Democrats and Media Circle Wagons Around Walz Amid Criticism

The Democrats and mainstream media have launched a coordinated defense of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket for the 2024 presidential election. With Harris stepping up as the Democratic frontrunner after President Joe Biden's abrupt exit from the race, the spotlight is now on Walz and his controversial past.

In the latest political reshuffle, Harris chose Walz, who has faced scrutiny over his 24-year Army National Guard service. Critics, particularly from the Republican side, have questioned how he has portrayed his military career. However, Democrats have been quick to shield him from criticism.

The Political Spin: 

• Klobuchar’s Defense: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) appeared on ABC's "This Week" with Jonathan Karl, enthusiastically endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket. She praised Walz and Harris for leading the party forward, ignoring their controversial past collaboration during the Minneapolis riots. “I love Joe Biden, but we are moving forward as a party and as a nation,” Klobuchar stated, sidestepping previous criticism about Walz’s handling of the Minneapolis riots and Harris’s involvement in bailing out arrested rioters.

• Military Record Controversy: Reports have surfaced suggesting that Walz retired from the National Guard to avoid deployment to Iraq, contrary to his campaign's previous statement about fulfilling his military duties. Klobuchar deflected these allegations, claiming Walz retired to run for Congress.

• Midwestern Appeal: On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS) portrayed Walz as an ordinary “midwestern dad,” emphasizing his relatability to voters, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on CNN’s “State of the Union” accused Republicans of unfairly attacking Walz’s military record.

Republican vice-presidential nominee Senator JD Vance (R-OH) clarified his position, noting that the issue was not Walz’s service but the misleading statements he allegedly made about it. “I’m not criticizing Tim Walz’s service,” Vance told CNN’s Dana Bash, emphasizing that the concern was over Walz's politically motivated exaggerations.

• Democratic Counterattacks: Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) accused Vance of attacking Walz out of “greed” and “ambition” during appearances on both "Fox News Sunday" and MSNBC’s "Inside with Jen Psaki." Matthew Dowd on an MSNBC panel suggested Republicans were at a loss for how to attack Walz and Harris effectively.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also joined the chorus of praise for Walz during an MSNBC interview with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, calling him “the All-American man.”

The Broader Picture:

As the Democratic Party rallies behind Harris and Walz, the GOP remains focused on highlighting perceived inconsistencies and weaknesses in their records. The upcoming 2024 election is shaping up to be a battle of narratives, with each side leveraging its strengths to appeal to voters.

The Democratic establishment's vigorous defense of Walz underscores the challenges he and Harris may face in overcoming criticisms of their past actions. The effectiveness of these defenses remains to be seen as the campaign season heats up.

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