By Jim Tankersley

Democrats are breaking out the political fireworks a little early this Independence Day (ok, sue us – we couldn't resist), with ads lighting up Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and 13 other Republican House incumbents on veterans' issues.

Undeterred by Kirk's other job – he's a naval intelligence officer who works a weekend a month at the Pentagon – the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will criticize what a spokesman dubs Kirk's "dismal record" on military pay, veterans' benefits and veterans' health care in a Web video and a series of automated phone calls next week.

The push targets voters in Kirk's suburban Chicago district, which is one of the few in the nation held by a Republican but won by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in the 2004 presidential election. (Translation: Democrats think they can win there; two candidates – Dan Seals, who nearly beat Kirk in 2006, and former Clinton administration official Jay Footlik, have announced plans to challenge Kirk in 2008.)

Kirk's office fired back with a picture of the congressman in a flight suit in Kosovo, a reminder of his miliary service and a shot at Seals:

"It is ironic that the Democrat Party would take a partisan shot at Congressman Kirk, a Navy combat veteran and drilling reservist, when their own candidate, Dan Seals never served and does not live in the district," said Kenilworth Mayor Tolbert Chisum, a former Marine, in a release from Kirk's office.

Added Kirk spokesman Eric Elk: “Congressman Kirk just voted for the largest increase in funding for veterans health care (H.R. 2642, June 15, 2007, roll call no.498, $3.8 billion above the President’s budget ) and will break ground on the new $100 million 10th District Navy/VA hospital next week."

Here's the DCCC's list of grievances on Kirk's veterans' record:

Ø Opposed Bonuses for Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

Ø Voted Against Giving All Veterans Their Full Disability and Retirement Benefits

Ø Voted to Cut Funding for Veterans by $6 Billion

Ø Supported GOP Budget that Cut Veterans Funding by $13.5 Billion

Ø Voted to Cut Veterans' Benefits by $15 Billion

Ø Opposed Ending the Military Families Tax

Ø Opposed $53 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care & Benefits