Centerpiece
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I'm a retired teacher/coach and I approve and I'm REALLY excited.
Walz — Comer Opens Congressional Investigation of Walz trips to China
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“Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?”
— Vance, Wednesday
The Harris campaign circulated a 2018 clip of Walz arguing in support of gun restrictions. “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at,” he said.
There is no evidence that Walz served in combat — and he has not claimed he did. He did receive ribbons for proficiency in sharpshooting and hand grenades, according to military records obtained through an open records request by MPR News.
“In his 24 years of service, the governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times,” a Harris-Walz campaign aide said. “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.” The aide did not address his use of the phrase “in war.”
Assessment: Walz’s language was sloppy and false. He did carry weapons of war — just not in war.
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Yes, that was sloppy rhetoric at best -- he needed only refer to the weapons of war that he carried and snip out "in war", though he was serving in wartime for part of his service, he was not personally in combat. But this is the only example anyone seems to have and it is from an off-the-cuff remark, not a prepared statement.
— Vance, Wednesday
The Harris campaign circulated a 2018 clip of Walz arguing in support of gun restrictions. “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at,” he said.
There is no evidence that Walz served in combat — and he has not claimed he did. He did receive ribbons for proficiency in sharpshooting and hand grenades, according to military records obtained through an open records request by MPR News.
“In his 24 years of service, the governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times,” a Harris-Walz campaign aide said. “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.” The aide did not address his use of the phrase “in war.”
Assessment: Walz’s language was sloppy and false. He did carry weapons of war — just not in war.
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Yes, that was sloppy rhetoric at best -- he needed only refer to the weapons of war that he carried and snip out "in war", though he was serving in wartime for part of his service, he was not personally in combat. But this is the only example anyone seems to have and it is from an off-the-cuff remark, not a prepared statement.
donbosco
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The Walz distraction
While Republicans have been attacking Walz, Harris has been building relationships and improving her image.
open.substack.com
The Walz distraction
While Republicans have been attacking Walz, Harris has been building relationships and improving her image.
THOMAS MILLS
AUG 09, 2024
After Kamala Harris named Tim Walz as her running mate, Republicans leveled much of their fire at him instead of her. They went after his military career, falsely accusing Walz of stolen valor. Trump’s campaign manager, Chis LaCivita, made his name in politics producing the Swift Boat attacks against John Kerry that shifted the dynamics of that race. This time, though, the Harris campaign is pushing back on multiple fronts. Veterans from both parties quickly came to defend Walz and his record of service. So far, the attacks aren’t gaining significant traction.
Another attack may backfire, highlighting Walz as a compassionate man looking out for children, especially those less fortunate. Walz signed a bill that requires school to “provide students with access to menstrual products at no charge.” Republicans pounced, creating a hashtag, #TamponTim.
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Apparently, Republicans convinced themselves that the law required tampons be placed in boys bathrooms, but that’s not what the law says. The falsehood originated from the Trump campaign and they tried to make it true by making it viral on social media. I’m shocked.
The attack wasn’t supposed to be about providing the free menstrual products. It was accusing Walz of showing too much compassion for transgender kids. Now, Republicans are complaining that they aren’t against giving tampons to kids who need them. They just want to hate on transgender people.
Republicans may have inadvertently given air to a problem that has struggled to get attention. An organization called Alliance for Period Supplies has been advocating for free tampons and pads in public institutions. Their cause may get a boost from the publicity.
Walz, for his part, is probably looking even better to women voters. The attack just highlights his commitments to students. He also signed legislation providing free breakfast and lunch for all public school students. He wants kids to go to school and be able to focus on education and activities while not worrying about basic needs.
Tim Walz provided a lift to an already rising Harris campaign. Republicans moved quickly to squash it—first with a false accusation for stolen valor and then a misguided attempt to wrap him around transgender rights. The first one is failing because too many veterans and veterans groups are coming to his defense. The second one was just made up and has been exposed, making Walz even more appealing as a running mate.
At some point, Republicans will realize they need to lay off of Walz. He’s not the candidate for whom people will come out to vote. Harris is the principle here and while they’ve been leveling their fire at Walz, she’s been shoring up her relationship with labor and steadily improving her image with voters. Not only has she built a campaign that’s working well, she’s causing her opponents to lose focus and flounder.
Centerpiece
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There will be no "swift-boating". The E9 down to E8 was more "paper" than reality. The key was that he actually served in the E9 capacity, and in retiring the gubment is always going to bust somebody down a peg if it means paying less in a pension - which is EXACTLY what happened. As far as the "retired before deployment" - look at the dates involved. Walz announced his candidacy for congress in February 2005, a solid MONTH BEFORE his unit was even notified of "possible deployment". And the ACTUAL deployment didn't occur until March 2006!“… Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard in Nebraska in 1981 and retired honorably in 2005 as the top enlisted soldier for 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Regiment, in the Minnesota National Guard, according to a copy of his records provided by the Minnesota Guard. He reached the rank of command sergeant major and served in that role, but he officially retired as a master sergeant for benefits purposes because he didn't finish a required training course, according to the records and a statement from the Minnesota Guard.
