AOC Calls Tim Walz a Uniter for Democrats

Democratic lawmakers and military veterans are defending Minnesota Governor Tim Walz against Republican accusations that he abandoned his National Guard unit during its deployment to Iraq. GOP figures, including Senator JD Vance, have labeled Walz's military service as "stolen valor garbage." However, Representative Jake Auchinschloss clarified that Walz retired from the National Guard in May 2005, two months before his unit received deployment orders, and nearly a year before they were sent to Iraq. Auchinschloss emphasized the importance of countering such unfounded attacks, drawing parallels to past political smear campaigns. The GOP's criticism extends to Walz's statements regarding his military service, particularly a speech where he expressed a desire to ensure that weapons he carried in war are only used in combat. While Walz did not serve in a combat zone, he participated in support operations for the war in Afghanistan. He has consistently acknowledged the contributions of others who served in more intense combat situations, stating, "there are certainly folks that did far more than I did." Veterans involved in the Harris-Walz campaign expressed their frustration over the Republican attacks, asserting that all military service is valuable. The discussion also touched on the contrasting records of President Joe Biden and former President Trump on veterans' affairs, highlighting Biden's signing of the PACT Act, which expands benefits for veterans. In a show of support, prominent Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Joe Manchin, endorsed Walz as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate, praising his ability to unite the party and govern effectively for all Americans.