Chicken Hawk Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, another off the Reservation Conservative!
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26 votes
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6 votes
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earned a reputation for caustic remarks and spontaneous tirades, this
week accused opponent Tammy Duckworth--a double-amputee who lost her
legs while serving as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq--of using
her military service to score political points.
The Illinois Republican-- who has
not served in the military-- on Wednesday chose not to back down from
comments he made accusing his Democratic opponent of talking too much
about her time in the Army.
"She is a hero, and that demands our respect, but it doesn't demand our vote," Walsh said Wednesday on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. "All she does, guys, is talk about her service."
On Thursday, Walsh stood by his
comments, telling CNN host Ashleigh Banfield: "This wasn't a slip up. I
don't regret anything I said." Walsh added that he honors every man or
woman who served in the military and accused Duckworth's campaign and
his opponents of "manufacturing" an issue and of conducting opposition
research against him.
Walsh's comments Wednesday and
Thursday followed a speech Walsh made at a campaign event Sunday at
which Walsh lauded Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in
Vietnam, for his humility and refusal to talk candidly about his
service.
"Now I'm running against a woman
who, I mean-- my God-- that's all she talks about," Walsh told an
audience in Elk Grove, Ill. "Our true heroes, the men and women who
served us, it's the last thing in the world they talk about."
Walsh called the ensuing controversy over his remarks Sunday a "political ploy to distort my words and distract voters."
Duckworth's campaign disagreed.
"Congressman Walsh's comments insult those who sacrificed to make this country free," Duckworth campaign manager Kaitlin Fahey said in a statement Tuesday,
just before the Independence Day holiday. "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.
Special interest groups and others have jumped to Duckworth's defense.
This week's comments were not the
first time Walsh, a tea party Republican, has lobbed this type of
criticism at Duckworth. His non-plussed discussion of Duckworth's
sacrifice during an interview with Politico in March drew fire.
Walsh frequently makes news for his blunt remarks. In May 2011, he angered voters with an op-ed in which he stated: "too many American Jews aren't as pro-Israel as they should be."
Around that time Walsh also
attributed President Obama's 2008 win to "white guilt" saying Obama
being an articulate, black man made white voters feel better about
themselves.
Last November, Walsh made headlines for issuing a tirade about financial regulation
during a coffee meeting with constituents. "This pisses me off! Too
many people don't listen!" he shouted at a constituent, physically
moving to get in her face. "You don't have to scream at me, I'm not
screaming at you," the woman replied, mid-rant.
Walsh defended his behavior at that event in a statement which lauded his "passion" for bank regulation.
Duckworth was recruited for the
suburban Chicago 8th District race after an unsuccessful 2006 run for
the state's 6th District seat, speaking engagements at the 2008
Democratic National Convention and service as Assistant Secretary of
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The redrawn district leans Democratic, threatening Walsh's hold on the seat.
Top Opinion
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Lady Whitewolf 2012/07/06 10:21:47
And F him trying to cash in on the name Joe Walsh! His name is Billy Walsh
What is so NASTY about his Comments is that the Party he represents wanted this War and no SACRIFICE on those who like to keep the U. S. in Perpetual Wars, because they don't sacrafice one limb or life for it.
Romney, stated that his sons were to good and busy to be in the Miliary, because their job and they were too busy electing him President.
This coming from a Candidate for President who thinks we should always be in a Perpetual War. How Many Deferments did Romney have. Last count was at lease 3-5. How many Wars did Romney Sit out, - Viet Nam while he had picket signs calling those young men who did not want to go as not doing their duty to the country.
My Email to her.
Ms Duckworth,
With all due respect, many of us Veterans Disabled and not refrain from talking about our service, we find humility to be the best part of our service, even though the American public may want to hear of your service and what happened, it is best to run for office on your job experience and let the public vote on that, instead of what happened in combat. There are 100's of thousands of disabled Veterans, lets make a message about them and not take away attention from all of us who have suffered.
Respectfully and Godspeed.
A Disabled Veteran
If this female is using her disability and the fact that she was in the military makes her a better candidate she should give reasons what other experience would make her a better representative. Military service is not a prerequisite for congressional service....usually Dems are the first ones to echo that military service isn't important....until it's one of their guys!! Bill Clinton didn't serve and the Dems didn't care!! John Kerry served and the Dems had him arriving at the convention in a restored patrol boat....