
Judging from his blog, one would think Martin has it all over Kirk, including an entry Jan. 11 that Kirk fled Chicago to avoid debating Martin. Kirk, however, holds the lead in the Republican primary Feb. 2, while Martin is drawing less than 5 percent in a six-person race.
Making such outlandish charges isn't anything new for Martin -- originally known as Anthony Robert Martin-Trigona -- who has sought office for three decades in Illinois and other states and has heaped accusations on Obama. On his Web site, Martin says his book, "Obama: The Man Behind the Mask" exposed "Obama's corrupt links to Illinois politics," leading him to became "the leading source on Obama."
Beyond the political arena, Martin has filed hundreds of frivolous lawsuits and been declared unfit to practice law in Illinois, several media outlets reported.
The ad insinuating Kirk is gay drew a rebuke and disavowal from the Illinois GOP leadership.
"(Andy Martin's) statements today are consistent with his history of bizarre behavior and often times hate-filled speech, which has no place in the Illinois Republican Party," Pat Brady, the state GOP chairman, said in a statement posted on the organization's Web site. "Mr. Martin will no longer be recognized as a legitimate Republican candidate by the Illinois Republican Party."
Even Martin's purported source, Raymond True, a leader of the Republican Party in Lake County north of Chicago, put some distance between himself and Martin.
"Mr. Martin did not contact me in any way before making his announcement," True's statement on the state GOP's Web site said. "The comments attributed to me are completely false. I request through the media that Andy Martin cease and desist from making any additional statements that are incorrectly attributed to me."
And yet Martin persists -- because, as he says in the ad questioning Kirk's sexual orientation, he must tell the truth.
Political junkies in Chicago are scratching their heads at Martin's ads and blog entries, but say he is only giving voice to what right-wing conservatives have muttered about Kirk.
"What Andy Martin is able to do is purchase ad time on prominent radio stations and air what are basically scurrilous rumors," said Steve Rhodes, a reporter and blogger who examines Chicago politics. "Martin in his ad (questioning Kirk's sexual orientation) really was repeating what other right-wingers themselves said on some radio shows."
Kirk responded to the sexual orientation ad, saying: First, he isn't gay and second, he defends Martin's right of free speech "even when it's completely outrageous."
While Martin's ads may defy logic, Rhodes said, "there's something in the dynamic in this whole thing that's gotten everyone's attention and got Kirk to respond."
Also on the Republican ballot are: Donald Lowery, Kathleen Thomas, John Arrington and Patrick Hughes. The winner of the Republican contest will face the winner of the Democratic contest: state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, former Blagojevich aide Cheryle Jackson, Robert Marshall or Jacob Meister.
