GOP Rep: Disabled vet opponent should shut up about her service
Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill and Democratic opponent Tammy Duckworth | AP Photos
What do you do if you’re a beleaguered Republican congressman, well known for making an ass out of himself by ranting at constituents, and for being sued by his ex-wife for more than $100,000 in unpaid child support?
If you’re Tea Party champion Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Illinois, and you’re in a race against a Democratic war hero who lost two legs during her military service, you call her out as not a “true hero” because she talks about her military service.
Unlike Walsh, of course, who never talks about his military service. (Because he had none.) Watch the video at Think Progress.
Make no mistake, folks: this is part of a well-practiced strategy by Republican chicken hawks, who have never served, or who have ducked action in the National Guard, who have learned how to use their opponents’ military service against them.
The pioneer of the tactic was now-Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, who in 2002 used it against then- Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, a triple amputee from his service in Vietnam. The chicken hawk Chambliss, whose bad knee kept him out of Vietnam, blasted Cleland for “breaking his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.”
The odious ploy was so successful it was replicated by stooges for President George W. Bush in his 2004 race against Sen. John Kerry. They realized that Bush, who during Vietnam hid out in the National Guard, was vulnerable against Kerry, a decorated Vietnam vet. So they formed “Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth,” which was funded by pro-Bush millionaires, and proceeded to spread a lot of lies against Kerry.
And now we have Walsh, saying veterans should just shut up.
How low can they go?
Update: Walsh latter clarifies his remarks with a nonapology.
July 3, 2012 - 5:17 PM
Impossible to go any lower, except when Oliver shows up to defend the TP guy.
The Swift Boat ordeal still has me boiling..
and yet people are willing to let it drift away as if nothing
is/was wrong.
http://mediamatters.org/research/2004/08/24/the-lies-of-john-oneill-an-mmfa-analysis-swift/131713
Dan, I just don’t understand why the paper even lets you rant about this stuff. You are supposed to be a metro columnist and all you do is spout hatred for the GOP. If you want to be the political columnist, apply for the job, quit trying to sneak in the back door.
In a race to the bottom, they are already there. Why this gets so much credit when they supposedly “support the troops” and “respect veterans” is mystery of life and the telling of their soul.
What did Obama do in the military? Anyone? Bueller?
Another Bob. Is another cracked teappt who doesnt know the difference between a column and a blog .do you see anything that says this is. A metro blog? And if you are defending that scumbag walsh thaT says it all.
Dave, there is a description on the “right” side of the blog that say’s he’s a “metro Columnist” silly me, I assumed they new who he was.
Another Bob, I just had a mini daydream about you. You are standing on a sidewalk watching as flames engulf a small house. A child’s cry can be heard inside. Suddenly a police car pulls up and and an officer jumps from the car. He rushes toward the house, kicks the door in, jumps into the smoke and flames. Less than a minute later, he emerges with the child, wrapped in a blanket, safe and sound.
By now a crowd has gathered. They are clapping for and cheering the officer, who is approaching with the child in his arms.
But not Another Bob. He has a scowl on his face. The officer sets the child down just feet from Another Bob. He wipes his perspiring brow with his forearm. And he notices the unpleasant expression on Another Bob’s face.
“Is there anything wrong, sir?” the officer asks.
“Yeah — you!” Another Bob exclaims.
“What’s wrong with me, sir?” the cops says. “I just saved that little boy. Do you have a problem with that?”
“You’re damn right I do!” Another Bob cries. He’s so upset he begins sputtering.
“You’re, you’re, you’re a POLICE OFFICER. A POLICE OFFICER, get it? You just rescued that kid but YOU’RE NOT a firefighter! IT’S NOT IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION!”
The fact is, Another Bob, there are many people out there who have job titles that do not necessarily precisely fit each and every duty and role they play. When I was an editor, I occasionally wrote breaking news (I can hear you now: “But, but, but, you were an EDITOR! Not a REPORTER! Not a WRITER!”).
Sometimes at Kroger, when a bagger is not around, the checkout people bag the groceries. Do you criticize them, too? And sometimes my physician takes my blood pressure after his nurse already has. I wonder if yours would go up if that happened.
Relax, Bub! Get a life. And have a happy 4th of July.
Henry…you are missing the point..
as is often the case.
Swift Boat was about comparing 2 military records..
and the Rovites and their ilk lied their asses off.
