U. S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth says recent remarks by her Republican opponent are "beyond the pale."
Congresswoman Duckworth, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican U. S. Senator Mark Kirk. Kirk recently said President Obama was acting "like the drug dealer in chief" by authorizing a $400 million payment to Iran.
The Obama administration says it was leverage, as the U-S worked to get American prisoners released. But Republican critics like Kirk say it's akin to paying ransom. Tuesday, Duckworth and other Democrats called for Kirk to apologize.
"You can disagree with the President without resorting to the inflammatory rhetoric which is not only offensive, it's totally unhelpful to the cause of a more stable and secure world," said Duckworth.
Duckworth said Kirk has a pattern of making personal insults. Kirk said, as chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee, he will hold a hearing on the payment.
He said taxpayers have a right to know if their money is financing what he calls "Iranian terrorist activities."
