Pelosi Responds to Republicans’ ‘stolen valor’ Criticisms of Walz
The ex-House Speaker suggested that the Harris-Walz campaign ought to “just dismiss” the criticisms directed at them.
TroibNews 
On Sunday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood up for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, responding to criticism regarding his military service, describing the attacks as a display of the opposition's lack of substantive ideas. "They don’t have anything to say, so they make up things,” Pelosi remarked during her conversation with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki. She praised Walz's tenure in Congress where he gained respect and was chosen as the leading Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, making significant advancements for veterans' welfare.
Controversy arose over Walz’s military background shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her vice-presidential partner, leading to renewed allegations of exaggerating his service. Walz, who retired from a 24-year career in the National Guard in 2005 before pursuing political office, had previously encountered such allegations during his runs for governor and Congress. Critics, including the Trump campaign and Senator JD Vance of Ohio, have zeroed in on Walz's decision to retire prior to his unit’s mobilization order, suggesting it was to avoid deployment to Iraq. However, Pelosi highlighted the timing of Walz's retirement to counter these claims.
Pelosi suggested that the Harris-Walz campaign should simply reject these critiques of Walz’s military record. “If people lie, as they are lying, and you hear the lie enough times, it sort of becomes kind of accepted in their group, and so you have to say ‘No, that didn’t happen,’” she articulated. She stressed the importance of not allowing false narratives to go unchallenged.
In light of these discussions, Harris’ campaign made a correction to Walz’s online biography, revising his military rank to accurately reflect his status upon leaving the National Guard. Instead of a "retired command sergeant major," it now correctly represents him as having once held that rank. This adjustment aligns with the fact that he returned to the rank of master sergeant after not completing necessary coursework for the higher rank.
Additionally, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, clarified a past misstatement by Walz in 2018 regarding his military experience, notably about carrying weapons in war, which he mentioned in relation to an assault weapons ban. Hitt confirmed that although Walz did not serve in a combat zone, he has experience with military weaponry.
Also on Sunday, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who served in the Army and is a member of the Armed Services Committee, acknowledged Walz’s service but did note some inconsistencies in how it has been portrayed in the past.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Controversy arose over Walz’s military background shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her vice-presidential partner, leading to renewed allegations of exaggerating his service. Walz, who retired from a 24-year career in the National Guard in 2005 before pursuing political office, had previously encountered such allegations during his runs for governor and Congress. Critics, including the Trump campaign and Senator JD Vance of Ohio, have zeroed in on Walz's decision to retire prior to his unit’s mobilization order, suggesting it was to avoid deployment to Iraq. However, Pelosi highlighted the timing of Walz's retirement to counter these claims.
Pelosi suggested that the Harris-Walz campaign should simply reject these critiques of Walz’s military record. “If people lie, as they are lying, and you hear the lie enough times, it sort of becomes kind of accepted in their group, and so you have to say ‘No, that didn’t happen,’” she articulated. She stressed the importance of not allowing false narratives to go unchallenged.
In light of these discussions, Harris’ campaign made a correction to Walz’s online biography, revising his military rank to accurately reflect his status upon leaving the National Guard. Instead of a "retired command sergeant major," it now correctly represents him as having once held that rank. This adjustment aligns with the fact that he returned to the rank of master sergeant after not completing necessary coursework for the higher rank.
Additionally, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, clarified a past misstatement by Walz in 2018 regarding his military experience, notably about carrying weapons in war, which he mentioned in relation to an assault weapons ban. Hitt confirmed that although Walz did not serve in a combat zone, he has experience with military weaponry.
Also on Sunday, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who served in the Army and is a member of the Armed Services Committee, acknowledged Walz’s service but did note some inconsistencies in how it has been portrayed in the past.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
