Duckworth said Walsh is using this controversy to 'distract voters.' | REUTERS Duckworth: Walsh is muzzling vets

Rep. Joe Walsh’s Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth on Friday said “it’s very irresponsible” for the Illinois congressman “to try to muzzle war veterans.”

Appearing on CNN’s “The Situation Room” one day after Walsh clashed on-air with CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield, Duckworth told Wolf Blitzer she has no problem with Walsh’s lack of military service, but that he shouldn’t ask those who did serve to stay quiet.


“It’s very irresponsible of Mr. Walsh as a sitting congressman to try to muzzle war veterans and to keep them from talking about their service by trying to insinuate that you’re not a hero if you talk about your service,” Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs and partial use of one arm in a helicopter crash, said.

On Thursday, Walsh told Banfield he was “not going to back down” from his recent comments that Duckworth speaks too often about her military service.

“No, no, Ashleigh. No, Ashleigh, this wasn’t a slip-up,” Walsh said Thursday. “I don’t regret anything I said. Understand me. Every man and woman who’s worn the uniform is a hero in my book. I’ve said that thousands of times. I’ve called Tammy Duckworth a hero hundreds of times.”

On Friday, Duckworth said Walsh is using this controversy to “distract voters” from his recent votes against student loans and the highway bill.

“Mr. Walsh is an example of what is wrong with Washington,” Duckworth said. “He’s been there for two years. And all he does is use belligerent words and belligerent actions and he doesn’t want to compromise or work with anyone. Instead, he disagrees and argues with anyone who disagrees with him and doesn’t see things his way. That’s simply not acceptable in a sitting congressman.”