Your must-read blog posting of the day
First a disclaimer. I’ve actually met the Congressman that TAH reader Dave Thul discusses in this article. I found him to be a very nice guy. I even appeared with him at a function not very long ago, and commented that it was nice to have another enlisted guy there with me. Which only makes this post harder to read for me. I really hope that Congressman Walz’s staff reads the post and comments.
And for Mr Thul, when you get a chance, look up the various media stories and lack of corrections regarding Congressman Murphy of Pennsylvania. During the campaign I repeatedly contacted Murphy’s office and told them that this dishonorable allowance of media outlets to cite him as a combat hero with distinction was misplaced, since he was a JAG. They never even responded to me.
Category: Politics
Well, it’s always a very thin tightrope that we have to walk, when dealing with elected officials. Dave nails it on the head, when discussing his reasons for not going after Walz earlier. I, myself, have to deal with local, state, and federal elected officials in my VSO capacity, so I understand very well, when Dave mentions not getting on the badside. However, I agree, also, when I see that Dave has had enough and the issue needs to be resolved. Fortunately, I still live in his previous congressman’s district (retired Marine) and have had some very positive conversations, both in person and by email, with him.
I have said before that no one needs to embellish their service record. All they need to do is be proud of their service and remember that not everyone can be a Ranger, Seal, or Green Beret, because we were/are all part of the team and that’s what we can, should, hang our hat on. If someone feels the need to go for the spec ops, then by all means, do so, but if you haven’t done the time, don’t claim the prize.
Being a nice guy, does NOT necessarily mean being a good guy. As the ultimate in current bad examples, look at Obama and Biden (shudder).
I didn’t see a place to comment at True North, so I’ll leave it here (since Dave is over here often). If Walz isn’t trying to mislead the voters, he’d spell out “Walz served in Italy while in support of Operation Enduring Freedom”. This misinformation is reminiscent of Chiroux’s “Afghanistan veteran” claim and Ward Reilly’s “Ranger” claim. It’s a lie by omission. And I wonder why that’s so common for the other side.
No, I agree on the nice guy thing. But when it is an asshole, a la Rock Duncan, I savor outting him. Walz just seemed like a nice guy. Highest ranking enlisted man in Congress, so I *wanted* to like him. Then I see this crap.
It would be like me claiming I was a Desert Storm veteran because I was on AD in 1990-91, even though the closest I got to the Gulf was a liberty port visit in Hong Kong. Sorry, Congressman–you lied, got busted, and now you need to plead mea culpa.
Well, a little in defense of Walz (ok, damn little). We all know that journalists are lazy, agenda driven idealogues in this day and age. With that said, it doesn’t surprise me that the “journalists” embellished for him, so he could claim that it wasn’t him. However, he could have taken care of those mistakes by getting corrections printed. He did not do so, because as a politician, he knew that it would only enhance his electable chances by leaving it un-corrected. With the picture of him making the claim that he did, it makes it look like he was politiking for his own run back in 2004. Or, he was trying to give himself gravitas in any counter argument against Kerry; for example: Would anyone want to argue the merits for, or against, war with a combat Vet? Would a combat Vet’s opinion carry a little more weight in discussing issues of a military nature, whether it’s a policy discussion, or funding, etc.?
He has been perfectly content to “let it ride”, so to speak, but it does do a disservice to others, both to those that served in theater and those who proudly did their job, which might not have been needed in theater.
Trooper–look at the picture he was carrying while protesting his not being let into the Bush rally. Says it all right there.
Yeah, you’re right, NHS, it makes one wonder what his true intentions were all along, since it’s difficult to claim you changed after not being let in to a Bush event, yet the picture shows that you were for Kerry before Bush showed up.
Or, maybe he wasn’t lying by saying he wasn’t let into the Bush event, he just left out the part that he was carrying a Kerry sign at the time that they wouldn’t let him in.
Trooper-I met Congressman Kline last April during Vets on the Hill. All I need to say is I’d follow that guy into combat any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
I put up more info at my blog (link in my name I think). I certainly don’t criticize the CSM for not serving in a combat zone. I remember getting back from Kosovo and having to explain to everyone where Kosovo is and why the US military is there. I even had one guy ask me if Kosovo was in northern or southern Iraq.
But claiming to be an Afghan war vet when you are not is 10 kinds of wrong. And it’s too bad, because politics aside, TSO is right-Congressman Walz is a nice guy.
And, Walz has been REALLY good on veterans issues. So, right now I am still hoping his press guy will issue a statement on the sign debacle, and the time line on it.
To me, when a media outlet puts something out about you, you contact them with inaccuracies. For my part, it took about 7 emails to media matters and source watch before they fixed my love page. I have no problem taking heat for things I have done or said, but be accurate. I correct people everytime they say I served in Iraq, because I did not.
TSO mentioned Murphy, and I know how popular Jon Soltz is here, so why not combine all three? From Soltz writing at the Huff Po in 2007-
“Last year, with your help, VoteVets.org made history. Because of your support, four candidates who served during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were elected to Congress with high hopes, and they have not disappointed. Congressmen Patrick Murphy, Joe Sestak, Tim Walz, and Chris Carney have become strong leaders in the House of Representatives, and are giving a heavy dose of reality about what is, and what is not, supporting the troops.
Imagine, for a moment, if we had more like them. Think about how the debate would change if more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were able to take to the floor, and the credibility that would add to criticisms of the president’s failed policy in Iraq.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/adding-to-the-ranks-of-ir_b_53228.html
Wow, talk about parsing of words and implication of that which doesn’t exist…how many people read that statement and ASSUMED that all of them are automatically Iraq/Afghanistan vets?
Dave: I have to agree with you and TSO on Walz being a nice guy and really on board with Veteran’s issues, that’s why I said that it’s a very thin tightrope, since I have met him in my dealings on behalf of Veterans through my VSO.
On a side; I will be incomunnicado for a few days starting this afternoon, since our Department (state) Convention kicks off tonight up in the NW corner of the State and I have about a 4-5 hour drive to get there after work, plus I don’t have a laptop, so I won’t get to check in on all the goings on here at TAH until Saturday evening.
Old Trooper, I sent you an email yesterday from work, did you get it?
I assume you are going to the Dept of Minn conv? Check your email, or send me one through TAH if you would.
Fixed my name, LOL
I apologize, TSO, I haven’t had a chance to check my home email, yet, due to unforseen last minute meetings at the Post to cover some planning things for the shindig in Hopkins this weekend and how many American Legion Riders (yeah, I wear that hat, too, along with Post service officer, district Vice Commander, district Post development, etc.) were going to come, so they would know how to stage in the parade, etc., then I had to get my fatass organized for the trip today.
Now that I’m done with the excuses and whining, I will check my email posthaste.
[…] unfair to Tim Walz, because he certainly does talk well for veterans, and that’s probably why TSO gives him a pass for embellishing his military career. Walz, on his campaign web site, wrote that he was deployed in […]