Statement from Adam Kinzinger on being asked to join January 6 Select Committee

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Link to tweet

[Doodley]

1. I salute him on being a rare Republican lawmaker who puts country before Trump.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. They've Tried To Primary Him 3 Times

I live in his district.
He got primaried twice because he was rejecting the radicalism of the Free-Dumb caucus.
They spent a ton of money on these primary challenges. He annihilated his opponents. He won those primaries with larger margins than in the GE.
He's a conservative Republican to be sure, but he's not a nutjob.
Despite this recent bout of integrity I think he's safe in a primary, despite his angering the cult.

[KS Toronado]

14. Let's hope the other reQublicans in congress

are slow to learn from Adam Kinzinger's example what it takes to get reelected.
Believe they are so slow we'll run over them in 2022 & 2024.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Works For Me! (nt)

[Celerity]

45. He ran unopposed in the 2016 & 2020 Rethug primaries. The 2016 general as well. In 2018 he had one

Rethug opponent in the primary.

https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois%27_16th_Congressional_District







https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois%27_16th_Congressional_District_election,_2016

[ProfessorGAC]

52. And?

I didn't say they primaried him every year.
I worked on both Halvorson's & Brzozowski's campaigns.
I know what happens in this district.
I live here.
He got primaried twice! Fact
He trounced his primary opponent. Fact
What was your point?

[Celerity]

53. you said (in the post I replied to) he was primaried 3 times, it was only 2, 2014 and 2018

First, he ran and won in 2010 for a seat in IL-11 that was held by a Dem, Debbie Halvorson. He was recruited by RW christofascist Pence and was endorsed by RWNJ Sarah Palin. He was not primaried as he was not an incumbent

In 2012, he was redistricted out of IL-11 and so HE primaried an incumbent, Don Manzullo, for Manzullo's district, IL-16. Again, he was not primaried, he was the challenger.

2014 a Tea Party freak, David Hale tried and failed to beat him in the primary.

2016 he ran unopposed in both the primary and the general

2018 Jim Marter, another Freedummie, tried and failed to primary him

2020 he ran unopposed in the Rethug primary

2 times

I was not trying to do anything nefarious, sorry if you took it the wrong way

I am sure number 3 is coming up HUGE in 2022, lolol

cheers

[lunatica]

13. It's not that hard to do the right thing

Because the right thing is always in context to the universal level.

[mnmoderatedem]

2. a sad commentary on the state of the GOP.

when this seems worthy of praise. Kinzinger should be the rule, not the exception.

[spooky3]

5. +1

[LetMyPeopleVote]

42. Those complicit in the crime have no right to sit in judgement.

Link to tweet

[spooky3]

4. I hope he can be trusted. Nt

[MerryHolidays]

6. Well, RepubliQanons, that's bipartisanship in action

Might you take a lesson from this?

Inquiring minds, like voters, wanna' know what really happened and who really was behind January 6.

[GoodRaisin]

7. The committee keeps getting more bipartisan day by day.

Pelosi using McCarthy as a punching bag.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. While I disagree with him politically (obviously)

I respect him. I'm glad he'll be on the committee.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

9. Good.

[WHITT]

10. Now If The Speaker

can get a former Repub member or two to join, Kevin is gonna have a stroke. He and the rest of the MAGA caucus won't be able to claim it's simply a partisan investigation. Not creditably, anyway.

[Thunderbeast]

11. Thank you, Congressman

[Captain Zero]

12. Sounds like an Eisenhower Republican to me and who didn't like Ike?

Eisenhower is probably pretty far up in the rankings of presidents. Definitely higher up than TFG or the Bushes is my guess.
My dad was Antifa in WW2 and he liked Ike. There's a toddler picture of me somewhere wearing an 'I Like Ike' campaign button.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Reagan Republican

More that ilk than Eisenhower or Dirsken types.
I've talked with him a few times.
He's bought into the whole low taxes create grown & private solutions are always best philosophy.
He's just not an around the bend Gingrichian, or like this current batch of flamethrower idiots.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

22. Private solutions is why our infrastructure is third world.

Last edited Sun Jul 25, 2021, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Eisenhower knew to tax the rich in order to build. Why can't today's Republicans admit it worked?

I vote to put thousands to work caring for our national forests. States need help preventing fire devastation and combating CC.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. Because Of Reagan?

The propaganda machine convinced a lot of people that Reaganomics was a success, rather than the debt loading disaster it was.
So, Eisenhower style republicanism is dinosaur stuff that didn't work, even though it did for 5 of the 8 years. The overemphasis on defense spending because of the bogeyman Soviets actually depressed the economy for 3 years of Ike.
So, we know what worked (see 7 years in the 90s), and we know what didn't and Rs got stuck on "didn't".

[2Gingersnaps]

38. And therefore Ike's farewell speech warning us

of the "military/industrial complex." Every bit as prophetic as Barry Goldwater about evangelicals, "Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem."

Kinzinger would hardly be the only otherwise reasonable person sold on that trickle down bullshit. It really does concern me that he does identify Republican and seems to have common sense, integrity, and couth. How weird is that?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

40. the most reasonable Republican conservatives want less taxation and smaller government.

