Many attentive viewers of this program know this particular Illinois Congressman as frequent guest star in the Rewrite and the first ever person to get banned from this show. Slow clap for Rep. Joe Walsh, ladies and gentlemen.
The Republican's now taking heat for criticizing Democratic opponent Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworth — who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq — for talking too much about her military record.
In a speech now plastered over the web, on Sunday the tea partier suggested she was not a "true [hero]" and should aspire to be more like Sen. John McCain who rarely spoke about his lengthy stint as a POW in Vietnam on the campaign trail.
"That's what’s so noble about our heroes. Now I'm running against a woman who — I mean, my God, that's all she talks about," said Walsh. "Our true heroes, it's the last thing in the world they talk about."
Lt. Col. Duckworth responded to Walsh's outburst in an interview today with MSNBC's Martin Bashir. She attributed his comments to being "irresponsible in his words and irresponsible his actions."
"He’s trying to distract the constituents from the fact that he has time again done nothing for the district." She added, "In fact, anyone who’s worn the uniform of this great nation for a single day has done more for their nation than Joe Walsh has ever done."
Walsh released a statement Tuesday afternoon, doubling down on his comments.
"Of course Tammy Duckworth is a hero. I have called her a hero 100’s of times in the past four months. Just like every man and woman who has worn the uniform, her service demands — demands — our utmost respect. That’s why I recognize our veterans at the beginning of every one of my public town halls. However, unlike most veterans I have had the honor to meet since my election to Congress, who rarely if ever talk about their service or the combat they’ve seen, that is darn near all of what Tammy Duckworth talks about. Her service demands our thanks and our respect but not our vote. She is running for Congress — and there are real problems in this country like our massive debt, high unemployment and the Obamacare tax. We are about four months from Election Day and the people of Illinois have no idea where Tammy Duckworth stands on these issues because she dodges debate requests, ignores our invitations to speak at town halls, refuses to talk about solutions and constantly reminds voters of her war service. Our thoughts and prayers will always be with her for her service and her loss but these are serious times and the people of Illinois deserve to know what she thinks about real issues and what she will do as a Congresswoman."
Walsh faces an uphill battle to keep his seat in the upcoming election.
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I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran. I have friends whom are veterans, disabled in combat with diverse political perspectives. However, we unite when anyone, especially a chicken hawk, shows disrespect for the sacrifices of another veteran's service.
Our true heroes, it's the last thing in the world they talk about." --------- IF it is never spoken, how will people know a person has served? These teabaggers are really something else.
Mr. Walsh....
My momma always said "If you can't say something nice about somebody, don't say anything at all." I bet your momma said something similar. You really should listen to your momma.
Just resign now and save the voters the trouble of dismissing you.
From my career in the Veteran's Administration assisting disabled veterans with rehabilitation efforts, I can say that of course all veterans who have injuries and scars, visible and hidden from their service were HEROS. However, it was knowledge to those that were their brothers and sisters in arms and those of us that worked with our heros that the most visibly severely injured rarely spoke of their "sacrifices"; they maintained a quiet dignity about them and were doubly honored for that!
Bob Dole from the Greatest Generation and Max Cleland from the Vietnam Generation come to mind as two that set the example. Perhaps Tammy Duckworth will come to join them, and John McCain in good time!
However, it was knowledge to those that were their brothers and sisters in arms and those of us that worked with our heros that the most visibly severely injured rarely spoke of their "sacrifices"; they maintained a quiet dignity about them and were doubly honored for that! ------------ You say this as if the entire country has served or that Walsh has served, notice how when Duckworth gets on TV she praises other Vets. So as usual you spin things to make them look different than they really are, where has Duckworth bragged about her service? As well, you supported John McCain, and he bragged all the time about his service and his family's service. You as well were just fine with comparing Max Cleland to osama bin laden and with the swift boat hatchet job, then complain about how attacking the military people is so wrong.
Kieth L? I don't get what you're saying. It seems to me that you're validating Nut Job Joe Walsh's lunatic tirade against Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworth. Are you really saying that the service and sacrifice of McCain and Cleland were more honorable than that of Lt. Col. Duckworth? I have admired John McCain and Max Cleland, and I am grateful for their service and sacrifice. I am also thankful that I returned from my time in country relatively intact. If you have ever listened to John McCain on the campaign trail, you have to admit that much was made of him being a prisoner of war. It is still a topic of discussion, and one about which he's never shied away from. And if you've ever listened to Tammy Duckworth, you know that Walsh's claims that she talks "too much" about her service and her wounds is an outright lie. Walsh is a dreadful creature with no ideas, no principles, no values, and no morals, and so as a candidate for public office he has nothing to offer the American public. Walsh has never served in the military. He never wanted to serve in the military. And he is happy never to have served. In fact, he is a life-long underachiever who defaulted on his mortgage, battered his wife, abandonned his children, and refused to pay court ordered child support--until faced with the threat of jail time. He is and always has been a self-absorbed creature, respecting nothing and no one. He demands respect from others, but has never done anything to earn respect. And so he has come to believe that he can gain the respect of others by being a blow hard and a bully. He does not understand what it is to serve and to sacrifice, and so he hates anyone who has served and has sacrificed. And that's why he's attacking Lt. Col. Duckworth's heroism and honorable behavior. Walsh is selfish and hates anyone who is selfless. Being a creature of low intelligence and poor character, he has no ideas, no principles, no values, and no morals upon which to base his campaign for public office. Therefore, he has nothing to call upon in this campaign except for his own shameful history, a history filled with cowardice and hatred, and direct all of his self-loathing toward an exceptionally selfless and honorable woman. How anyone, particularly someone who has served in the US military, can validate in any fashion what the venom Walsh spews is certainly a mystery to me.
Let me get to the bottom line this man is a teabag scumbag.
Joe Walsh needs to thank Tammy for focusing on her service rather than on his Failure To Pay Child Support. He ought to support Obama Care and equal pay for women; we need it, if guys like him want to get away without child support! I think there should be a campaign for people all across the country to email him and ask him if he's paid child support yet. We can offer to file a complaint with the post office if it's "lost." and help him figure out how to cancel and re-issue checks. Maybe someone can show him how to make child support payments via western union?
You act as if he actually wants to pay that support. He does not. I love the idea of emailing and bringing awareness to the issue of child support and those who do not pay it.
How childish of you Jason. Don't try that game of putting your stupid words in my mouth. You really ought to take heed in the dictum that "children should be silent when the adults are speaking"!
And as to your concern about child support, is that because your father isn't paying your's now as he isn't positive of your blood lines? LOL!
Wow Keith, you amazingly missed the point. You saying people who do not pay their child support are OK with you? My dad got a good laugh at your weak attack.
she sacraficed for her country. he wants to sacrafice his country,as do all republicans, sacrafice their country for political gain,by filibustering every attempt to move the country forward,while blaming obama.. totally classless..how can anyone who really loves america vote for the party who wants it to fail?