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Democratic congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, who lost her legs in Iraq, joins Alan to respond to Joe Walsh’s attacks on her military service.
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Tammy Duckworth and congress -- a terrific against representative Joseph Walsh.
-- you never know what he's gonna say next colonel I mean.
I we played over and over again that ridiculous statement he made about your service to your country if they.
If they liberalism that about a conservative I can only imagine what the conservative reaction would.
And I think that's exactly it you know -- I think that there's been irresponsibility.
In his choice of words.
I might actually come after me you know I -- go ahead in question -- skills as a pilot.
You know -- met -- if you want it to but when you say that.
-- -- veteran is not a hero piece speaks about is about their military service you're essentially encouraging veterans to remain silent at a time and it -- be should be speaking out.
I'm about -- service especially if they're looking for jobs.
If they need help whether it's from -- -- -- or homelessness so I think it's irresponsible and to make those statements.
It is silly whatever number I wanna get to your record in a moment what you stood up for but I mean this -- a guy who has a 170000 dollars.
In -- child support he said Obama was elected because he was they can -- because he's black and he's got a series of of saying act crazy things.
I wonder if there's been a little bit -- reorganization in your district the eighth district is a little bleeding a little more democratic isn't it than it did when he was elected.
It yes that they have that they district is definitely more democratic just slightly -- much more I think it's.
You know what a 2% more.
But what's really interesting in this district is that it is now twenty.
222%.
Latino.
And about 12% Asian so it has become incredibly more diverse and those populations were not in the district that he -- selected.
How big -- difference -- that make in your campaign.
Well you know I I think that a lot.
It's gonna make a difference in in insert issues that we talked about good public education and when we talk about you know -- be -- -- topic immigration reform.
They don't make a difference but I don't think it's that overriding.
Conservative district -- -- conservative district is still jobs in the economy.
And how will that play given I know that the right is certainly beating up Obama about this and ignoring.
The what 22 months through a job creation.
The fact that that the Affordable Care Act will actually save money but they -- -- -- really very different narrative the other side.
How is that playing in her district.
We've got a lot of confusion that mr.
Wallace being.
An extreme Tea Party congressman -- he called himself the poster child for the Tea Party.
Quite probably actually.
Just repeat.
Things are not true whether he repeats.
Also it's about you know my service so our power will be issues -- talk about -- constantly repeat things that are not true that -- you know that.
Health Care Reform is going to force seniors to pay more for their health care or that you can open your health care if you have good health care -- That you know the way to -- their social security and Medicare is to vote for the Ryan budget which in fact actually -- those programs -- I think the right the extreme right in -- and and the Tea Party repeats things that are not true and scares the people in the district can make it confused.
It's really sad because.
The narrative not just this -- it's not just happen in the eighth congressional district in Illinois it's happening all over the country and this is what they're running and Mitt Romney heavily was really very disingenuous campaign.
He's just running against Obama but offering no vision for Republicans a lot of what they are doing in congress dead on arrival like the 31 time.
And this week that they're trying to repeal the Affordable Care -- Bright and and you know and if you look at have a chance to online is the -- that debate that mr.
Walsh and I added that was the first one in the entire nation in the general election.
And you look at that they have given -- He just speaks in very broad terms about their ruining Washington they're destroying this country -- -- a -- but absolutely no plans for how we saw.
Issues other than a tax cut for millionaires and.
And -- proudly say I'm gonna do nothing for this I'm gonna bring you nothing I'm not gonna do you have the government bring anything to you well in congress.
Yes he got.
-- -- you're not gonna get squat army.
Into shops on the mountaintop that -- you know what he's been as good at his word because last week he thought he was the only member of the entire.
Bipartisan.
Member Illinois delegation to vote against the highway bill which is desperately needed and this district.
And they've rejected the a jobs bill the President Obama you got them Romney saying Obama doesn't have a jobs bill has no plan for jobs when in fact the opposite issue he's got no plan Republicans rejected and certainly actually some -- -- Democrats as well.
Rejected the just built in the White House.
And it's it's important is that they come back in May say things that are not true which is that there were dead you know we have no plan -- that I have no plan what I do it.
