[Updated at 6:05 p.m. ET] An Illinois congressman has stuck to his guns – including during a testy interview with CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield this week – in a flap over his assertions that his double-amputee election opponent talks too much about her military service and war injuries.
Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Illinois, has said that the story has been blown out of proportion, arguing that it has been manufactured by liberal opponents who recorded his comments at a campaign event Sunday and then posted them on the Internet, with liberal website ThinkProgress.org starting the coverage.
But he’s defended his stance, arguing that Democrat Tammy Duckworth – a Black Hawk helicopter pilot who lost both legs when her crew was shot down in Iraq in 2004 – rarely makes campaign appearances in her bid to defeat him in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. When she does, he said, she talks mostly about her background fighting overseas.
We’d like to hear what you think about the issue. First, here’s how it played out this week.
In a Sunday campaign event in a Chicago suburb, Walsh was recalling the 2008 presidential campaign of Republican Sen. John McCain, saying McCain was modest about his background as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Walsh said McCain was reluctant to make that story a focus of his campaign, despite pressure from advisers to do otherwise.
“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," Walsh said. "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."
The comments spread online, and several groups, including VoteVets.org and Emily’s List, condemned Walsh’s remarks.
Walsh, elected in 2010 with support from the tea party, told CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blizter” on Wednesday that he believes Duckworth is a hero, but she gives voters a narrow window into her positions on political issues.
“She is a hero, and that demands our respect, but it doesn’t demand our vote. All she does, guys, is talk about her service,” Walsh said.
On Thursday, Walsh got into a heated back-and-forth with Banfield during an interview on CNN. After Banfield attempted to contradict Walsh’s allegation that Duckworth doesn’t talk about issues – she read a list of moments when Duckworth commented on things other than military service – Walsh responded:
“She spends a lot of time talking about her war service. I’ve asked her to debate me monthly. She won’t. I’ve asked her to get directly in front of voters with me. She won’t. She will not get in front of voters and take questions directly from voters. Because she’s a war hero, Ashleigh, that demands our respect. But that doesn’t demand our vote.”
While Walsh and Duckworth might not have debated frequently, they did debate on May 11. According to a Chicago Sun-Times account, Duckworth criticized the GOP’s federal budget proposal, accused Walsh of wanting to end Medicare and backed President Obama’s support of gay marriage, but she declined to answer a question about whether she would have supported the bank bailout of a few years ago.
Duckworth’s stances on issues, according to her campaign website
Duckworth hasn't hidden her war service or injuries. She highlights them on her campaign website. After last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the health care reform act, she referenced her injuries when discussing the act, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Walsh’s criticism of Duckworth isn’t new. Politico, on March 28, reported that he said this during a 30-minute interview: “I have so much respect for what she did in the fact that she sacrificed her body for this country. Ehhh. Now let’s move on.”
“What else has she done?” Walsh said, according to the March 28 Politico article. “Female, wounded veteran … ehhh. She is nothing more than a handpicked Washington bureaucrat. David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel just picked her up and dropped her into this district.”
He later backtracked on the “dropped her into this district” comment in an interview with Chicago Magazine.
Hitting back on Friday, Duckworth told CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" that she discusses the issues "a majority of the time" and argued that Walsh was trying to "distract" voters away from his record in Congress.
"It's very irresponsible for Mr. Walsh, as a sitting congressman, to try to muzzle war veterans and keep them from talking about their service," Duckworth said.
Duckworth said during a Tuesday interview with MSNBC that Walsh had disrespected veterans and called him an "extremist loudmouth for the tea party." On Wednesday, she told CNN affiliate WLS that Walsh’s comments were “not even worth mentioning.”
This election year marks Duckworth's second run for Congress. The Iraq War veteran made an unsuccessful House bid in 2006, before being tapped by President Barack Obama in 2009 to become an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard.
The two candidates are fighting for a seat representing the new 8th Congressional District outside Chicago and created by the state's recent redistricting process.
– CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
What do you think of Walsh's stance? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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This is the same Joe Walsh who earlier this year decided to switch districts and run against another freshman Republican (Randy Hultgren) when the 2010 Census reduced the number of Congressional Districts in Illinois. I got a funny robocall from Joe, introducing himself as one of my two Congressmen. Apparently he's now running in another district which is less Republican friendly (he won last time by 291 votes) and beginning to notice he's not the favorite.
Come Off It !!! You are being HOOD-WINKED. Walsh is playng the only card he knows how. When out of the spotlight for what he feels is too long, he will go out of his way to say something stupid, or disrespectful, or assinine and force the attention back to him. When have we ever read ab out the novel and insiteful way that Walsh is addressing a pressing issue ?!? When have we ever witness Walsh lead a steadfast and steady way through one of this nations many problems !?! When has Walsh been praised for his leadership, intellegence, or wisdom !?! NEVER !!! Seems the only time he is in the spotlight is when he is throwing a tantrum at some citizen at a Town-Hall Meeting, or saying something disrespecful about the President, or most likely (as in this case) attempting to explain away his latest non-sense. Don't tell me he doesn't know what he is doing. Walsh is a One-Note Song, and he plays it loud and often. Now, the only thing I cannot understand is how a sane and sensable populace can look at this guy (I will not call him "a man" – a man provides for his family) and decide that this is the type of representation they wish to send to Washington. That is a true mystery !!!
there is a Jewish word for this guy and it's "PUTZ". Also it is flabbergasting that voters could be so dumb as to cast even one vote for him. Have they no decency?
