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Walz’s responses to CNN questions about misstatements in first joint interview with Kamala Harris • Minnesota Reformer [1]

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Date: 2024-08-30

CNN on Thursday evening aired the first press interview with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz.

Much of the interview focused on Harris, what policies she would advocate for as president and her record as second-in-command under President Joe Biden.

CNN anchor Dana Bash pressed Walz about his previous statements on his military record and claims that he and his wife, Gwen, used in vitro fertilization to start their family. Walz said his military record speaks for itself and he speaks like a regular, everyday person, so he is bound to trip up on his words from time to time.

Walz has a history of making inaccurate remarks, which are under increased scrutiny now that he’s in the national spotlight.

The Reformer transcribed Walz’s responses to questions about his previous misstatements:

Governor Walz, the country is just starting to get to know you. I want to ask you a question about how you’ve described your service in the National Guard. You said that you carried weapons in war, but you have never deployed, actually, in a war zone. A campaign official said that you misspoke. Did you?

Well first of all, I’m incredibly proud. I’ve done 24 years of wearing uniform of this country. Equally proud of my public service in a public school classroom. Whether it’s Congress or the governor, my record speaks for itself, but I think people are coming to get to know me.

I speak like they do. I speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves, and I speak especially passionately about our children being shot in school — around guns. So I think people know me. They know where my heart is, and again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to speak for itself.

And the idea that you said that you were in war. Did you misspeak, as the campaign has said?

Yeah, I said — we were talking about it in this case, this was after a school shooting. The ideas of carrying these weapons of war, and my wife — the English teacher — told me my grammar’s not always correct. But again, if it’s not this, it’s an attack on my children for showing love for me, or it’s an attack on my dog. I’m not gonna do that, and the one thing I’ll never do is I’ll never demean another member’s service in any way. I never have and I never will.

One other question, because again, this is all new. However many days ago, this was not on either of your bingo cards, especially yours. You had to clarify that you had said that you and your wife used IVF but it turned out that you used a different kind of fertility in order to have children. And then when you ran for Congress in 2006, your campaign repeatedly made false statements about a 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving. What do you say to voters who aren’t sure whether they can take you at your word?

Well, I’ve been very public. I think they can see my students come out, former folks I’ve served with, and they vouch for me. I certainly own my mistakes when I make them. The one thing I’ll tell you is I wish in this country we wouldn’t have to do this. I spoke about our infertility issues because it’s hell, and families know this. And I spoke about the treatments that were available to us that had those beautiful children there.

That’s quite a contrast in folks that are trying to take those rights away from us, and so I think people know who I am. They know that record. They’ve seen that I’ve taught thousands of students. I’ve been out there, and I won’t apologize for speaking passionately. Whether it’s guns in schools or protecting of reproductive rights — the contrast could not be clearer between what we’re running against.

The vice president’s position on this has been clear. I think most Americans get it if you’ve been through that. I don’t think they’re cutting hairs on IVF or IUI (intrauterine insemination) I think what they’re cutting hairs on is an abortion ban and the ability to be able to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child.

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[1] Url: https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/30/walzs-responses-to-cnn-questions-about-misstatements-in-first-joint-interview-with-kamala-harris/

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