Mayor Bloomberg's Kirk endorsement

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is an excellent and remarkably nonpartisan, public servant.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama considered him as a possible vice presidential candidate.

He knows the challenges facing our country and he supports other public officials who share his view that the challenges we face are too big to get bogged down in the partisan swamp.

I am thrilled that he's recognized that our own Congressman Mark Kirk shares his mission.

What impressed Mayor Bloomberg about Kirk is that same thing that has earned him my vote: His willingness to stand up and do the right thing.

"Kirk has had the courage to stand up," Bloomberg said. "That is the kind of elected official we need."

While Bloomberg was referring to Kirk's stand against illegal guns, he could just as easily have been speaking about Kirk's record on the environment, his steadfast defense of Israel, his Apollo Energy Independence Act or his support for women's rights.

In each of those areas Kirk didn't consider what his party's position was. He asked himself if it was the right thing for his district and for his country.

Jason Gluskin

Buffalo Grove