Congressman Joe Walsh must be running scared – he recently slammed former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (endorsed by AAA Fund) for not being a “true hero.” Duckworth is running against him for Congress and was a helicopter pilot who lost both legs in Iraq before returning to Illinois and serving in the state and federal department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Rep. Walsh said: “Our true heroes, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about. Our true heroes, the men and women who served us, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about. That’s why we are so indebted and in awe of what they have done.”
Here’s Lt. Col. Duckworth’s response on MSNBC. The campaign commented: “This week we celebrate our country’s founding and we are grateful for the courage and service of all of our military men and women throughout our nation’s history. Congressman Walsh’s comments insult those who sacrificed to make this country free. Tammy is proud of her over twenty years of service with the Army and her family’s legacy of fighting for this country. We can’t recognize our servicemen and women enough and ask that we keep them in our thoughts during this holiday week.”
What’s his problem with Tammy Duckworth? She talks too much about veterans’ issues.
He claims that Tammy refuses to talk about solutions to “real issues” but her policy ideas are all clearly laid out on her website: http://www.tammyduckworth.com/issues/
Plus Duckworth has been vocal about the concerns of Illinois residents and has a solid plan to bring jobs back to her district that includes infrastructure investment, investments in education and communities, allowing Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug costs, and allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% to expire. Rep. Walsh has a track record of supporting the Ryan budget to gut Medicare, voting to cut student loans, and parroting the tea party line.
If anything, Walsh’s comments remind me of Senator George Allen’s comment to S.R. Siddarth, a Virginia born and raised intern, “Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.” Allen, was born in California, and assumed that Siddarth was not American. More telling than his weird and infamous “macaca” comment, Allen revealed his disdain and lack of knowledge. Similarly, Walsh has never served in the military but he seems to know what true military heroes do, and that Duckworth isn’t one.
If anything, it seems like Walsh is the one who draws attention to her military record – it’s not the first time that he’s denigrated Duckworth and other veterans. Back in March, Walsh had to walk back these remarks due to outcry from veterans’ groups: “What else has she done? Female, wounded veteran … ehhh.”
–Caroline
Walsh is despicable & must never represent anyone else again by electing him out of office. That’s the best punishment.