What Dan has presented here is Military vs not served..
If you want to use that angle go ahead and regale us with
Romney’s list of service medals..
Try to keep apples with the apples.
That is if the hole isnt too big in your basket.
Dan, my question was not about your right to post a blog, my question is why the newspaper runs it. You have every right to post your opinion right or wrong, but when the paper posts it every day it becomes an article. You are advertised as a Metro Columnist, yet you are continually published as a political pundit. Find another site to post your blog and your little group can follow, and sing your accolades there.
#5 Brilliant, Henry, just brilliant.
militay? 0bama? he couldnt fight his way out of a wet paper bag…I sure dont want IT trying to defend my country..besides our brave soldiers fight to preserve FREEDOM.. something bammy hates and is trying to stop daily.
Obama doesn’ play military hero, like some other presidents that come to mind. He also didn’t tell McCain to stop bragging about getting shot down over N Vietnam
Walsh is a POS though….no arguing that. His wife should have his paycheck garnished.
Dan Casey is a super hero everyone. Don’t you get it. Leaps large buildings in a single bound. Saves small kitties from trees, babies from blazing infernos and will be spending his fourth of july bashing the dirty republicans and tea partiers while single handedly restoring power all to southwest Virgina.
“Why do you do it,” asks Jay Warren, reporter WSLS.
“Because I’m a Metro Columnist and need to assure this great Valley that there is no other vote than to blindly go another four years with President Obama,” replied Casey. “I’m just doing my part.
The Roanoke Times President Debbie Meade couldn’t be reached for comment but resident gonzo bloggers all cheered a resounding “AMEN!”
Until they were quickly corrected their faith in Casey was a little too Christian sounding. So they occupied the 10 commandments and revised them all. The new commandments are posted for all to see on the Wells Fargo Tower and in Giles County starting with:
Thou shalt have no god before thee unless of course it’s the mighty Dan Casey.
God speed Daniel, god speed. Happy Fourth gonzos!
How in hell does someone like that stay in office? What a worm
Well, look! Power must’ve been restored at pammalapdog’s trailer park.
“Dan, my question was not about your right to post a blog, my question is why the newspaper runs it.”
Another Bob, I’m merely the metro columnist and a blogger. That question is above my pay grade. You need to be posing it to higher authorities.
#10 Wow, Another Bob, when did you take over administration of the RT website? Are you the newspaper’s published now?
Are you from Pennsylvania?
#12 So based on your “response, pammalalala, we can assume you are one of the filthy right-wing traitors who agrees with attacking amputee veterans as not being true heroes. What a POS.
Not sure I get the “slam” against her from the video, but I would grant that if he disparaged her service he was being an ass…
Also, one should be very careful when delving into other’s family matters, as they tend to get complex.
One question comes to mind however when this post “disparages” those who have served in the same National Guard in which this candidate served…
is there a different appreciation for an R that served in uniform than there is for a D?
Personally, if I lived in this guy’s district, and believed he was “dissing” a vet he would never get my vote. (hell I still feel bad that I was a couple years short on Vietnam service… (sorry Jane)…lol
However, just because she was wounded in service does not “automatically” raise her to the level of “elected official” if that were so we would have a legislature full of wounded vets (maybe a good thought).
In fairness to both candidates they should be judged on their understanding of issues and ability to succeed.
Henry, re: “What did Obama do in the military” apparently he chooses who will “die” today and whether it will be by “drone” or by making our brave soldiers do his bidding…
Possibly no different than any other president, but did you ever hear any of those brag about it (or let their decisions be known?).
“but did you ever hear any of those brag about it (or let their decisions be known?).”
‘Shock & Awe’ was advertised and televised like it was the Super Bowl and then there was the tragically misnamed ‘Mission Accomplished’ after-party.
Mike o …..I believe having a real pilot land one on the deck of a carrier then climbing out in a pilot’s gear as if. Had actually flown the plane and making a speech under. A banner reading mission accomplished qualifies as bragging.
Obama doesn’ play military hero, like some other presidents that come to mind.
Really? You’d have thought he forced his way into OBL’s compound and took him out himself. And the drone bragging? Please. The little wimpy boy with the big ears has tried to pass himself as Rambo II.
#22 Oh yeah, dave, the Shrub was one manly guy when he sitting behind a desk and telling terrorists to bring it on. How unpresidential can you get?
