Sunday political affairs programming switched gears as the networks prepare to cover (or fawn over) this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. With the spotlight on the Democratic ticket, there was nary a mention of the various and sundry scandals surrounding the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
This isn’t necessarily a new thing. As our own Curtis Houck noted, the networks are ignoring both Walz’s DUI and his Stolen Valor misrepresentations of service in Iraq and retirement from the Minnesota Army National Guard as a Command Sergeant Major.
The Sunday shows followed a largely similar track, except for ABC This Week. Watch as host Martha Radddatz directly askins Illiniois Senator and Purple Heart recipient Tammy Duckworth about Walz’s service, and about remarks made by former President Donald Trump equating the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Congressional Medal of Honor:
MARTHA RADDATZ: You- you talk about Tim Walz, but there's been controversy about his -- his military service as well, saying once that he carried weapons in war which he did not, and he said he misspoke, but ABC News found at least one occasion where he didn't correct an interviewer who said that Walz had turned -- had served in Afghanistan. Do you have any problems with that? Should he have corrected him?
TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, you know, we say, we- when you speak oftentimes, you say things, but remember. This man served 24 years in uniform. He was a re- he's a retired Command Sergeant Major. I'm excited to have a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Vice President’s Office, in the Situation Room when we look at issues of conflicts around the world. It's going to be great to have that experience and frankly, it's despicable what Republicans are doing. The same party that thinks that Donald Trump, who dodged the draft five times, who thinks veterans are suckers and losers, that's who they think is better than someone who served 24 years in uniform protecting and defending us every single day, and frankly I don't have a single problem with Tim Walz. He's, in fact, somebody that I think will be very good for America to have in the situation room with his vast military experience.
Duckworth was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of the Black Hawk helicopter she was flying being downed by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents, which resulted in the loss of her legs and severe injuries to her arm. Her heroic service is without question. Her choice to paper over the many ways in which Walz misrepresented his service subsequent to ditching his battalion, in service of partisan presidential politics, stands on its own. And, perhaps, this part of the reason why Raddatz asks the question to begin with, on the eve of the DNC. Although she did mention that there was more than one instance of Walz wrongfully claiming he was in a war zone.
And yet, this was the lone significant mention of Walz’s scandals on the Sunday shows. The only other thing close to a mention came on NBC’s Meet the Press, back from Olympics hiatus, when cited as an example of the candidates’ need to do interviews:
"BUT SHE DOES PLANESIDES", say Symone Sanders-Townsend and Kristen Welker in defense of Kamala Harris's unavailability to answer questions from the media pic.twitter.com/bdGUFFXZF2
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 18, 2024
With the Harris coronation about to kick off, the Regime Media will do their level best to bury Walz’s scandals.
Click “expand” to view the aforementioned interview segment as aired on ABC This Week on Sunday, August 18th, 2024:
ABC THIS WEEK
8/18/24
9:18 AM
MARTHA RADDATZ: I also want to ask you about what former President Trump said Thursday at an event. He was talking about awarding Miriam Adelson, a major donor of his, the Presidential Medal of Freedom while he was in office. Let’s listen.
DONALD TRUMP: It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version. It’s actually much better- because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that's soldiers. They're either in very bad shape because they have been hit so many times by bullets or they're dead. She gets it, and she's a healthy, beautiful woman. [ Applause ] And they're rated equal.
RADDATZ: They're rated equal. And as an Iraq war veteran badly wounded there, recipient of a Purple Heart, what's your reaction to those words?
TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Well, American voters have a chance to choose. Do they want a five-time draft dodger who denigrates military men and women and our vets and calls us “suckers and losers” who doesn't want his picture taken with amputee veterans of various conflicts to be the next Commander-in-Chief? Or are you going to have Kamala Harris and Tim Walz who care deeply about veterans? Tim Walz has been out there leading on so many issues for veterans, especially burn pits. Donald Trump is despicable. He doesn't deserve to be Commander-in-Chief and certainly those remarks are consistent with where he's always been. He's thinks that we’re “suckers and losers”, and frankly, he’s not fit to be Commander-in-Chief.
RADDATZ: You- you talk about Tim Walz, but there's been controversy about his -- his military service as well, saying once that he carried weapons in war which he did not, and he said he misspoke, but ABC News found at least one occasion where he didn't correct an interviewer who said that Walz had turned -- had served in Afghanistan. Do you have any problems with that? Should he have corrected him?
DUCKWORTH: Well, you know, we say, we- when you speak oftentimes, you say things, but remember. This man served 24 years in uniform. He was a re- he's a retired Command Sergeant Major. I'm excited to have a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Vice President’s Office, in the Situation Room when we look at issues of conflicts around the world. It's going to be great to have that experience and frankly, it's despicable what Republicans are doing. The same party that thinks that Donald Trump, who dodged the draft five times, who thinks veterans are suckers and losers, that's who they think is better than someone who served 24 years in uniform protecting and defending us every single day, and frankly I don't have a single problem with Tim Walz. He's, in fact, somebody that I think will be very good for America to have in the situation room with his vast military experience.
RADDATZ: Ok, thanks so much, Senator, it’s great to see you as always.
