Adam Kinzinger in The Chicago Tribune

On Homeland Security: Republicanism means stronger defense and smaller government

When Adam Kinzinger was asked recently what it means to be a Republican in the era of President Donald Trump, the fifth-term congressman chuckled, then turned serious. "I still hold that being a Republican in general means supporting national defense and smaller government. What does it mean today? In the state we're in, I really don't know," Kinzinger said. "The Republican movement seems to be at the moment--and I think it's momentary--is just kind of 'own the libs, own the left,'" he said. "We've kind of become unmoored from that original view of conservatism."

Kinzinger has been virtually alone among members of his party in readily criticizing some of Trump's most egregious statements and proposals on social media and in national cable newscasts. He was the only one of the state's five GOP members not named by the Trump campaign to co-chair his efforts in Illinois.

Source: Chicago Tribune on 2022 Illinois Senate race Dec 29, 2020

On Principles & Values: Protesting Electoral College is "scam"; accept Trump losing

In early December, Kinzinger tweeted, "Time to delete your account" to the president after Trump delivered what he called the "most important speech" of his presidency, a 46-minute diatribe filled with baseless claims of election fraud in his Nov. 3 loss to former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden.

Kinzinger tweeted the day after Christmas that Trump and "other congressional grifters" touting efforts to challenge the Electoral College proclamation in Congress on Jan. 6 were part of a "scam" to raise money and gain followers even though they know they will be unsuccessful. He accused Trump of "trying to burn the place down on the way out because you can't handle losing" and throwing a "temper tantrum and crazy conspiracies." He added "#RestoreOurGOP."

Kinzinger said he fears that when Biden is inaugurated, Trump supporters will try to convince people that Congress and anti-Trump Republicans are to blame for failing to get the election results overturned.

Source: Chicago Tribune on 2022 Illinois Senate race Dec 29, 2020

The above quotations are from Media coverage of IL political races in The Chicago Tribune. Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of IL political races in The Chicago Tribune. Click here for other excerpts by Adam Kinzinger. Click here for a profile of Adam Kinzinger.
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Page last updated: Sep 18, 2022