(DailyEmailNews.com) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been caught in an unforgivable lie, misrepresenting his military record by claiming he used “weapons of war” in combat.
Taken from a 2018 video clip from his gubernatorial campaign, the comment was recently highlighted as Walz, now Kamala Harris’ running mate, spoke about gun control.
In the clip, Walz states, “We can research the impacts of gun violence. We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.”
This remark drew immediate criticism since Walz, who retired from the National Guard in 2005, never served in a combat zone.
CNN’s Jake Foreman pointed out, “Walz did make a comment speaking to a group, he’s done it a couple of times, where he has used language that has suggested that he carried weapons in a fighting situation.”
Foreman further explained the distinction between serving in a war environment and actually experiencing combat.
He noted, “There is no evidence that at any time Governor Walz was in a position of being shot at, and some of his language could easily be seen to suggest he was, so that is absolutely false.”
Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, who served in Iraq in a non-combat role, accused Walz of “stolen valor” at a Michigan campaign event.
“He said we shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets,” Vance said. “Well, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?”
Vance criticized Walz for misrepresenting his military experience: “What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that you’re not.”
The Harris campaign defended Walz, stating that he had extensive experience with military weapons.
It said that “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country.”
Walz, who joined the Nebraska National Guard at 17 and later transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, retired in 2005 as a master sergeant.
Despite the controversy, Walz was successful in his political endeavors, winning a congressional seat in 2006.
However, some former Guard colleagues said they were disappointed over his decision to leave the unit as they approached deployment.
Copyright 2024, DailyEmailNews.com
