Opinion : Letter to the Editor: For the first time I’m ashamed of a national candidate

Dear Editor,

For the first time I'm ashamed of a national candidate

If anyone has paid attention to my Facebook page, blog page or the commentaries I've offered here - it should be clear that I've had very strong disagreements with various politicians over the years. The rise of the Marxist left in the form of our Democrat party presents clear and present danger to our Republic that seems to be growing. But, that said, these are political and philosophical differences that can be resolved at the ballot box - assuming we are still capable of conducting a free and fair election (a topic for another time).

Regardless, I have never, in my time as a voter since I cast my first vote in the 1972 election, been ashamed as an American that a individual was chosen as a political candidate - until Tuesday, August 6th when Tim Walz - the current governor of Minnesota - was chosen as the Democrat's offering for Vice President. It's not that he's a Marxist, though that is a real threat to our nation. It's not that he supports open borders and fully supports those coming illegally receiving free healthcare and free education - though I resent being expected to pay the bill for his largess. It's not that he signed an abortion bill that provides for abortion up to the moment of birth - though that is evil beyond belief. It's not that he sat back and watched Minneapolis burn, refusing to deploy the Minnesota National Guard to stop the arson, looting and violence - that simply shows he has no desire to protect the citizens of Minnesota. These things cause me to become angry, they ensure I will work hard to insure the Harris-Walz ticket ends up in the trashcan of history. But they do not make me ashamed but cause, as they say, it's just politics.

All that said, what causes me shame as an American is his "Stolen Valor" by claiming that he "served in war". MMMmmmm - NO! No sir, you did not. What Walz did do is to spend 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard and became the highest-ranking enlisted man in the unit. But when his unit was notified of their deployment to Iraq - he retired. His rank was reduced from an E9 to an E8. And his men deployed without his leadership. He abandoned them when they needed him most, when his years of experience would have mattered the most. He ran away from the fight.

This is cowardice. It explains why he let Minneapolis burn - he's a coward and is afraid to act in the face of true violence.

This . . . this right here is what I'm ashamed of as an American. That the Democrat party could offer such a man for the VP slot. If he's willing to abandon the men he served with for 24 years . . . if he's willing to abandon the people who have chosen him to govern their state while their city burns . . . if he's willing to abandon the sovereignty of our nation by supporting open borders and expecting all Americans to foot the bill . . . do you have any doubt that in a time of real crisis for America that he would have any hesitation at all to abandon our nation and do what's easy and convenient for him?? I don't. He's already proven his willingness to do so many times over.

During my year in Vietnam over 5,200 men died . . . yet here I am. There are still days when I let my mind wander to Vietnam, and I question if there was one of those men who deserved to make it home more than me. I don't think there is a soldier alive that doesn't entertain that thought time and again. Yet, here we are - it simply was not "our day" and the good Lord let us be.

But, for the man who chose not to go, who abandoned the men he trained and chose to stay home when the call was given . . . to Tim Walz specifically . . . the question I ask is . . . who took your bullet Tim??

I look at him, I hear his words . . . and as an American I am deeply ashamed of this man. He does not deserve to be rewarded with the office of Congressman, or Governor and he sure as hell doesn't deserve to be "one heartbeat away" from the Presidency.

I pray our nation shuns this man. Time will tell.

Bill Keller