Produced in conjunction with Alexi Giannoulias’s campaign in Illinois for the U.S. Senate, the Washington Post has put out a hit piece on Mark Kirk, suggesting that Kirk has on several occasions lied about his record of service.

The third paragraph of the piece connects the dots: "The Post's inquiries were sparked by complaints from a representative of state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Kirk's Democratic opponent in the Illinois Senate race."

So what is the tandem trying to achieve? They want to discredit Kirk because he mistakenly said he received the Rufus Taylor Intelligence Award instead of the Navy “Intelligence Officer of the Year” award. It's a mistake, to be sure, and the record has gladly been corrected, but there seems to be more going on here.

According to Kirk’s Officer Fitness Report, then-Lieutenant Commander Kirk was the Intelligence Team Leader for Electronic Attack Wing Aviano during Operation Allied Force in 1999 where he “took charge of four deployed EA-6B squadron's intelligence assets, melding them into an action team supporting combat operations on a 24-hour basis.”  Kirk was “personally recognized by numerous Flag, Air Wing, and Squadron Commanders for providing the most comprehensive, concise Balkan intelligence picture in EUCOM Theater.”  Kirk “set the standard for tactical intelligence briefs providing over 80 aircrew with the most current, up to date and analytical briefings that NATO had to offer.”

In December of that year, Kirk was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service.  According to the citation, “Lieutenant Commander Kirk was singularly responsible for the flawless production, integration and operation of the largest EA-6B intelligence shop in the history of naval aviation.”

Meanwhile, Kirk’s former Commanding Officer is standing by him, releasing this statement through the Kirk campaign: “As his Commanding Officer at the time, I was proud to nominate Mark Kirk for the Rufus Taylor Award and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his outstanding service in Operation Allied Force.  Mark was the best intelligence officer I ever worked with.”

Here we have a situation where two parties are willing to do or say anything to tear down a good man with an impeccable military service record. And it’s a real shame that it’s on Memorial Day weekend, no less. The Post seems desperate to find a “Republican Blumenthal” it can crucify to catch up to the New York Times.  (Which begs the question: Why wasn’t the Giannoulias camp able to first publish this in the Times, or did the Gray Lady see this as a non-story?) Mark Kirk is nothing like Richard Blumenthal.  Mark Kirk served where he said he served.  Mark Kirk received two awards for his outstanding service to our country. And Mark Kirk corrected the record. There’s a big difference between an honest mistake and an honest lie.

Giannoulias, on the other side, seems desperate to impugn anyone’s integrity, simply to deflect the spotlight from his own integrity. And perhaps especially desperate since Rod Blagojevich trial is starting next month.

Funny enough, both Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias were wearing uniforms in Southeast Europe in 1999.  Mark Kirk was wearing the uniform of the United States Navy.  Alexi Giannoulias was wearing a basketball uniform in Greece.

Mark Kirk’s military service should not be denigrated by a 34-year-old failed mob banker who has never served our country in uniform, whose reckless lending practices cost the FDIC $394 million when they closed his family bank, and whose risky investments cost Illinois families tens of millions in losses from the state’s college savings fund.