listen, i know tammy duckworth, i know colonel duckworth as a friend and as a leader. >> that's her husband? >> no. colonel duckworth, she's a colonel. >> i know her husband served as well. that's why i asked. >> he's a major. she outranks her husband. >> okay. >> the fact is this, that 7 1/2 years ago she went through a traumatic experience which changed her life an trying to use that horrible chapter in her life to make it better for other veterans. the other 1% of our nation have with worn the cloth of our country in iraq or afghanistan. as a candidate, of course she's going to have to talk about it a little bit. but i know tammy, i have seen her on the stump, i have seen her in front of crowds and she actually downplays her service to our country. her heroic service to our country. so for joe walsh to try and bring in people like john mccain and let me tell you something, the difference here is, is that when people attack john mccain like myself, i have a facebook page, someone wrote a comment that attacked john mccain, john mccain is an american hero, no one ever questioned his service

tammy duckworth. tammy's a hero for what she's done when she's come home.ho am i not to go back to iraq when you have a woman with no legs willing to go back to iraq. she goes to drill one weekend a month for her country and this is a woman you know, who, my father died last year when i was in iraq and i went home and talked to tammy. i was feeling bad about myself. tammy came home from iraq, lost her legs and her husband had a heart attack visiting her and passed away. she's always a woman i look at, how do i become a better military office, find strength in my life. for him to attack this, it's so below anything that's within reason. i don't know what he wants her to do to not talk about being a veteran. does he want her to reattach her le legs? she can't do that. >> thank you for your service. >> happy fourth, gentlemen. >>> up next, mitt romney takes another hit for putting his dog on the roof of the car. that's next in the "sideshow" and you can follow me on twitter if you can spell smerconish. to a little girl who saw flames reach her home as her fami

tammy duckworth is the democratic nominee for illinois's eighth congressional district. so pleased to welcome her into "the war room." welcome, tammy. >> thank you governor. how are you? >> i'm great. it is an honor to have a war hero inside "the war room." our war room is more of a metaphor but it is an honor to have you join us. i'm wondering how do you do it? how do you run against somebody who will say or do anything to keep his job? you must be pulling your hair out all the time. >> i think he's a distraction. he's irresponsible in his words and he's irresponsible in his actions, i just focus on the district. the people in the district want to talk about jobs and you know, senator stabenow is absolutely right. we need a tax credit for businesses who keep jobs in the district. that's what i focus on. i just have to ignore mr. walsh. you know, all of this discussion about what is a real -- who is a real hero really distracted from the fact that he voted against a highway bill. only member of the entire illinois delegation to vote against bringing more jobs to the distr

trying to figure out how to use the experience he has as a way to matchup against the record that tammy duckworth has. >> and right now the nonpartisan political report calls this the surest democratic pickup for house races across the country. duckworth is expected to win this one, wolf. you and i interviewed joe walsh this week and he made clear and emphasized that he does think duckworth is a hero but continues to criticize her saying that she focuses too much on her military service, not enough on the issues that he thinks voters care about. >> he also says he's not taking back whatever he had earlier said. kate, thanks very much. let's bring in tammy duckworth right now. i spoke with joe walsh together with kate earlier in the week. tammy is here right now. what do you say to his specific charge that the only thing you really want to talk about, tammy, is your military service? you don't want to talk about the specific economics, social issues that are important to constituents out there? >> well, actually i talk about the issues a majority of the time. in fact, mr. walsh is trying to distra

tammy duckworth. tammy's a hero for what she's done when she's come home. who am i not to go back to iraq when you have a woman with no legs willing to go back to iraq. she goes to drill one weekend a -- every weekend. one weekend a more for her country. my father died last year when i was in iraq and i went home and talked to tammy. i was feeling bad about myself. tammy came home from iraq, lost her legs and her husband had a heart attack visiting her and passed away. she's always a woman i look at, when i want to figure out how to become a better military officer, how do i find strength in my life. for him to attack this, it's so below anything that's within reason. it is ridiculous. what she has done because of her tragedy. she doesn't talk about it. does hay want her to reattach her legs? she can't do that . >> we will be right back. [ male announcer ] if you had a dollar for every dollar car insurance companies say they'll save you by switching, you'd have like, a ton of dollars. but how are they saving you those dollars? a lot of companies might answe

