[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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Rep. Walsh lost the debate before it started. I am a conservative, but he is not very bright in his approach to his opponent. All he has to say is: I appreciate your service and sacrifice to our country...but what is your platform?" Then move on....
Shout from the rooftops Tammy. Shout for all the vets. I salute you!
Americans, driven by celebrity worship and stupidity, keep electing "personalities" instead of issue-tacklers. Keep it up, you'll be in an even worse mess than you are now.
"[Rep. Joe Walsh is] 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."
The question becomes what should congressional candidates talk about?
Their positions on the important issues of the day? Yes.
Their agenda if elected? Of course.
Their qualifications for office? Yes. Military experience certainly can be one of those qualifications... one.
Their personal background, character, etc.? Yes. Military service can be a part of that... a part.
As much as I have the greatest admiration for a blackhawk pilot seriously-wounded in combat in Iraq, Rep. Walsh is correct that that alone does not qualify one for a seat in congress.
Of course, ultimately it will be up to the voters to decide that.
Are you very knowledgeable of this particular race? Do you know that Lt. Col. Duckworth is not making many appearances, that she is not speaking to the issues? Or, are you basing your opinion on what the media is reporting about what her opponent said? Wow, that's reliable analysis of a situation.
Well,Chuck I believe she has covered more than just that fact in regards to her run for office.What has he covered other than to trash her service to this country?..He sounds like a drunk or a lunatic and besides he is a Tea Party member,so that alone should disqualify him for office.His yelling and crazy ranting would be another reason to disqualify him from serving.Personally,what he needs is a left hook and an uppercut and a little time to sober up or perhaps some good anti-psychotic meds to chill him out.His pharmacist can help him with the latter.I couls help him with the former remedy.Some combat duty would be another great alternative to this craziness.
You can never qualify as a Black hawk pilot nor well you never will. You speak like you know, but you will never know just like your rich Politicians you vote for..
Odd, when McCain was running for President you Conservatives seemed to believe that it was a HUGE item in his favor and made him far more qualified than someone who hadn't served in the military.
I find it funny that Conservatives will say they support the military, but then will badmouth folks like Max Cleland, John Kerry, Tammy Duckworth and John Murtha, all of whom are combat veterans. Strange that they take every opportunity they can to attack veterans who just happen to oppose their positions and always denigrate their service.
MAYBE we are putting to much in the word "HERO". While I totally support our military and their proud service, if you are going to attach HERO to everyone one then the word becomes meaningless! IF she truly wants to run then, personally, and I am a ret. Viet Nam Vet., she SHOULD debate her apponent without mention of military serviice, talk about what her plans are and leave it at that! Her background, as everyone else, can be found in their qualifications!
Wes
"How does being injured in a war automatically make you more qualified for a political position than someone who hasn't been ? Is milking an injury really an appropriate tactic? Should the focus of her campaign not primarily be on "the issues?"
For a lot of vets, "the issues" are all wrapped up in their service. Like how hard it is to get a job when you're competing with other candidates who have all their body parts and don't make the interviewers uncomfortable. Or the fact that the training you got in the service that was supposed to help you get a job later doesn't. Or how certain members of Congress want to cut off the food stamps your wife and kids are getting because your military pay isn't a living wage. Or the fact the VA medical still doesn't know what to do about the aftermath of traumatic brain injuries. Or the fact that a third of America's homeless are vets with mental disorders, most of which they never would have had if they hadn't gone to war. Or the fact that the body parts who don't even have any more still hurt like hell every time the weather turns a little bad...
Yeah, I guess none of that stuff counts when it comes to "issues."
Agree but just due to the fact your a disabled vet doesn't mean i have to vote for you if i don't agree with your opinion. There are vets that are quack jobs and glory seekers. She is disgusting in many ways, I know i wouldn't vote for her no matter what. I don't even think every vet should be considered heroes ether, but that's my opinion. People join the military and serve for all sorts of reasons they go to war for many bad reasons as well.
Walsh is poison & an embarrassment to the USA.
Cant stand the man or his party but he is right...not passing judgement on Mrs Duckworth...not familiar with this situation. Service to ones country is commendable and due respect..but it certainly doesnt rate a vote.
Who says she says it does? You're basing your opinion on what Rep. Scott says? Sad.
Nor should being a deranged Tea Party member validate a vote.What is he a hero of...vile,ignorant comments?
Scott – if you aren't familiar with the situation, why are you blindly accepting Rep. Walsh's statements about her campaigning efforts?
Anyone reading this comment section that is a resident of this district and knowledgeable of this race? Seems to me there's a lot of people taking the word of a person whose objectivity is suspect that all she's doing is talking about her military record and not addressing issues. If that is the case, the voters can decide which candidate they want representing them. The polls seem to indicate that she's got a lead over Rep. Scott. He, meanwhile, is coming across as a whiner.
He is also a deadbeat dad who owes child support from a long ways back.Yes,he is a real caring qualified loser!
Beadleaz – not a resident but grew up there, and I'm back twice a year to visit family. Read my previous comments. If she is leading, it doesn't surprise me. Walsh is making national Republican talking points, but these issues have no relevance to the people of the 8th District. They're largely Republican, but they don't have the issues that Walsh screams about. My opinion.
What a horrible interviewer she isnt even a citizen lambasting a congressman over his opinion and what he feels is a little too much. Also since when is an interviewer of someone an opponent I have never heard those terms before. Its disgusting both on the right and left how you cant have an interview and find out there opinion so we can make our own opinion, instead of you being prejudice against the person your interviewing. Why not let him speak get his point across and let people decide what opinion to form. She had one of the worst interview i ever saw I hope she doesn't have her own show.
Hey,blind guy this isn't the first time he has spoken out in such a vile way to his political opponent.
This guy needs to be fired! He's demonstrated just how useless he is as a member of Congress.
The comments about Duckworth aside, this man is crazy with a capital "C". I don't know why anyone would vote for him for any reason!!
He is out there.......we need level-headed,common sense people in Washington DC!
Walsh is a dirt ball.
While it is easy to slam Walsh and misconstrue him as being disrespectful to veterans (I am a veteran and am not offended), I can understand what he is trying to say.
Even as a fellow veteran, I appreciate her sacrifice, but I don't think it automatically qualifies her as a successful politician. She needs to focus more on her platform and her actual stances on issues, rather than touting her military service like some sort of guilt trip.
Hey...I got an idea, how about she runs her campaign however the hell she pleases within the confines of the law?
As far as Joe Walsh knowing what veterans talk about...hes not a veteran, hes not a war veteran...im quite sure he doesn't have a damn clue.
He's got a point and from what I read in the comments section here. Wounded, shot down vet is untouchable regardless of political experience. I see why she was a good pick to run in the district. Anyone saying all she has is her combat experience is attacked for being unpatriotic. Lets find more inexperienced crippled vets win elections. Ronald Reagan and FDR never flew blackhawk helicopters either, it's not a requirement for public office. Get tortured in a vietnamese pow camp> Big bonus for the campaign.