Wow, did you just compare yourself to a cop who saves a kid from a burning building? That’s incredibly arrogant. You are a writer, a gadfly, and a pot-stirrer — a paid hit-collector for the RT website. You really have no business comparing yourself to cops or firefighters.
#25 Come on, tass, suzie has pretty much compared herself to Jesus.
suzie is an anonymous commenter, not a paid representative of the Roanoke Times. What the hell, Dan? Comparing yourself to people who put their life on the line to protect strangers for working-class wages? You write a column on whatever the hell suits your fancy from the comfort of your own home.
tass, settle down, dude. You’re gonna get a hernia doing all this lifting for Another Bob.
The anecdote was aimed at him. He (like BobH) apparently takes great umbrage at the fact I work outside a job description he has defined for me, based on my title and his limited imagination.
Would you feel better if the anecdote was about a teacher, who offers a student with a scrape a band-aid? (Comment from Another Bob: “But, but, but . . . that teacher is NOT a nurse! Offering a band-aid is OUTSIDE HER JOB DESCRIPTION, so there!”)
And btw, how do you know I’ve never saved anyone’s life, as a journalist? The arrogance of certain readers is at times quite amazing.
Re: Comment by Dan Casey — July 5, 2012 @ 7:15 pm
Dan,
How’bout this example of exceding one’s job description:
http://tinyurl.com/caykdhl
**
Lifeguard fired for saving man outside his ‘zone.’ Outsourcing gone wrong? (+video)
In Hallandale Beach, Fla, lifeguard Tomas Lopez was fired for leaving his designated area. Now, some are rethinking the town’s decision to outsource the management of lifeguarding.
By Patrik Jonsson / July 5, 2012
Atlanta
The Florida town of Hallandale Beach is rethinking its decision to outsource its lifeguarding duties after an incident in which Tomas Lopez, a lifeguard, was fired on the spot for leaving his “zone” to rescue a drowning man.
On Monday, beachgoers alerted Mr. Lopez to a situation about 1,500 feet down the busy beach – outside the guarded area – where someone was apparently drowning. By the time he sprinted to the scene, other beachgoers were dragging a drowning man to shore. Lopez took control of the situation and stabilized the man, who remained in intensive care on Thursday.
The private company hired by the town to patrol the beach is Jeff Ellis Management, and its rule is to call an ambulance if a lifeguard sees someone drowning on a different part of the beach. That’s what Lopez was told by a supervisor to do.
SNIP
**
BTW — in this and other stories that I have read other lifeguards covered his assigned area, while he was out of it; and quit over his firing.
The way you get under the skin of the right wing zealots makes you a superhero Dan! Make no mistake, it is a good thing when they lose all hope of decorum and appear apoplectic over a blog thread.
Tass, I think you took the story a little too literally. Dan was not comparing himself to a policeman or a firefighter, he was talking about someone with a supposedly well defined job, doing something that was never in his job description, because of Another Bob’s obsessed notion that a “metro columnist” must stick to only what some deem as “his job”.
Dave H,
It was outside that lifeguard’s “job description”!
Another Bob and tass, I’m sure, will be chiming in about that soon. . .
In the case of the lifeguard, I would say he did what his heart and training told him to do. However, he violated a clear [but ill-conceived] policy in place by his employer and it resulted in his termination. The smart PR move would be to change the policy and offer him his job back, but this is Florida, so I wouldn’t hold my breath.
As far as Dan’s subject matter is concerned, I hope he laughs each and every time he cashes his paychecks. He can blog whatever he wishes; it’s his blog. And as long as he keeps getting paid for his columns by being within the guidelines set BY HIS BOSS, you haters can whine and cry like spoiled children all you want. He’s making bank and you’re complaining while sitting at his table.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/05/12582497-lifeguard-who-was-fired-for-trying-to-rescue-man-is-offered-job-back?lite – they offered the lifeguard his job back, but he declined.
I find it interesting that Sandi Saunders assumes I am a “right wing zealot” because I’m not falling in line with everything the columnist says. And they say the rightwing is the party of followers.
There have definitely been journalists I would consider heroes but it’s laughable that you would count yourself among them.
Now tass, surely you can think, even this late at night. If I had indeed included you in the first paragraph blanket, what need would I have to address you singly in the next? I have had many a back and forth with you and seen your comments here, and on the BRC blog. I have never taken you for a “right wing zealot” and I do not in fact believe you are.
