The Latest: Kirk sorry for mocking rival’s military heritage

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Latest on Illinois Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk mocking Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s family history of military service (all times local):

11:45 a.m.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has apologized for mocking Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s immigrant background and her family’s history of military service.

In a Twitter post Friday, Kirk says: “Sincere apologies to an American hero, Tammy Duckworth, and gratitude for her family’s service.”

At a U.S. Senate debate Thursday in Springfield, Duckworth spoke of how her family has “served this nation in uniform going back to the Revolution.”

Kirk responded that he had “forgotten (that her) parents came all of the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.”

Duckworth was born in Thailand to a mother of Chinese descent and a father who first went to Southeast Asia to serve with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee immediately called Kirk’s comments “wrong and racist.”

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6:06 a.m.

Illinois Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has mocked Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s family history of military service in the U.S., implying that her Asian-American heritage should cast doubt on her claims.

The comment came Thursday evening during the first televised debate between the two at the University of Illinois in Springfield.

Duckworth spoke of how her family has “served this nation in uniform going back to the Revolution.”

Kirk responded that he had “forgotten (that her) parents came all of the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.”

Duckworth later tweeted a photo of herself with her parents, including her father in uniform and wearing medals. Her tweet says “My Mom is an immigrant and my dad and his family have served this nation in uniform since the Revolution.”