Great going Ashley
Never having served in the military and having little if any distinction of any kind, Walsh needs to be removed from the public eye and ear as soon as possible. Illinois voters, go for it!
Republicans hate veterans.
It's pretty obvious.
They do hate Veterans and yet some of our brothers in battle hate the people trying to help them and love the people that's trying to deny the very benefits that keep some veterans alive. If they promised veterans they should be men and deliver, We DID .
Walsh is another non-serving Reich Wing p@ssy.
The singer Joe Walsh is probably saying "not me, man, not me"!
"Life's been good to me so far..."
"I have a mansion, forget the price, Ain't never been there, they tell me its nice.."
Just realized this but, this song could be Mitt Romney's Theme music.
The guy is a jerk....
He is one of those type of people, with such a limited capacity, that the only way he can win "debates" is by bringing or shouting people down in order for him to build himself up,,or so he thinks.
I know his "represents" a Congressional district but I certainly hope the people in the District are not representative of him...Personally, I hope they are more like Tammy Duckworth...and the people in his District will make it known in November.
If she had been Republican, he would be praising everything she ever said about military service. And it's not true that John McCain never talks about his service. In any event, there's nothing wrong with it. I find his behaviour very crass.
We (I) have problem finding a "Real" hero. A fireman runs into a burning building–a HERO, a cop gets shot stopping a robbery-Hero, a helicopter pilot get shot down -HERO. Come-on folks thats what they were paid, yes I said paid payed to do. If the job is too dangerous for you, go find another job. HEROS- I DON'T THINK SO!
People, leave the emotions aside!
Don't know much about the woman, but you can't argue that John Kerry way, way, way overplayed her military service.
Actually, you can argue with what you said. Kerry did NOT overplay his military service. But a standard philosophy of Karl Rove is to attach an opponent at his strength. For instance, with Romney, you'd attack him with his business credentials. Well, the Bush campaign made it a point to go after Kerry's military experience.
As to the original article, there is a very big difference between saying "I respect the service and sacrifice my opponent has made for our country but she offers no positions on the economy, immigration, or a series of critical foreign policy issues" vs. saying "all she ever does is talk about how she lost her legs in the military." One way is a very valid, appropriate, respectful and tactful way of saying that candidates need to talk about a range of important policies, I do and she doesn't. The other way is a tacky obnoxious way of saying, well, I resent the fact that I didn't get my legs blown off b/c I didn't bother to join the military and then serve in a war so I resent it when someone who runs against me can make that an issue.
True, you obviously don't know much about her. She was a Blackhawk pilot. Her aircraft was shot down by the enemy, and she lost her legs in the crash.
The is absolutely no way on God's green earth anyone could EVER overplay her service for and contribution to our country. And to those who say "they get paid to do it," if you feel that way, tell your Congressmen to re-instate the draft so everyone can do their fair share in service.
Ashley Banfield sounds as smart as a bowlng ball, typical Obama supporter.
Perhaps you would prefer Annie(the screech) Coulter.The darling of the right.By the way,I do believe this story is more about the a- hole on the right of the screen.
I am a Democrat and not to happy with any Republican minded comments, but the unprofessional manner in which the interview was conducted needs attention. Asleigh was highly argumentative, continually interrupting and talking over her guest. While I take her positikon on the issue, I was highly embarrassed for CNN, which I consider to be a "news" organization. Asleigh's tantrum was was totally unbecoming of a "class' journalist and was nothing more than an emotional outburst. I am truly surprised that CNN would want this type of "reporting," if you can even call it as such, under their banner. I'm certain that is not the CNN which Ted Turner envisioned. It's okay to ask tough questions, but not okay to ask questions and not allow them to be answered. Wake up producers, and clean uo the act!
Agreed.
what he said!!!!!
CNN is not news
FOx is not news
MSNBC is not news
NBC is not news
Nothing on TV is news just politicized garbage.
Also kinda funny how democrats and republicans don't think people should have an opinion other than theirs. Sooo much brainwashing its not funny. Seems you all read off your talking points and cant come up with a valid argument that is your own. Sad how our country has fallen.
The unprofessional one was Rep. Joe Walsh.
And you are no Democrat. I am a Democrat. Some of my friends are Democrats...
When CNN goes to bat for a candidate you can bet that candidate is a lefty liberal.
Pleas attempt an aeronautical intercourse with a rotating, motivated piece of pastry.
yeah...and fox is fair and balanced!!!!!!!!
you don't know dick
This don't bother the NAZI right though they will vote for this thug anyway.