I took your comments to Dan totally differently and responded differently. I am sorry I did not make that clearer, I guess I assumed you would know it.
My apologies. Sincerely.
You lost me on the hero journalist and myself among them second paragraph so I am going to assume that was not a comment to me.
Good night.
Criticizing military people who were present who pointed out inconsistencies in John Kerry’s story is pretty lame. Kerry was portraying himself as a military hero. He wasn’t. He served just a few weeks and finagled his awards through dubious injuries, then came home and protested the war. He was a fake.
Bush supporters called him out because he was making such a complete pompous ass of himself. Remember that corny charade of sailing across Boston Harbor to the convention site as if he were freaking Paul Revere. Then kicking off the convention with with a stupid salute. “john Kerry reporting for duty”. Gag me with a spoon. Recall also while doing this, Kerry’s people were blasting NG folks like Bush as draft dodgers. Then CBS was enlisted to do the phony forged documents story by the Kerry people. You know. The lie that ended Dan Rather’s career?
So please stop whining about Kerry’s alleged mistreatment. The goofy bastard got what he deserved.
#36 Bush WAS a draft dodger of sorts, although not as bad as heroes like Rash Boilbutt and Cheney. What’s wrong with calling him one?
Disclaimer (because we know what lie Oliver will come back with): The NG back then was a way for the well-connected to dodge actual service. The NG is totally different now. Members of today’s NG are true soldiers who actually serve in combat zones.
Anyway, we’re still waiting for troll grrl’s outrage over Walsh’s un-American attack on Duckworth. Crickets.
“Gag me with a spoon.”
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!! OmiGOD! That is so, like, totally 80s! It’s so bitchin’ that you’re, like, trying to sound cool and rad….as if! Here’s, like, a clue: When a woman, like, your age tries to use 80s slang, it’s just grodie.
I am so sick of the ignorant blogger, ‘most ill-informed’ @36 – comparing what John Kerry did, and what Geo W. Bush never did. Other than a car accident while under the influence, GW Bush did not receive any wounds during his service – he NEVER saw combat. On the other hand, John Kerry was in combat, many, many times.
This is how Navy Admiral Elmo Zumwaits described John Kerry’s experience in Vietnam:
Under his command [Navy Admiral Elmo Zumwaits], swiftboats would aggressively engage the enemy. Zumwait, [died in 2000], calculated in his autobiography that these men, under his command, had a 75 percent chance of being killed or wounded in a typical year. John Kerry served under the Admirable’s command during his time in Vietnam as a swiftboat lieutenant in Operation SeaLord.
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq93-1.htm
During these missions, Kerry was wounded but continued to serve. On February 28, 1969, another Swiftboat was being ambushed, Kerry’s boat and crew became a target of a Viet Cong B-40 rocket blast – instead of a hit and run tactic, Kerry ran the boat on the beach from where the rocket was fired, jumped off and pursued the enemy with the rocket launcher while the crew continued to fire their weapons. Kerry caught and killed the enemy combatant. According to Crewman Frederic Short [in a Boston Globe interview] there was “no doubt” that Kerry saved the boat and crew. Crewman Charles Gibson, who served that day on Kerry’s boat, said Kerry’s action was dangerous but necessary. Gibson said, “Kerry was a good leader. He knew what he was doing.” For this action, Kerry received the Silver Star.
In his last mission, March 13, 1969 a mine exploded under Kerry’s boat and wounded him in the right arm. Despite the injury, Kerry rescued a Green Beret and assisted other damaged boats while braving sniper fire from the riverbanks. This incident earned Kerry a Bronze Star with Combat V for “calmness, professionalism, and great personal courage under fire” and his third Purple Heart. This final injury was his most severe.
Kerry served in the Navy from 1966 to 1970 and was in Vietnam from November 1968 to April 1969. On January 3, 1970, Kerry received an honorable discharge.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20040416.html
http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp
So please Shut the Frack up about Kerry’s service. Unless you served in any war, in any combat zone, you are totally ignorant of what combat service is, and I for one, have no interest in your opinions. Go read a non-fiction book on the service of John Kerry, and stop wasting everyone’s time re-swiftboating John Kerry with Faux news talking points. Your ignorance grows daily.
Gee, not a single right winger denouncing this POS. I guess the only thing that matters to them is insulting Dems,.