Another Free Press reader objects to the "swiftboating" of Tim Walz

From the Mankato Free Press today:

Republicans unfairly trash military records

I’m writing in response to the attempted “swiftboating” of Tim Walz’s military service in the Your View letter by Major Walter Gates on July 22nd. Tim Walz’s military record has never been a secret. His campaign literature is clear. Mr. Walz served our country for 24 years in the Army National Guard. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Italy where he served doing the supply lines between Turkey and England, and providing base security and training for soldiers on their way to Afghanistan.

The Republican Party has used this tactic of questioning someone’s honorable military service to assassinate their character in the past couple of elections on Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia. In both cases the information put forth was proved to be lies and misinformation.

It’s sad that there are people who are serving in our military that are willing to unfairly trash a fellow soldier’s record for political means.

Mindy Bartell
North Mankato