“Not right. Not ready. Not real.” That’s how Mitch Landrieu, the national co-chair of the Harris/Walz campaign recently characterized J. D. Vance.
It’s human nature to gawk at a traffic accident or other catastrophe. After 9/11, Americans were encouraged “if you see something, say something.” Sometimes it’s someone on the bullying pulpit that gets you and refuses to be silent. Well, I refuse to allow Vance to confound, confuse or contextualize a lie. Especially in light of what he says about Governor Walz. I agree Senator Vance is not right. Not ready. Not real.
You see, I was in the Army for 20 years. I served two overseas tours. I was not deployed into a combat zone, but did my job as a patriot. My last assignment before I retired, I worked with members of the National Guard. Every senior enlisted non-commissioned officer I worked with was there because they wanted to give back.
Like Vance, I worked my way through college. I joined the military, saw it as my patriotic duty. A few months after my approved retirement date, I was accepted into a doctoral program. Shortly thereafter, I received orders to go to Kosovo. I could have changed my plans, but I did not. Things happen. I used a Veteran package similar to Vance’s and secured my PhD, but like Walz, I became a teacher.
Senator Vance chose to enlist for four years in the US Marine Corps. He worked in the Public Affairs section and served in Iraq as a combat correspondent for six months. He said that his service "taught [him] how to live like an adult" and he seemed proud he was "lucky to escape any real fighting.” My time in the Army taught me to value service; thus, I became a teacher. Vance’s decorations included the Good Conduct Medal and Achievement Medal. These are medals generally awarded for not getting into trouble and doing your job.
After four years, Vance got out and proceeded to make lots of money, and is worth around $10 million dollars today. He capitalized on his story by writing a book that was made into a movie. A movie I watched. I didn’t see much in the movie about patriotism, or a desire to teach others, particularly when you are behind a desk “lucky to escape real fighting.” But now he wants to fight and put his record against Walz.
There’s a saying that you can’t give a testimony until you’ve been tested. Vance has been tested. He’s overcome a lot. Becoming a senator is truly an against all odds story that resonates with many voters. But it’s fair to ask how all that he has given stacks up alongside his political opponent’s contributions.
Walz on the other hand has given over 40 years of his life, starting when he enlisted at 17 in the National Guard where he served his country for over two decades. He continued serving his community teaching and coaching in high schools. Then he served 12 years in Congress before being elected as Minnesota’s governor in 2019. Walz’s tests have involved being tested, not making money. He and his wife have total assets of $300,000.
Walz, who learned and speaks Mandarin Chinese, accepted a one-year teaching position with WorldTeach in China. After returning from China, Walz taught geography and coached football at Mankato West High School. The team had lost 27 straight games when he joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach (defensive coordinator). Three years later, in 1999, the team won its first state championship.
While in the National Guard, he responded to natural disasters, served with the European Security Force to support the war in Afghanistan, was stationed around Europe to train with NATO militaries. He received several Army medals and retired as a master sergeant shortly before running for Congress in 2006. Records show Walz officially filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 10, 2005. His unit didn’t get a notification until March 2005, and didn’t mobilize until October of that year to deploy. What Governor Walz did is not uncommon. I enjoyed my time as a patriot in the Army, and did not feel like a coward choosing to retire after 20 years to get an advanced degree and become a teacher.
J. D. Vance simply rubs me the wrong way. He still doesn’t want to act like a potential leader, stalking the current Vice President on the tarmac in Pennsylvania. He’s led by ambition not service, and bent on telling lies which began when he chose to support someone, he once called American’s Hitler.
In reality, as former Senator Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC, Walz is someone Vance really wants to be. But Vance is not right; ready or real for the job of Vice President of the United States like Governor Walz
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Spot on, Archie.