campaign trail, but walsh was using that revisionist history to go after his democratic opponent tammy duckworth. duckworth has served her country for over two decades. she lost both of her legs and the use of her right arm after her helicopter was hit in iraq by an rpg. here's what walsh had to say about her. >> now, i run against a woman -- my god, that's all she talks about. our true heroes, the men and women who served us, that's the last thing in the world they talk about. that's why we are so indebted and in awe of what they have done. >> earlier, walsh released a statement that reads in part, of course, tammy duckworth is a hero. i have called hr a hero hundreds of times in the past four months. however, unlike most veterans i have had the honor to meet since me election to congress who rarely if ever talk about their service or the combat they have seen. that is darn near all of what tammy duckworth talks about. her service demands our thanks and our respects, but not our vote. joining me now is former assistant secretary of veteran affairs lieutenant colonel tammy duckworth. she's runni

this time he's lying about his campaign opponent tammy duckworth.le he's at it, he's lying about one of his heroes, john mccain. that's in "the rewrite." [ male announcer ] before you take it on your road trip... we take it on ours. this summer put your family in an exceptionally engineered mercedes-benz now for an exceptional price during the summer event. but hurry, this offer ends july 31st. sven's home security gets the most rewards of any small business credit card! how does this thing work? oh, i like it! [ garth ] sven's small business earns 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! woo-hoo!!! so that's ten security gators, right? put them on my spark card! why settle for less? testing hot tar... great businesses deserve the most rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with 2% cash back or double miles on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? here's your invoice. what's in your wallet? ♪ what started as a whisper every day, millions of people choose to do the right thing. the

that is darn near all of what tammy duckworth talks about.imidate that she was willing to go and fight for her country wounded, devastating wounds, and is still there for her country? >> yeah. look. that's so offensive because joe walsh, i don't think he's -- i don't think he played dress-up on halloween as a mill tier when he was a kid. the guy has no idea what it means to be in the military or what it means to serve. he has no idea what that sacrifice means. i think what's most important about tammy is she's still serving and she certainly has mine. tammy's the real deal. she was shot down in a helicopter in iraq. the only reason she lived is the rpg insinged her wounds so she didn't bleed out. she's the real hero. when i had to go back to iraq last year i wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. i didn't agree with the kwar. i have a very nice job and when you look at tammy duckworth and she's willing to go back to iraq with no legs even today, you have to ask yourself inside like i did, who am i not to go back if tammy duckworth does,

of course, tammy duckworth is a hero. her a hero hurrican hundreds of times in the past four months, her service demands our respect. however, unlike most veterans i have had the honor to meet since my election to congress, who rarely if ever talk about their service or the combat they've seen, that is darn near all of what tammy duckworth talks about. i'm sorry about the language. it's his, not mine. he says it's all you ever talk about, but the first three issues listed on your website are the american dream, jobs, the economy, the budget, deficit and taxes. >> absolutely. i think that you know, he's just irresponsible in his words and in his actions. he's trying to distract the constituents from the fact he has time and again done nothing for the distri. in fact, anyone who's worn the uniform for a single day has done more for their nation than joe walsh has ever done. >> you don't seem to have many photos of yourself on your website. what is this man talking about? >> i have no idea what he's talk ing about. i think h

i've called tammy duckworth a hero hundreds of times. manufactured issue, because when i'm out there, look, this is the lay of the land out there now. when i'm out there, i'm being taped by tammy duckworth's people. they are manufacturing this crisis -- >> it doesn't matter whose -- i've got to be honest with you, sir, it doesn't matter who's running the tape. it doesn't matter who's got the tape. >> ashleigh, i know it doesn't matter -- >> hold on a second. it's not the only time you've said something like that -- >> ashleigh -- >> you've told politico this. what else has she done, female, wounded veteran, eh, and i'm paraphrasing, eh, what is that -- >> ashleigh, ashleigh, ashleigh, you are paraphrasing. i didn't say "eh." what i said is, she's a war hero, but she's running for congress. and i don't know about you, ashleigh, but hopefully voters think, like every other candidate for congress, tell us whether you stand on issues -- >> well, she's done that. i'm not sure why you haven't seen that. >> no, she hasn't, ashleigh. no, ashleig

this time he's lying about his campaign opponent tammy duckworth. while he's at it, he's lying about one of his heroes, john mccain. that's in "the rewrite." out of the driveway, this isn't just a teddy bear. it's a step towards normal. it's why allstate catastrophe teams didn't just arrive at these fires with cold water and checks to help the grown-ups start the rebuilding... they also brought thousands of these teddy bears for kids. people come first. everything else is second. [ female announcer ] allstate customers affected by the recent wildfires call 1-800-547-8676. visit a mobile claims office, your agent or allstate.com with head & shoulders? since before jeans were this skinny... since us three got a haircut. since my first twenty-ninth birthday. [ female announcer ] head & shoulders. live flake free. [ male announcer ] it started long ago. the joy of giving something everything you've got. it takes passion. and it's not letting up anytime soon. at unitedhealthcare insurance company, we understand that commitment. and always have. so does a

