Representative Mark Kirk 707 Skokie BlvdSuite 350Northbrook, IL 60062September 4, 2008Congressman Kirk:We are writing to you to express our disappointment with your effusive praise of Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin. Just one month after you cast a voteagainst equal pay for equal work, your strong support for Palin demonstrates your lack of interest in standing up for the values of the 10th District.Soon after John McCain announced that he had chosen Palin to be his vice presidentialnominee, you praised her candidacy, saying that you were “encouraged” by hercandidacy and that she is a “reformer.” To the women of the 10th District, there isnothing encouraging about Palin's extreme political views, including her opposition to awoman's right to choose even in the cases of incest and rape, equal pay for equal work,and gun control. Nor is her support for abstinence-only sex education, teachingcreationism in our schools, and banning books from our public libraries.Just as we are dismayed by her extreme positions on the issues, we are also offended bythe patronizing and cynical view that because she is a woman, she will automatically earnour support. While some of us supported Hillary Clinton's candidacy for President andbelieved that her election would be a victory for women across the country, Sarah Palin'sslim qualifications and radical right-wing views would only set back the causes we holddear.Once again, Congressman Kirk, your support for Sarah Palin shows that you are moreconcerned with supporting the Republican Party and continuing with more of the samedisastrous policies of the last 8 years than standing up for women in the 10th District.Respectfully,

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