His Guard career included responding to natural disasters in the United States, as well as a deployment to Italy to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan, according to a 2018 article by Minnesota Public Radio. Walz earned several awards, including the Army Commendation Medal and two Army Achievement Medals, according to his military records. Working a civilian job as a high school teacher and football coach, the Nebraska native was also named that state's Citizen Soldier of the Year in 1989, according to official biographies.
During the 2022 Minnesota governor's race, Walz' opponent accused him of leaving the Guard when he did in order to avoid a deployment to Iraq, though Walz maintained he retired in order to focus on running for Congress, according to the Star Tribune newspaper.
Far-right commentators and media resurfaced those allegations and knocked him for never serving in combat -- something he has never claimed to do -- in contrast with Vance's deployment to Iraq as a combat correspondent. …”
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WSJ Editorial Board -- urges Vance et al to move along (but can't help but defend the original Swiftboating of John Kerry)
"There are plenty of reasons to criticize Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, and we’ve told you about several. But the charges leveled so far about his military service look like “thin gruel,” as our friends at the New York Sun put it.
J.D. Vance has accused Mr. Walz of “stolen valor” despite his 24 years in the National Guard because the Minnesota Governor didn’t deploy to Iraq with his unit.
Before his political career, Mr. Walz rose to the highest enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major. He retired in May 2005, shortly before the unit was notified in July 2005 that it would be deployed to Iraq. Fox News reports that the Pentagon says Mr. Walz put in his retirement request several months earlier, though it’s fair to ask if he was aware of the possible Iraq deployment.
His retirement timing wasn’t ideal, leaving his leadership position when his unit was headed into a war zone. But if he had been deemed essential to the operation, the Guard could have declined to approve it. People retire from service for a variety of reasons. Mr. Walz had served since he was 17 years old and had decided to run for Congress.
Mr. Walz has also been accused of lying about his record because he retired one rank below Command Sergeant Major. But that seems to have been a bureaucratic issue since to retire at that rank required longer service in the role and coursework he didn’t complete. So he retired at a lower rank, but there’s no doubt he had reached the higher position while active.
Mr. Vance has alleged that Mr. Walz misrepresented his service by referring to weapons he carried “in war.” That may have been a deceptive boast, though a minor one. Iraq war veteran and former Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer posted on X that Mr. Walz “played fast & loose with his military bio to stay above water as his congressional district drifted right.” But that doesn’t amount to stolen valor, and a simple concession by Mr. Walz on that point would put the matter to rest. ..."
superrific
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Nothing Walz said was wrong. People are acting as if the phrase "in war" means "in combat" or "under fire." It does not. My grandfather spent years in the Navy during WWII. He was deployed in the Pacific. He was a cook. To my knowledge, his ship was never fired on. It was part of the rear guard. My grandfather served in war. Period. He did not see combat.
The questions to ask when assessing Walz's claim of carrying a weapon in war:
1. Was he deployed overseas during a war, in support of the war mission? Yes.
2. Did his job require him to carry a weapon? Yes.
He carried a weapon in war. End of story.
The questions to ask when assessing Walz's claim of carrying a weapon in war:
1. Was he deployed overseas during a war, in support of the war mission? Yes.
2. Did his job require him to carry a weapon? Yes.
He carried a weapon in war. End of story.
It's a really great choice, Philadelphia will love the guy . . .
heelinhell
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swift boating John Kerry worked 20 years ago.
I don't think captain bone spurs and Sgt. Scribbles are going to get away with the swift boat smear today.
I don't think captain bone spurs and Sgt. Scribbles are going to get away with the swift boat smear today.
He's Not Here
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Based on the story, I can excuse that one as not being "stolen valor." He was simply trying to highlight that the weapons used in school shootings are the types of guns routinely handled by military members of which he was one.
WaynetheDrain
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“Sergeant Scribbles” needs to become a thing. Please let it become a thing. 
HeelYeah2012
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But superrific ensured us that using the term “in war” was accurate!
Glad to see Harris/Walz walk this back and I will assume it was an honest mistake off the cuff instead of an intentional misrepresentation.
CFordUNC
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Lolololol that's a great meme
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And he was right, it was “in war,” GWOT. It wasn’t in combat which is colloquially equated with in war but is in fact distinct.
JCTarheel82
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Lol perfect. This is the meme that never dies. Just need to update it with each subsequent MAGA outrage.
multiversechorus
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I really hope they continue on this “stolen valor” narrative. The man was part of that war. Sure, he never saw combat but that’s not the point. Do we accuse military intelligence that sit at a desk in the Pentagon of stolen valor? Hell, even the media says “we are at war!” So does that mean all of us or just those shooting weapons?
He didn’t misspeak. He didn’t steal valor. He did his job and was part of that “war”.
They are really grasping at straws to find something bad on this guy and they’re failing. The Democrats knocked this pick out of the park.
He didn’t misspeak. He didn’t steal valor. He did his job and was part of that “war”.
They are really grasping at straws to find something bad on this guy and they’re failing. The Democrats knocked this pick out of the park.