A spokesman for the Kamala Harris presidential marketing campaign told the Washington Post Friday that working mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) “misspoke” when he stated in a video posted by the marketing campaign that he had carried weapons in battle.
Walz served twenty-four years within the Military Nationwide Guard with out ever serving in a fight zone. Walz retired in 2005, months earlier than his unit was ordered to Iraq so he may run for Congress, resulting in accusations he give up on his males understanding they had been prone to be deployed to a battle zone.
That is the second time this week since naming Walz because the Democrats’ new vice presidential decide that the Harris marketing campaign has needed to clear up for Walz mendacity about his service. Beforehand the marketing campaign made a stealth edit to Walz’s about page concerning his false declare to have retired on the rank of command sergeant main.
Within the video posted Tuesday, the day Harris introduced Walz as her vice presidential decide, the marketing campaign quoted Walz saying: “I spent 25 years within the Military and I hunt. I’ve been voting for frequent sense laws that protects the Second Modification, however we are able to do background checks. We are able to analysis the impacts of gun violence. We are able to make sure that these weapons of battle, that I carried in battle, are solely carried in battle.”
As of Friday night the Harris marketing campaign video with the false declare of fight service by Walz was nonetheless posted.
Gov. @Tim_Walz: I spent 25 years within the Military and I hunt. I’ve been voting for frequent sense laws that protects the Second Modification, however we are able to do background checks. We are able to analysis the impacts of gun violence. We are able to make sure that these weapons of battle, that I carried in battle,… pic.twitter.com/3IVaXi2RP2
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 6, 2024
A Harris-Walz marketing campaign spokesman acknowledged for the primary time Friday that Walz “misspoke” in 2018 when he defined his assist for gun laws by saying, “We are able to ensure that these weapons of battle that I carried in battle is the one place the place these weapons are at.” That phrase led Vance and different Republicans this week to accuse Walz of falsely suggesting that he fought in fight.
“Governor Walz would by no means insult or undermine any American’s service to this nation — actually, he thanks Senator Vance for placing his life on the road for our nation. It’s the American approach,” the spokesman, Ammar Moussa, stated. “In making the case for why weapons of battle ought to by no means be on our streets or in our school rooms, the Governor misspoke. He did deal with weapons of battle and believes strongly that solely army members educated to hold these lethal weapons ought to have entry to them, in contrast to Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun foyer over our youngsters.”
On the marketing campaign path, Harris stood by her new working mate, telling reporters Thursday, “I reward anybody who has introduced themselves to serve our nation, and I feel that all of us ought to.” The marketing campaign quietly edited its on-line bio of Walz to exchange “retired command sergeant main” with “retired sergeant main.”
Politico reported Thursday concerning the Harris marketing campaign correcting Walz’s bio (excerpt):
Harris marketing campaign tweaks Walz biography amid scrutiny of army credentials https://t.co/z6EWeObM5G
— POLITICO (@politico) August 8, 2024
Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign up to date its on-line biography of working mate Tim Walz’s army service amid Republican efforts to query his file within the Military Nationwide Guard.
On its web site, the Harris marketing campaign axed a reference to Walz as a “retired command sergeant main” and now says that he as soon as served on the command sergeant main rank — a small change that nonetheless displays his true rank at retirement from the Military Nationwide Guard. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, served for twenty-four years within the Nationwide Guard earlier than retiring in 2005 from the army to run for the U.S. Home, the place he grew to become essentially the most senior enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.
…Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign up to date its on-line biography of working mate Tim Walz’s army service amid Republican efforts to query his file within the Military Nationwide Guard.
On its web site, the Harris marketing campaign axed a reference to Walz as a “retired command sergeant main” and now says that he as soon as served on the command sergeant main rank — a small change that nonetheless displays his true rank at retirement from the Military Nationwide Guard. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, served for twenty-four years within the Nationwide Guard earlier than retiring in 2005 from the army to run for the U.S. Home, the place he grew to become essentially the most senior enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.
Walz has persistently misrepresented his service and has didn’t appropriate the file when others in politics or the media falsely credit score him with serving in fight.
A video from 2007 surfaced Friday of Walz not correcting then Speaker of the Home Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) when she known as him command sergeant main and credited him with battlefield service. Additionally, C-SPAN falsely IDed Walz as an “Afghanistan Warfare veteran”:
FLASHBACK: Tim Walz thanked Nancy Pelosi at a press convention in 2007 through which she stated whereas introducing him that “we respect his service on the battlefield.”
CSPAN then recognized Walz as an “Afghanistan veteran.” pic.twitter.com/6HaKNyfKsf
— Greg Worth (@greg_price11) August 9, 2024
UPDATE: Harris dodged a query from a reporter Thursday about Walz, “Hear, I reward anybody who has introduced themselves to serve our nation. And I feel that all of us ought to.”
Kamala Harris on Donald Trump: “I am glad that he is lastly agreed to a debate on September 10. I am wanting ahead to it. And hope he reveals up.”
– and –
“I’ve talked to my staff. I would like us to get an interview scheduled earlier than the tip of the month.” pic.twitter.com/NbixTWDGS3
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) August 8, 2024
