Staff Reports
Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio has thrown down the gauntlet against CNN anchor Brianna Keilar, accusing her of downplaying his military service amidst his rightful criticism of Minnesota’s Democratic Governor, Tim Walz. The spat erupted Thursday following Vance’s allegations against Walz regarding stolen valor, a claim that has sparked more than just debate—it is a full-blown circus.
While taking aim at Walz for supposedly exaggerating his military background at a campaign event, Vance faced off with the mainstream media’s queen of distraction, Keilar. She attempted to label him an “imperfect messenger” because of his designation as a “public affairs specialist” during his time in Iraq. Apparently, to Keilar, there are levels of military service, and if you’re not dodging bullets, your contribution doesn’t count. This rather bizarre and elitist perspective has drawn rightful ire from Vance, who pointed out that serving in any capacity overseas is deserving of respect, not ridicule.
'This Is Disgusting': JD Vance Slams CNN Anchor For Downplaying His Iraq War Service pic.twitter.com/4oN035gUkj
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 8, 2024
Keilar, ever the self-proclaimed expert on all things military—despite being in a marriage with a Green Beret—insinuated that Vance’s role didn’t quite stack up against the likes of someone who might have seen actual combat. Her comments reflect a baffling trend among some media folks who seem to think that anything less than being a frontline soldier makes a veteran’s service invalid. Vance vehemently declared her remarks “disgusting,” sending a clear message that belittling the sacrifice of any service member, regardless of their title, is not acceptable.
The backdrop to this drama is Walz’s audacious claim that he “carried a gun in war,” a statement quickly contested by Vance, who asserted it was nothing more than a lie. An interesting nuance in this saga is a 2018 letter from two high-ranking non-commissioned officers who accused Walz of retiring from the National Guard just as his unit was poised for deployment. If there’s one thing that earns disdain in political circles, it’s hypocrisy, and Walz may just want to sit down for this one.
In a political landscape rife with accusations and controversies, it seems a Democrat claiming military service is still fair game for a fact-checking. Vance’s response sheds light on how the Left views military service—often as a pawn in their political games rather than a badge of honor. The narrative pushed by figures like Keilar demonstrates a misguided belief system, where anything short of combat service is deemed inferior. In the end, it’s a curious world when politicians are questioned about who they are, not about the honor of serving in the armed forces.
