Ald. Lyle on Mark Kirk's comments

You can always watch the embedded video above, but at the same time here's what she is responding to:

The Kirk campaign confirms the congressman was secretly taped this week while telling state Republican leaders about his hiring of a voter integrity squad to concentrate on four regions that happen to be areas populated by large numbers of African-Americans who vote heavily Democratic.

"These are lawyers and other people that will be deployed in key, vulnerable precincts, for example, South and West sides of Chicago, Rockford, Metro East, where the other side might be tempted to jigger the numbers somewhat".

"For him to insinuate that there is some vote fraud going on in these communities is just an insult to the hundreds and hundreds of people who serve as election judges on elections. I find it disgraceful and insulting," said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle.

Lyle, a Democratic Committee member and an Alexi Giannoulias supporter, and others were offended by Kirk's use of the verb "jigger" when talking about regions heavily populated by black voters.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says "jigger" does mean "to alter, re-arrange, or manipulate" and has been used by many politicians to describe election fraud.

"The problem I had is that it sounds so much like another word," Rev. Albert Tyson said.

Well this fits. Ald. Lyle believes this election for US Senate between Congressman Mark Kirk (R) and state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) is important if for no other reason than the morale aspects. If the Democratic Party can't keep his old Senate seat in the D camp then it may make the President look weak and the Republicans wouldn't let the President and the Democrats hear the last of it. I believe that!