walsh wants. >> jennifer: tammy duckworth a lot of hope is riding on your shoulders. you the very best as you take on one of the biggest poster children for the tea party. up next, brett ehrlich doesn't have a book club but that's not stopping him from imagining what would happen if ann romney penned a romance novel. i can't even say it. that's next. we'll be right back. vanguard: the documentary series that redefined tv journalism. >>we're going to places where few others are going. >>it doesn't get anymore real than this. >>occupy! >>the award winning series "vanguard" only on current tv. we know that back to school time means back to school germs. that's why lysol partners with schools all across the country providing resources designed to help teach healthy habits. so make sure you add lysol no touch hand soap and lysol wipes to your "back to school" list. that way, the healthy habits they learn in school will reinforce the good habits you've already taught them at home. to learn more, visit lysol.com/schools. lysol. mission for health. it's go time! >>every weekn

tammy duckworth joins me now. tammy, let me thank you for your service to your country. you are remarkably courageous. i think many people share that. having said that, does joe walsh have a point? he's a political opponent to you. he clearly believes that you have been -- let's not say manipulating it but deliberately overusing perhaps your military service and heroism and courage which is without any dispute to try and promote your political position. that's to his disadvantage. do you accept if you were guilty of that charge, that would be unacceptable? >> well, i have to say, piers, i've not been talking exclusively about my military service. and, in fact, i think mr. walsh created this uproar because he didn't want to admit to the people in the district that he cast several bad votes last week. and, in fact, he was the only o bucneedob mopmaanpiedernd pdpphe ithisri. again, i suppose i come back to the bigger picture here. do you think the best way to call his bluff, tammy, might be to not mention your military service again, and to now fight him exclusively on the

that is darn near all of what tammy duckworth talks out. her service demands our thanks and our respects, but not our vote. joining me now is former assistant secretary of veteran affairs lieutenant colonel tammy duckworth. she's running for congress in illinois's eighth district. great to have you with us tonight. i'm somewhat astounded. there's kind of an unwritten rule in american society. you don't criticize those who wear the uniform. apparently, congressman walsh feels it's fair game to do so. what is your reaction to the kind of verbiage he's using on the campaign trail and in town hall about your service? >> well, you know, ed, i think it's irresponsible of him. look, the real heroes from iraq in my unit were the men who carried me to safety. risking their own lives to save mine. the real heroes are walking foot patrol in afghanistan right now, and there are real heroes laying in hospital beds in v.a. hospitals and military hospitals across the nation. and really for mr. walsh to denigrate military service is very insulting because

. >> that's joe walsh with ashley trying to defend his position saying tammy duckworth is not a hero. duckworth lost both legs fighting in iraq and joins us tonight. and how many times did joe walsh say ashley? stick around for the sideshow. robert reich was the secretary during the clinton administration and jared bernstein served with vice president biden. mr. secretary, let me start with you before we get to the politics of it. explain to me the substance. what's going on? what does it mean in the big picture? >> essentially, michael, job growth has stalled. 8.2% unemployment. same as last month, but we also would see that 80,000 jobs were created in june. the average monthly job growth of the last three months has been about 75,000 jobs. a substantial decline from the job numbers we saw in january, february and march. now, it's a similar to a slowdown we have seen in previous years. the hope obviously is that we get more job growth later in the year. it's hard to make good news out of today's job numbers. >> mr. bernstein, where is it headed? i think we're aware of the statistics

he told cnn crede. >> this wasn't a slip up. >> here to respond the tammy duckworth, who continues tolicopter was hit in iraq in 2004. if i were to see you on the campaign trail, at an event, as part of your pitch or speech about your candidacy, how much woul i hear your talking about your mitary service versus your platform? >> i actually start all of my discussions about you all know about my military service, but let me tell you about the time my family was on food stamps and my dad lost his job and how important it is for us to focus on the economy right now. you'll hear me talk about my military service in certain ways if i talk about health my woun an insight to the need for good health care. because my family would be bankrupt if i had just been in an accident. >> i can attest to the fact on your website there is a platform. you lay out your position on ten different issues. there's a jobs plan as well. the criticism he offers is this is the only thing you discuss on the campaign trail. you're here to say that's not the case. >> that's correct. i think mr. walsh is being irresp

