GOP Congressman Attacks Double Amputee Iraq War Veteran Opponent on Her Military Record

It is easy to see what is wrong with American politics. There is a general lack of civility and true disdain for servicing the people, which takes a backseat to satisfying big financial contributors and lobbyist. What has become common place is that it is important to win, regardless of the cost and of what is said, factual or not, and in particular for many GOP candidates and office holders. This type of behavior has grown to be even more of a trademark for Joe Walsh of Illinois.

Walsh, an outspoken critic of President Obama and a tea party darling, is the Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 8th congressional district. He has served in Congress since January 2011 after defeating three-term incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean by less than three hundred votes.

Recently, while conducting an interview on CNN, Rep. Joe Walsh, the far-right and off-the wall Republican from Illinois, took things to another level by attacking the military service record of his Democratic opponent Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth, a veteran of the War in Iraq, is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot whose severe combat wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm. She currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard and is the Democratic Party’s nominee for the 8th Congressional District seat in the House.

Walsh was recorded as saying in reference to Duckworth: “My God, that’s all she talks about.” He also added, “I have so much respect for what she did and the fact that she sacrificed her body for this country. … Ehhh. now let’s move on.”

Politics is not what it used to be. Here is a man, with no military service attacking another American citizen who has made an enormous sacrifice. Moreover, a man who is $100,000 behind in child support, yet has the audacity to be critical of someone using a wheel chair. –torrance stephens, ph.d.