But that is just the argument to vote for them. Reality is those made wealthy by "trickle down" don't care about the health of the nation's infrastructure. They are very selfish on the worst way.

Interesting how future war will target infrastructure.

[ad121rome]

15. Duty

A true gentleman, Representative Kinzinger deserves our support in finding the truth surrounding the insurrection of January 6th. He honors his oath to the Constitution and doing his duty for our nation above his loyalty to the Republican Party. I hope he and the rest of the committee work together to find and bring to justice all those who tried to rip our Constitution to shreds. Good luck.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

16. There are still a few decent Republicans left.

Kinzinger is one of them. He has been very vocal since January 6th.

[Bavorskoami]

17. Must members of the committee be current members of Congress?

Would it be possible for Speaker Pelosi to have former Republican members of the House of Representatives serve on this committee?

[calimary]

19. Wait - you mean to tell me there's actually an HONORABLE Republican?

I suppose anything’s possible…

[obamanut2012]

21. He is a RW hardliner

But, he isn't a traitor, and extra props for him using insurrection.

[Jilly_in_VA]

23. Thank you, sir

I may not agree with your politics, but I salute you! This is exactly what we need in these times.

[rickyhall]

24. Too bad he ain't a US Senator.

[murielm99]

25. It is possible that he wants to be.

His district could be changed and he could be out of a job.

Who would he challenge? Tammy Duckworth. Do you want that? Or, he could be plotting against our excellent governor, who will be facing a tough reelection.

The man is an opportunist. Do not trust him.

[ProfessorGAC]

28. I'm Going 2 Ways

One is governor. I think he knows he's not beating Durbin or Duckworth.
The other is big heat after the repukes finally implode and need to refocus.
Either one is wish list stuff for him, but I see those 2 far more likely than the Senate.

[murielm99]

32. Durbin could be retiring.

He is 76. I think Durbin has been grooming Cheri Bustos for his seat. Kinzinger could give her a run for it.

[ProfessorGAC]

34. Depends On Who Wins Governor in '22

If Jay B is still governor, Durbin could run on his name & reputation. Then retire after a year, and let the governor appoint Bustos.
I don't think he'd stand a chance against DD.

[DFW]

41. I've never met Bustos in person, but talked to her a few times

She seems pretty sharp. If Durbin is looking for her to succeed him, I think he could do worse.

[Maggiemayhem]

47. I agree with you, but Pelosi doesn't have much to choose from.

He definitely is an opportunist and that’s why he has a PAC.

[BradAllison]

48. Does any Repub have a shot statewide in Illinois?

Honestly I don't even think about it as a soft spot. Any more than I do California or NY.

[murielm99]

50. Yes.

We had Rauner as governor. Pritzker could not get his fair tax passed, due to all the repubbie lying and the money they spent campaigning against it.

This state is blue in the urban areas and red in the rural ones. And there is a lot of rural area!

My county voted 73% for TFG. Pathetic.

[Volaris]

26. She should ask John Boehner next.

He OWES the proto-trump tea partiers a well deserved knifing

[gab13by13]

29. Now that's a funny post,

we would have a comprehensive immigration law were it not for Boehner.

Another of Boehner's claims to fame was passing out checks from the tobacco industry on the House floor.

[OMGWTF]

30. I had that same thought. Boehner sits on the board of a cannabis company

"How about a glass of Merlot?"

[kentuck]

31. Two is plenty.

We don't need anymore than these two honest Republicans. Why take a chance on the next one being a bombthrower and a disruptor?

[lark]

33. Great move by the "Boss".

The committee just got stronger. Brava, Madame Speaker - aka The Boss.

[Hortensis]

35. Hope he inspires rational and decent conservatives to stand. nt

[malthaussen]

36. He might even be serious.

That is, he might be actually truly affronted that this happened in our country, and determined that heads are gonna roll. I'm hoping a few of the people on that committee might feel that way. Instead of first and foremost calculating what would be to their political advantage. Time will tell.

-- Mal

[mahina]

43. He's been very clear about his feelings.

I think at some serious risk of losing his seat actually because of it. He’s a patriot.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

37. The Lincoln Project is happy

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. From Speaker Pelosi

Link to tweet

[cadoman]

44. I don't trust Kinzinger

Voted with Trump 90% of the time. The QAnon people have a lot of double agents.

I don't claim to know, I'm just saying watch out.

[Rhiannon12866]

46. Like so many members of Congress, he was traumatized by the 1/6 insurrectionists

I believe him, after seeing him on with Stephen Colbert later that night:

From Stephen Colbert on 1/6/21:

"We're Kind Of Under Siege Here" - Rep. Kinzinger On The President's Assault On The Capitol Building

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017630273

Rep. Adam Kinzinger: The President Is "Unfit For Office"

[BradAllison]

49. What exactly is he going to do that you don't "trust"?

Look, I don't care for the guy but him turning into a Q Chud overnight and asking some dumb questions is not going to change the committee's makeup.

[Scrivener7]

51. I have to say, this takes guts. Any republiQan on that committee - and their families! -

are going to face death threats and the possibility of violence.

It can't be easy to know that.