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congressman joe walsh asked weekend's statements sticking by questioning tammy duckworth hero statusalsh appeared on cnn afternoon explaining his comments cnn's ashleigh banfield heated debate with joe walsh telling her just because serve to tammy duckworth does not made automatically elected to congress >> i can tell you our district people are losing their homes struggling to get by everyday unemployed voters want to know what will #$%%# its do about those facts >> tammy duckworth spoke up relax helicopter pilot iraq this time running against. cook county commissioner william beavers firing back charges against income tax evasion claiming evidence he did nothing wrong. details >> against the law ought to lie to the fbi but not against the law for them to lie about me >> william beavers as to fabrication charges of federal income tax evasion 2006-2008 close to a quarter of a billion dollars a quarter of a million dollars allegedly failed to report as income gets from campaign cash at the lawyers for him say they have documents that clear his name bank deposit slip >> copy of the doc

tammy duckworth doesn't get out.e at all what the story is here. >> let me just -- let me just clarify, congressman, do you believe tammy duckworth is a true hero. >> oh, my gosh, yes! and i have said that repeatedly. she is a hero. and that demands our respect. but it doesn't demand our vote. and i don't find it -- look, all she does, guys, is talk about her service. voters in this district want to have an inkling of where she stands on the issues, and she never directly getted gets in front of people. rahm emanuel drew this district for her. she's their candidate and they are keeping her away from voters. and i want to know where she stands on issues. i support her service, but my god, the voters want to know if she has any thought on the issues. >> congressman, you are a smart man and have been in politics, you're finishing two years in congress now, you had to have known in questioning something that is beloved by so many americans, military service, that this was a touchy subject, a risk. was that a mistake beca

and i appreciate you having tammy duckworth. >> oh, that's right.ome representative. >> i called the other day, because i am a female veteran. >> oh, good for you. >> and i feel that -- you know, she has gotten a really rocky [ inaudible ] >> yeah. >> and i'm very, very upset about that. >> she is going to come on and talk about that tony in about a half hour -- [ overlapping speakers ] >> and margaret cho coming up in a couple of minutes -- >> oh my god, i love her! [ laughter ] >> i'm losing her [ censor bleep ] in chicago. >> i want to be the unofficial campaign manager in chai town. >> all right. baby, got it. we got to get to break here. tammy duckworth says by the way, fyi, joe walsh, i never called myself a hero. >> that's all she ever talks about. >> maybe some other people think she is a hero everyone that leaves several limbs on the battlefield for her country. >> she keeps bragging about it. big deal. >> yeah. >> he is the one that keeps bringing it up. >> yes, we're very excited about that visit. running in illinois against the ass hat.

this after republican congressman joe walsh said all tammy duckworth talks about is military service.ocratic state lawmaker becky carney of north carolina pushed the wrong button, mistakenly voting for a bill legalizing fracking, a method of shale gas exploration. carney said, oh my god, when the machine would not let her change her vote, giving the republicans a surprise victory. and that's your morning dish of "scrambles politics." >>> last night on "politics nation," democratic congressman donna edwards of maryland talked about the health care law upheld by the supreme court last week and told host al sharpton it's important for the people in her state. >> we're ready now to accept the resources that the federal government is providing for us in order to get implemented. we know that already people are receiving preventive health services. we know already that young people who would otherwise be denied, who have pre-existing conditions, are being covered. we know young people up to age 26 are now covered on their rents' health care plans and that seniors are going to have their med

. >> that's joe wallach -- with ashley ban field trying to defend his position that tammy duckworth is not a hero. duckworth lost both legs fighting in iraq and she joins us tonight. and our joe walsh highlight reel. exactly how many times did joe walsh say the name ashleigh? stick around for the "sideshow." robert reich was labor secretary during the clinton administration and jared bernstein served as chief economist to vice president biden. secretary, let me start with you before we get to the politics of it. explain to me the substance. what's going on? what does it mean in the big picture? >> essentially, michael, job growth has stalled. it's 8.2% unemployment, same as last month. but we also see that 80,000 jobs were created in june. that's nothing to crow about. the average monthly job growth of the last three months has been about 75,000 jobs. a substantial decline from the job numbers we saw in january, february and march. now, it's a similar slowdown to a slowdown we have seen in previous years. the hope, obviously, is that we get more job growth later in the year. that's a h

we also invited on his opponent tammy duckworth who declined our invitation. congressman walsh you have obviously gotten a lot of blow back. i will ask you point blank do you think tammy duckworth who lost both of her legs in a black hawk helicopter accident in iraq in combat do you think he she is a hero. >> oh, absolutely, lauer. i have said that hundreds of times. let me just provide a little context. that was said at a town hall last saturday with 400 people talking about obama care. what did i at the beginning of that town hall is what i do at the beginning of all my town halls. i recognize the heros in our presence. in my book, any man or woman who wear as uniform is a hero. i have said that about tammy countless times. but, one final piece, i'm running against a woman who has got david axle and rahm emanuel running her campaign. they tape every word i say. i'm not going to stop talking. i have town halls every weekend. but all she does is film me talking to people and the left wing blogs just went crazy with t. >> laura: well, of course, that's going to