On Friday’s CNN News Central broadcast, co-host Brianna Keilar said Thursday that 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) may be an “imperfect communicator” when criticizing 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz (D) because his actual title “gives a different kind of impression” that he has served in combat. She added, “The Trump campaign is disrespecting Tim Waltz. And the attacks on J.D. Vance’s military service are sickening.” “These attacks from the left and the right disrespect the service of so many people who serve honorably, sacrifice time away from their families, put themselves at risk, because the military is primarily made up of J.D. Vances and Tim Waltzes.”
Keilar said, “Political and military insiders, including myself, have noted that the Trump campaign is trying to rip off Tim Walz. The attacks on J.D. Vance’s military service are also nasty. J.D. Vance served honorably in Iraq, a combat zone where anything could happen, and it often did. As he wrote in his book, he was ‘lucky to have escaped the real fighting.’ That doesn’t make his service any less good. He says he was lucky, but luck often makes the difference in a combat zone or in a training mission where today is not a good day. In a country where there are few people to carry the burden, military service should not be a liability – it should be an asset. And in recent years, the country has been at war. “Despite being in a military situation, many military personnel have never seen combat. That doesn’t make them or their service any less admirable or necessary, nor does retiring from the National Guard after 24 years of service. These attacks from the left and right belittle the accomplishments of the many who served honorably, sacrificed time away from their families, and put themselves in danger. Because the military is primarily made up of people like J.D. Vance and Tim Walz. We have two veterans, two enlisted, on our presidential run. They have unique insight into what America’s service members and their families go through and need. Shouldn’t we focus on that?”
She continued, “This is a presidential election to choose a commander in chief, and in many cases, the candidates and their running mates have never personally served in the military, even though they are competing to make decisions that send people into dangerous situations. The fact that they served this year matters to many people. It matters to me as a family raising two sons who adore their father’s military service. It makes it much more likely that my two sons will serve because their father served. And if they choose that path, it’s important to have someone at the table who knows what that sacrifice means.”
Keillor then interviewed Maj. Sean Haney (retired), who served as Vance’s chief of staff during his tenure, in which Haney said, “If I thought he was exaggerating or exaggerating in any way, I would be the first to tell him. And he’s not. And I would be happy to tell you that too.”
Keilar then admitted, “Waltz says he brought weapons to the war, but that’s not what he did.”
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