TEA PARTY ELECTED America’s most offensive congressman

For
the record, I don’t think military service is the only route to heroism.
People who are great parents are heroes in their own way.

But
Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh, best known for not paying child support, has
taken neither route to heroism. Instead, the Tea Party blowhard is now
denying his Democratic opponent, Iraq war veteran and double amputee
Tammy Duckworth, is a “true hero.” (Think Progress has the whole video.)
Apparently because she’s been open about her military service, Walsh
thinks she’s showing off her sacrifice. But it’s sort of hard to hide
the fact that you’ve lost both your legs and the use of one arm
(insurgents blew up her helicopter in Iraq).

That Duckworth: She’s such a showoff when she enters a room in a wheelchair.

Walsh
has apparently had enough of her histrionics. He told an Elk Grove town
hall on Friday that Sen. John McCain was a “noble hero” because he
didn’t often talk about his military service. “Now I’m running against a
woman who, my God, that’s all she talks about,” Walsh said.

Duckworth
received multiple military awards, including a Purple Heart, an Air
Medal and an Army Commendation Medal. After her injuries, she became
director of Illinois’ Department of Veterans’ Affairs, until President
Obama made her assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs. She’s supported
by ActBlue and VoteVets PAC. (More information here.)

This isn’t the first time Walsh disparaged Duckworth’s service. In April he told Politico:

“I
have so much respect for what she did in the fact that she sacrificed
her body for this country,” said Walsh. Then, according to Politico, he
paused for dramatic effect: “Ehhh. Now let’s move on.”

“Ehhh?” Really?

Walsh
is best known for falling roughly $100,000 behind in child support to
his ex-wife and then failing to show up in court — because, a staffer
told the judge, “Mr. Walsh is a U.S. congressman.” The judge shot back,
“Well, he’s no different than anyone else.” The case settled in April.