Rep. Mark Kirk (R) ex wife throws him under the bus, blames wingnut staffer for their divorce. . .

[wndycty]

I anxiously await tomorrow's installment!

Mark Kirk’s Ex-wife: ‘Svengali Figure’ Influencing Candidate
By Carol Felsenthal



Her marriage to Rep. Mark Kirk (R-10th Dist.) may have ended amicably in June 2009, and the two may remain friends today, but Kimberly Vertolli said that she will not “advocate” for her ex in his Senate run because she fears he is too influenced by a “Svengali figure” in his life—a former staffer named Dorothy “Dodie” McCracken.

Vertolli, 37, a former naval intelligence officer who was married to Kirk for eight years, told me in a telephone interview last week that she loves him and “wants him to be happy,” but she says that McCracken—Kirk’s press secretary during his first term—is “trying to control Mark and the direction of Mark’s campaign.” For example, Vertolli blames McCracken for the congressman’s support of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bans openly gay people from serving in the military. Vertolli, a lawyer now living in the Virginia suburbs of D.C., added that Kirk assured her, “when the issue came up again, he’s going to do the right thing and support overturning that policy.”

Dodie McCracken, 52, is a former Winnetka resident who now works as consultant in D.C. She heads up a PR firm called Arcadian Partners and is a volunteer consultant to the Kirk campaign. (According to the Arcadian website, McCracken has focused during her career “on work with non-profit organizations, cause-related activities and public service”; examples are the U.S. National Guard and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.)
-snip-

CF: How has he done so far on exercising that moral conscience on issues?
KV: I’ll give you one solid example. I lobbied him on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, . I passionately support their drive to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Mark voted against the Murphy amendment . Therefore, he voted in favor of maintaining a discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians who are serving us in the military. I privately withdrew my support because to me that’s a basic human right. I will not support a candidate who upholds a policy that discriminates against gays and lesbians.
CF: That’s where you are now?
KV: No. He assured me that when the issue came up again, he’s going to do the right thing and support overturning that policy. He has a very good rating with the Human Rights Campaign. He’s one of the most pro-gay rights Republicans we have.
CF: So at this moment, with that promise, is it your intention to support him and campaign for him?
KV: No, I will not because there’s a person who is a very pernicious force on his team who is wielding a disproportionate amount of negative influence on him. As long as she’s there, I can’t be his moral conscience.
CF: Who is that person?
KV: Her name is Dodie McCracken. She is the only member of Mark’s staff who was not invited to our wedding back in 2001. She acts as this kind of Svengali figure in his life. She had to go away.
CF: Why did she have to go away?
KV: Because Mark could either stay married to me, or she could find another place. But there wasn’t enough room for the two of us to stay in Mark’s life.
CF: Did she come back on the scene after you were divorced?
KV: Unfortunately, she never left. When Mark decided to run for the Senate, she shifted most of her attention to trying to control Mark and the direction of Mark’s campaign.
CF: Is there any kind of insinuation that there’s any kind of romance going on between them?
KV: I will not characterize their relationship.
-snip-

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/August-2010/Kimberly-Vertolli-on-Mark-Kirk-and-Dodie-McCracken/

[WI_DEM]

1. These past three months have taken a toll on Kirk's campaign

all the lies about his military record and now this.

[joeybee12]

2. She shouldn't blame the staffer, blame the men Kirk is sleeping with...n/t

[classysassy]

3. Another family value republican uncovered

A little light in dark places reveal evil doers

[mopinko]

4. thanks for the smile wndy

love watching a thug circle the drain.

[wndycty]

5. You are welcome "mo the moderator"

Congrats!

[mopinko]

6. bwahahahahahahha

i have no idea why they trust me with this job.

hey, keep meaning to mention to you that i have some sox tickets. would be happy to take you to a game.

[wndycty]

7. Awesome we'll have to set something up

:kick:

[MidwestTransplant]

8. yup he's boning his staffer. Perhaps when he was married.

[wndycty]

9. Very interesting. . .

. . .I have a different take on his marriage.

[JBoy]

10. Release the McCracken!

[wndycty]

11. LOL

:kick: