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On Sunday morning, Ohio Senator JD Vance faced scrutiny from CNN's Dana Bash during an interview about former President Donald Trump's military service record, particularly his avoidance of serving in the Vietnam War.
In a pre-recorded segment aired on CNN’s *State of the Union*, Bash questioned Vance, who is a supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign, regarding Trump's avoidance of military service. She remarked, "Donald Trump did not serve in the military and received a medical draft deferment for bone spurs, reportedly due to his father's influence. Do you find this shameful as well?"
Trump has long been criticized for receiving a deferment from the Vietnam War draft, which he attributed to bone spurs in his heels. In 2018, it was reported by The New York Times that the daughters of the podiatrist who diagnosed Trump claimed the diagnosis was given as a favor to Trump's father, Fred Trump.
In response to Bash’s inquiry, Vance stated, "Donald Trump did not serve in the military, but he has not been deceitful about it, Dana. I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time, and he genuinely respects our veterans and honors me for my service." Vance seemed to direct a veiled critique towards Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running alongside Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Vance elaborated, "Trump didn’t fabricate his military service. He didn’t claim to have served in Vietnam when he did not. That’s where the issue lies. My criticism is not about those who haven’t served, but about those who misrepresent their service. I take issue with individuals who falsely claim to have gone to war."
This remark references a resurfaced 2018 video of Walz, then a U.S. Representative, in which he spoke about his military experience. Despite serving 24 years in the Army National Guard, Walz did not see combat. During the 2018 event, Walz made a statement about weapons of war, saying, "We can ensure that those weapons of war that I carried in war are only present where they belong."
Walz has since admitted he never saw combat while in the National Guard. In a 2018 interview with MPR News, he acknowledged, "There are certainly others who have done far more than I have. I recognize that. I am honest about the benefits I gained from my service, from the GI Bill to leadership opportunities."
The Harris-Walz campaign later clarified that Walz had "misspoken" in his 2018 remarks.
Vance, who served as a combat correspondent in the Marine Corps in Iraq from August 2005 to February 2006 but did not see combat, has been vocal in his criticism of Walz’s comments. Earlier in the interview with Bash, Vance condemned Walz for allegedly embellishing his military service, asserting, "It's wrong to exaggerate or distort your accomplishments, and that's precisely what I believe he did."
A combat correspondent, what the heck is that. Sounds like a reporter for the Army. The Republicans hate reporters call them Fake News. Vance should keep his mouth shut until he has completed twenty four years in the army before complaining about another soldier. As far as I can tell Vance only served as little time in the army as was required so that he wouldn’t have be recalled up again while Walz went on to make the military his career serving twenty four years before moving into politics. Once again we see the difference between a true military officer and a so called fake news reporter.
ReplyDeleteIf Donald Trump claimed heel spurs, but was done as a favor to his father, thats mire than deceitful, its an out and out lie !!
DeleteMy dad was in the Air Force after they called it that. He may not have been in a war, but he did reconnaissance over the then Soviet Union. Hi was the service for 32 years, never actually saw combat, but still just as much a veteran as anyone who did. But he was never a journalist only. Vance and Walz should be considered veterans no matter where or how they served. Since there was a war on. Just as my dad served during the Vietnam war, without ever leaving the states.
ReplyDeleteAll who were in the Armed Services, for whatever period of time and place, have been in war. It takes a team of cooks, mechanics, engineers, administrator, supply specialist, electricians, mail clerks (perhaps the most import, if one has every waited weeks to hear from loved ones back home.), communication technician, radar and radio operators, doctors, nurses, pilots, chaplains and to many more to list in this space. No MOS or AFSC is more important than the other. The important thing is they served their county while others did not...
ReplyDeleteThe only cause that Trumph has Ever served...is his Own.
ReplyDeleteEver the Cowboy, it is no surprise Trump has his own "Spurs"
ReplyDeleteLighten up Francis. JD, he, (Walz), served 24 years, that's not deceitful, and I'm sure he was issued a weapon of some sort. You're trying to make something out of nothing for someone you couldn't stand 8 years ago, back when you had a spine!
ReplyDeleteWalz never claimed to have fired the weapon, he said he carried one in a time of war. He was not attempting to boast about his service, he was making a point about gun control and that civilians do not need the weapons that military members carry.
ReplyDeleteHis statement was as true, unless you want to address the fact that no living active service member has ever carried a weapon "in war", since the last declared war was WWII.
It's not the service. Good for Mr. Walz. I'm fine with that. It's the rank. If he was never in combat, he cannot be a Command Sergeant Major. When he retired...before going into combat...his rank became Sergeant Major. It s the way it has to be.
ReplyDelete