War hero Duckworth is best Biden VP pick
We need her grit to steer us safely through crisis
John Bolton detonates bombshell after bombshell in his new White House memoir about how President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened our national security. And now, amid multiple reports that American troops are dying due to Russian bounties for U.S. blood, the commander in chief denies he was in the loop.
It has become urgently evident that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick must be someone who can repair the substantial damage Trump has done to the United States and our national security. Now is the time for a war hero to rebuild our defense — morally, physically, technologically, emotionally — and defend our democracy from Trump’s ruin.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a finalist in Biden’s veepstakes, is the only vice presidential contender with the military valor, national security chops and wealth of experience that can protect and rebuild America. If you are surprised to hear this, it is because Biden reportedly is considering mostly African American contenders and the attention is focused on them. Tammy is of Asian descent. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing segment of the electorate, and we make up an increasingly sizable share of voters in the swing states that will determine the election.
Since I met Tammy more than 14 years ago, I’ve been inspired by her grit and willingness to give her life in service to her country. This firecracker of a woman, who had lost both her legs in combat on the front lines in Iraq, was running for Congress to advocate for all her brothers and sisters still recovering in Walter Reed military hospital — as she, too, was still healing from her own loss of limbs.
Being hellbent on making things better is a theme in Tammy’s life. Her odd jobs as a teenager, like selling flowers on the side of the road, sometimes were her family’s only source of income. Her father was a Marine Corps veteran fallen on hard times, and her mother is an immigrant. For a period of time, they relied on food stamps and lived out of a motel, so she understands the economic challenges many Americans go through.
National security strengths
Tammy hustled through college on Pell Grants and was one of the first female combat helicopter pilots. As a member of Congress, she earned her Ph.D. and had two babies — one as a House member, one as a senator.
She is the personification of the American dream, which is why she is best positioned to protect it. She has honored our country with the highest form of service and nearly the highest form of sacrifice. Her 23-year military record as a war hero can lend critical national security credentials to a ticket and beat five-time draft dodger Donald Trump with the votes of service members and veterans who do not identify as Democrats or Republicans, but as patriots.
Tammy has effectively attacked Trump over his poor handling of national security, coining the nickname “Cadet Bone Spurs” and, most recently, for misusing the military to stroke his own ego and attack civilians. More than any other vice presidential candidate, she understands the strategic choices the country must make when we send our service members to war.
She can counter the invisible warfare our enemies are waging on us from afar, including Trump’s scandalous inaction in the face of U.S. intelligence and news reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban fighters to kill U.S. soldiers. She can navigate the nuances of repairing our diplomatic ties and leadership on the world stage.
Persevering, patriotic leader
Tammy is prepared for the big job on Day One. She is a former assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs, served in the U.S. House of Representatives for four years and is now in the U.S. Senate, where she was named one of the most effective freshmen lawmakers.
She knows how to steer large organizations and build strong relationships to get things done for our troops, veterans and working families across the country. No other VP pick in recent history has such a wealth of experience working across all levels of government. We are in a time of crisis and need the grit of a combat pilot to steer us through safely.
Tammy Duckworth, a persevering, patriotic leader and a literally battletested lieutenant colonel, is exactly who we need at the side of our new commander in chief. And remember, the last time Biden teamed up with a junior senator from the “Land of Lincoln,” it went pretty well for the nation.
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