Deadbeat Dad Joe Walsh Attacks Iraq Vet and Double Amputee Tammy Duckworth’s Patriotism

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Last updated on February 9th, 2013 at 06:55 am

At a recent town hall, GOP deadbeat dad Rep. Joe Walsh belittled the military service of his Democratic opponent and double amputee Tammy Duckworth.

Here is the video:

Transcript via Think Progress:

WALSH: Understand something about John McCain. His political advisers, day after day, had to take him and almost throw him against a wall and hit him against the head and say, “Senator, you have to let people know you served! You have to talk about what you did!” He didn’t want to do it, wouldn’t do it. Day after day they had to convince him. Finally, he talked a little bit about it, but it was very uncomfortable for him. That’s what’s so noble about our heroes. Now I’m running against a woman who, my God, that’s all she talks about. Our true heroes, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about. That’s why we’re so indebted and in awe of what they’ve done.

Walsh was implying that Duckworth is trying to exploit her service for political gain. Embedded in his remarks was a criticism of her patriotism. She not a real patriot. She doesn’t really love America. Look at the way she talks about her military service.

It is repulsive that a man who has to be publicly shamed into taking care of his own children has the nerve to criticize a woman who literally gave two of her limbs for her country. Much like Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, Joe Walsh never served his country, but he is willing to politically smear those who did by demeaning their service.

Walsh was trying to contrast Duckworth with “quiet hero” John McCain, who just so happens to be the same John McCain who tried to get elected president on the basis of his military hero image in 2008. The same guy who wrote a 1999 memoir, and had a movie made based on his book about his experience as a prisoner of war. While McCain doesn’t brag about his service, he has made his story quite well known. McCain has been able to parlay his image as military hero into a media concocted foreign policy expert status, so I wouldn’t exactly call him a quiet hero.

When a Republican serves their country, or in the cases of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney dodges the draft, they are patriots. When a Democrat like John Kerry or Tammy Duckworth serves, their service records are belittled and mocked.

Joe Walsh is trying to do the same thing to Tammy Duckworth that scumbag Saxby Chambliss did to Max Cleland during their infamous Georgia Senate race, but this time it isn’t going to work. Tammy Duckworth is a true patriot who loves her country so much that she spilled her blood for it. In contrast, Joe Walsh doesn’t even love his kids enough to pay child support.

Gone are the days when Republicans could simply wave the flag and act as if they have cornered the market on patriotism. There are many Democrats who served their country well in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are coming home to show these draft dodging war mongers the faces of true heroism.

Rep. Joe Walsh wished every veteran and active duty member of the military a Happy 4th of July by spitting on their service. If you are in the military and live in Walsh’s district, get yourself an absentee ballot and please do us all a favor by voting this Republican eyesore to democracy out of office.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association

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