Wave Wire Companies
LOS ANGELES — Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz made his first solo look as Kamala Harris’ operating mate Aug. 13 on the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Staff Worldwide Conference on the Los Angeles Conference Middle, telling the viewers that “when unions are sturdy, America is robust.”
Walz described himself as a “the primary union member on a presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan,” including, “However relaxation assured, I received’t lose my means.”
Strolling briskly on stage to the strains of John Mellencamp’s blue-collar anthem “Small City,” Walz was met with loud applause from members of the commerce union.
“AFSCME stands for the American employee,” the vice presidential contender mentioned, one week after Harris named him as her operating mate. “AFSCME stands for what’s proper.”
Walz touched on his army service and his years as a card-carrying union member as a Minnesota public college trainer. He additionally blasted former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, for what he mentioned was their poor file of help for working-class People.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance see the world very in another way than we do,” he mentioned. “The one factor these guys find out about working individuals is easy methods to make the most of them.”
Vance, Walz mentioned, “is one in every of 4 senators who’ve by no means solid a vote on a pro-worker invoice as soon as.”
From the Conference Middle, Walz went to Newport Seaside for a fundraiser on the Balboa Bay Membership, with ticket costs starting from $1,000 to $100,000, in response to the invitation.
Walz spoke of his time as a congressman representing a largely Republican district.
“At the moment you may truly work throughout the aisle,” he mentioned.
He praised congressional representatives readily available for the reception, together with Reps. Mike Levin, D-Dana Level, Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Nanette Barragan, D-Lengthy Seaside, noting they serve in a a lot extra divided Home.
“You’re doing yeoman’s work,” Walz mentioned.
Walz famous that he was referred to as “essentially the most liberal one who’s ever lived” whereas operating for governor in Minnesota, however he bought behind middle-class tax cuts and a toddler tax credit score that he mentioned would scale back youngster poverty within the state by one-third.
“Donald Trump doesn’t share these values,” Walz mentioned.
The governor mentioned Trump “is a risk to democracy, he’s a risk to ladies’s well being … however don’t give him an excessive amount of energy. Nobody’s asking for the crap he’s asking for.”
Walz mentioned, “Trump is aware of nothing about public service. He spends all his time enriching himself, weakening our economic system, mocking our legal guidelines, sowing chaos and division, and that was even earlier than he turned president.”
Walz added that when he calls Republicans “bizarre, … it’s not a reputation, it’s an remark.”
Walz mentioned Trump supporters “are relations, these are our neighbors,” so, “we have to perceive they care about their youngsters, their future. So let’s message to them proper.”
Walz mentioned the Republican Social gathering “used to have good concepts” and “we labored collectively, we compromised. However not these guys. … This obsession with telling ladies easy methods to run their lives and what their healthcare is — it’s not fashionable.”
Republicans previously “actually did discuss freedom,” he mentioned, referring to the Harris marketing campaign theme.
“They had been additionally libertarian,” he mentioned, including how Minnesota decriminalized marijuana, then joking, “We have now a hell of lots of people from North Dakota visiting us now.”
The pheasant hunter and entice shooter mentioned, “I absolutely help the 2nd Modification, however I additionally help wanting our children to be free to go to highschool, however not get shot lifeless within the hallway.”
Lawyer Wylie Aitken, a significant fundraiser for Democrats in Orange County who was one of many occasion’s co-hosts, mentioned he was “blown away by the keenness” for Walz’s look in Newport Seaside.
The fundraiser, he mentioned, “is reflective of a complete change in chemistry of the election. … What we’ve got right here is an unbelievable turnout.”
Aitken mentioned many potential donors needed to be turned away.
California Republican Social gathering Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson issued a press release in response to Walz’s native occasions.
“Tim Walz is probably going arriving in California immediately hoping to discover a sympathetic voter base that’s captivated with his and Kamala Harris’ radical agenda,” Patterson mentioned. “Sadly for him, Californians are all too aware of the ramifications of far-left insurance policies championed by Harris and are leaving California’s Democrat Social gathering by the tens of hundreds in consequence. Walz will likely be a rubber stamp for Harris’ unhealthy concepts, however he can be higher served taking notes whereas within the Golden State on what to not do as an alternative of promoting a disastrous agenda to already annoyed Californians.”
The Republican Social gathering of Orange County issued a press release criticizing Walz relating to his file within the Minnesota Nationwide Guard. Walz, who served within the Nationwide Guard for twenty-four years, has come below fireplace from Republican vice presidential nominee Vance, who served within the U.S. Marine Corps as a fight correspondent from 2003 to 2007.
“It’s a slap within the face to Orange County veterans for Tim Walz to fundraise off stolen valor in a neighborhood with over 100,000 veterans,” the county GOP contended. “He’s lied his complete profession that he served in fight in Afghanistan when in reality he’s by no means stepped foot on the battlefield.
“When he was referred to as to warfare, he left his unit to run for Congress. Then he lied once more about his rank as ‘Command Sergeant Main.’ When JD Vance was referred to as to Iraq within the Marines, he was the primary in. When Tim Walz was referred to as to Iraq within the Nationwide Guard, he was the primary to run.”
Walz, 60, served as a command sergeant main, however formally retired a rank decrease as a result of he had not accomplished some programs required for the upper rank.
Orange County Republican Social gathering Chairman Fred Whitaker added, “As a son of a World Struggle II fight veteran, it’s disgusting that Walz would use the sacrifice of our service members for his political acquire, particularly after he lower and run when referred to as to deploy into Iraq.
“From the Lyon Air Museum and Veterans Memorial in Orange to Heroes Corridor in Costa Mesa and Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in Westminster, Orange County honors our veterans. Tim Walz doesn’t belong right here and his stolen valor isn’t welcome in Orange County. He could stroll away heavy with marketing campaign money from liberal donors however he’ll depart with the identical empty and faux file he got here in with.”
Nick Berardino, president of the Veterans Alliance of Orange County and who served in fight with the Marines in Vietnam, together with the Tet Offensive, objected to the criticism.
“As a fight veteran, we should respect each man and girl who has worn the uniform,” Berardino instructed Metropolis Information Service. “Our success on the battlefield in addition to nationally is predicated upon a group of heroes that do a thousand totally different jobs to guard our freedom. On international soil and at house.”
Berardino mentioned he has heard a variety of totally different takes on the difficulty.
“I’ve heard from many veterans,” he mentioned. “There’s definitely quite a lot of opinions. However ultimately each veteran like me that has been in fight will get on their knees every single day to thank God for all those that are within the rear with the gear supporting us and maintaining us as secure as doable.”
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley criticized the county Republican Social gathering’s assertion on Walz.
“As a granddaughter and sister of army veterans who served in fight and on base, it’s unhappy that GOP Chairman Whitaker determined to parrot Trump’s lies and smear the numerous veterans who serve in important non-combat roles,” Foley mentioned.
“Gov. Walz has a transparent file supporting veterans whereas within the Nationwide Guard and through his time in workplace,” Foley added. “Importantly, because the lead Home sponsor for the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, Gov. Walz labored to stem veterans suicide by funding suicide prevention packages, requiring an evaluation and report of program effectiveness, and incentives for psychiatrists who agree to affix the VA medical system. All useful for a critically vital situation for all veterans, and much like a program I initiated on the county to shut a spot in companies right here.”
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