But you know I think -- a -- -- if you repeat these things enough people believe them.
-- little bit about Q in spite of your injuries.
You declined -- military medical retirement.
Why is that and continue as a -- you continue to -- as lieutenant colonel in the army National Guard.
I do you know I there's this great program but the military has now put it's the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Can't continuation on active duty status or on -- -- on active reserve which is what I am.
I just wasn't ready to hang up with.
The uniform I do feel like I can still serve my nation and that.
Although I can't fly helicopters for the army anymore I can certainly be a safety officer and who better to talk about the speed and the -- a couple of -- that -- right.
Well and that happened -- you -- give any sense that your life would take the trajectory it's taking now.
That whatsoever I really not that you know -- -- when I first woke up in the hospital was to get well calmed.
Learn to walk again and make -- packed my unit I never thought I would get involved in politics.
But -- junior senator from Illinois at the time happened to be on the veterans affairs committee.
Barack Obama and the senior senator senator Durbin.
You know with the minority whip and and I kept reaching out to them asking for help with quality issues or going on with our wounded warriors and and they wouldn't want to -- -- You know project -- in my office if you -- this strongly that things aren't going well again they do something run front office and and that's how I got into politics something I never would have.
You are purple heart recipient and -- 2009 -- attempt by the president to be the assistant secretary of veterans affairs how is this administration done by way of the veterans and veterans' care.
The president actually -- best description as this is an authority says this nation as a covenant to keep without veterans he doesn't talk about it as a promise.
Or an obligation because we have a covenant and actually.
He gave.
The Obama administration gave the Department of Veterans Affairs the largest increase in its budget in thirty years.
And continues to dedicate the most amount of resources compare to.
Many of the previous administration Republicans or Democrats and we've really turned the around six patients that he has done an amazing job I think there's still a tremendous more amount of work to do but this is really gone to a cultural shift.
In the last three years of one of being an advocate.
Public.
Being this series -- veterans to now being an advocate for.
Which I would have -- -- where she's running for congress in Illinois eighth district against a Joseph Walsh.
The -- a lot in common with the president in fact you were born in Thailand although he was born in the United States.
But you grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia are you ready for them to sort of severe birth certificate and you're -- but -- American by the way which makes you American but.
We are you prepared for that onslaught -- Well I did they -- everything on the record yeah I was born into that my debt with the Vietnam vets who came back to the US was not treated very well.
As many Vietnam vets were not and and immediately went back to southeast Asia went to work to -- United Nations refugee programs.
And I met my mom and got -- -- -- -- I don't it was -- -- debt retired from the military in 1972.
I was born in -- I am and -- on -- board an American because my father sort of like John McCain you know brawn born abroad of an American service member parents.
And yes I did live in Indonesia for seven years as a child demand probably.
Did not the president -- but.
You know I think we probably like to.
Spent a lot of time in the ocean -- -- And eat a lot of -- this thing it's.
You lost Busch 5000 votes when you ran last time.
But what I ask you this the beginning let's conclude this way as well what what do you think -- what do you project.
What are you give any internal polls and and and had -- -- -- different this time around.
What it's different this time around Allen is back.
Different.
I I've I've done.
A lot in the last six years I have worked very hard as as a servant to the public.
You know I sort of a lot of programs here in Illinois at the state level sent back to work with in state government.
And we brought it -- -- under my tenure from forty ninth in the country in terms of veterans benefits to number one in the country.
And then at the federal BA I was asked to be in charge of the program and veterans homelessness and five years and in a two and a half years I was there we cut the number four receptions in half -- Just the level experience in learning to work across government prided.
Operations.
Not for profits is is you know has been a tremendous learning experience and I think it makes me a better.
You know government.
Better -- -- operating equipment.
As far as the district is concerned it is more democratic we have a good shot I noted mr.
Walsh's approval ratings are very very low.
In the district so I'm just gonna run based on the work that I'd been able to do compared to the work that he's not done for the district.
The colonel I appreciate you very much socket or audience tonight thank you very much for your time wish -- the very best.
Thank you and get me if you keep -- and make sure our heroes -- a private -- Member of the military so I think --
