50 Republican members of Congress signed onto a letter written by GOP Rep. Bryan Mast, a veteran who lost his legs in Iraq, in which they condemned 2024 Kamala Harris running mate Tim Walz for what they argued was his having lied about his military service record, particularly in claiming that he carried guns in war, implying that he deployed (he did not deploy, dropping out of the National Guard right before his unit deployed.)
Beginning the letter, Rep. Mast said, “The Office of the Vice President is a position that requires the trust of the American people and a solemn commitment to duty on behalf of the United States of America. As veterans who have served our nation, we feel compelled to address your egregious misrepresentations and urge you to come clean to the American people.”
Continuing, Rep. Mast called out some of Gov. Walz’s lies about his service record. Beginning that part, he said, You have stated that you are “damn proud” of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be. But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service. Repeatedly claiming to be a “Retired Command Sergeant Major” when you did not complete the requirements was not honorable.”
On that same note, Rep. Mast called out Gov. Walz for having dropped out of the unit before it deployed, saying, “Nor was it honorable to claim to carry weapons “in war” when you had not served in war, and abandoning the men and women under your leadership just as they were getting ready to deploy was certainly not honorable either.”
He further argued that Gov. Walz’s lies about his service record diminish the actual sacrifices that veterans have made, saying, “To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat. Military service is not merely a job or a uniform.”
He added, on that same topic, “Those who serve in the Armed Forces endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend. The honor of wearing the uniform is earned through dedication, bravery, and an unwavering sense of duty. You have displayed none of these characteristics as you have lied your way through a political career launched on the foundation of a title you did not earn and combat deployments you did not take part in.”
Rep. Mast then argued, “In short, our grave concern stems from the fact that the office of the Vice President is one heartbeat away from becoming the Commander-In-Chief. You’ve already demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain.”
Concluding, he wrote, “As a result, America’s veterans and servicemembers are rightfully concerned about what would happen to them should you ascend to the Presidency. When America asked you to lead your troops into War, you turned your back on your troops. You have violated the trust of our brothers and sisters in arms. Their blood, sweat, and sacrifice are the only reason our nation is able to exist. Until you admit you lied to them, there is no way you can be trusted to serve as Vice President.”
Tweeting about the letter directed at Gov. Walz, Rep. Mast said, “50 military vets joined me in a letter to @Tim_Walz. Tim, you’ve lied your way through a political career on the foundation of a title you didn’t earn & combat you didn’t see. You failed the test of leadership once. America will not make that mistake again. #VeteransForTrump”
Featured image credit: Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_Tim_Walz_at_Bemidji_Steel.jpg
SOURCE: theamericantribune.com