Tammy Duckworth Being Pushed For Veterans Affairs Secretary

A grassroots effort is underway for Barack Obama to appoint Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War and onetime congressional candidate, as Secretary of Veterans' Affairs in his incoming administration.

Democratic-leaning veterans groups are pushing the appointment among activists and reporters, even launching a petition drive to get Duckworth into the administration.

"If Tammy was offered the Secretary of the VA, she'd excel at it," said Jon Soltz, the head of the veterans group VoteVets.org and one of the leading advocates for a Duckworth appointment. "She uniquely understands the issues facing not just older generations of veterans, but our newest veterans as well."

Indeed, Duckworth would be well situated to take on the post. Not just because she has served in Iraq (where she lost both her legs) and currently heads the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, but also because she has strong ties to Obama's inner circle.

During her unsuccessful 2006 run for Congress, Duckworth employed many of the individuals who played prominently roles on the Democratic presidential campaign. David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, was an adviser to Duckworth. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's incoming chief of staff, was one the loudest voices encouraging Duckworth to run. (Emanuel was, at the time, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee). Sen. Dick Durbin, one of Obama's closest colleagues in the Senate, encouraged Duckworth's entry into the congressional race. And Jon Carson, Obama's National Field Director, actually ran Duckworth's campaign. Duckworth was even given a speaking slot on Wednesday night of the Democratic convention.

All this, of course, is insider wheeling-and-dealing. Duckworth brings qualifications to the post that extend well beyond the personal and political connections. And she could very well earn the appointment on these merits alone.

"You think about probably the best head of the VA we've ever had, and that was Max Cleland, who came home wounded from Vietnam, and was deeply involved in the veterans system in Georgia, then brought that experience to Washington," said Soltz. "Tammy is similar to Max in many respects, and I think what she brings to the table is too valuable to leave out in Illinois."

Comments

[mediamarv]

As a Viet Nam vet, I salute her on this day of recognition.

[chronic]

Max Cleland would be great too.

[diamondgirl9]

I agree.

[LEODELEONJR]

She's hired in my book.

[jimme]

Mine also. She is the perfect choice for that position. The troops coming home soon will need someone with her determination to ensure they all receive the right treatment(s).

[victoriajubilee]

This sounds like it would be a excellent choice. Also John Kerry for secretary of state, Bill Richardson at HUD.

[mjb5406]

As an Illinoisan, I would be proud to have Ms. Duckworth as Secretary of Veterans' Affairs. As mentioned in other posts, she's bright, enthusiastic, articulate, and certainly empathic towards veteran's needs. On top of that, she NEVER ran around talking about herself as a "war hero" (as some others did). She would make a fine choice.

[DS3M]

Im lukewarm on her at best, particularly when viewed through your intellect and articulate lenses...

[publanski]

Well, your intellect is lukewarm, anyway.

[greeniefromOH]

??????????? What do you mean?

[helonias]

Duckworth has criticized the Bush Administration for "failing miserably to plan for Iraq." According to Erinn Deshinsky of the Peoria Journal Star, "Speaking at a news conference before the dinner, Duckworth said experiencing the war firsthand was frustrating, because she saw how the money was being misused. Instead of having a properly equipped helicopter, she was fed lavish meals. She said simple tasks were contracted to companies for large sums of money, even though soldiers could have easily handled the jobs. She called for more accountability from U.S. leaders when it comes to funding for the war. 'I didn't become a soldier to eat steak and lobster,' Duckworth said, 'but I want my men to be protected.

Duckworth's strategic recommendations included requesting an immediate accounting by the U.S. Secretary of Defense of the readiness level and the training of the Iraqi forces, followed by aggressive benchmarks for progress and redeployment of U.S. troops linked to the stand-up of Iraqi troops, saying the U.S. should proceed by standing-down a defined number of U.S. units for every Iraqi battalion that can be properly trained and certified as combat-ready.

Duckworth's opponent responded to Duckworth's proposals by saying: "The 6th Congressional District is not a 'cut and run' district. Duckworth reacted angrily to this idea: "I just could not believe he would say that to me. I have risked my life to serve my country and you cannot question my patriotism.

[mjb5406]

Questioning a person's patriotism is a way of life for the GOP!

[jimme]

And the majority(almost all) of elected GOP'ers have NOT SERVED. They either had daddy get them out or deferred a dozen times. Who are the real cowards,I think we all know.
The person (Peter Roskam)who ran against her and said those horrible accusations runs his new ads for re-election without showing his party affiliation. Cut/Run from your Party,did you?

[VOTER]

Duckworth's opponent, the dishonorable Peter Roskam, GOP.

[611Juniper]

Sounds like she needs to go to the Department of Defense and run herd on the procurement process and contractors!

[Loki11467]

The problem I have with Tammy is that when she ran in 2006 her platform was to stay in Iraq not to get out of Iraq. And her support in 2006 by Obama and Emmanuel are still something that irks me because we lost a House Seat by her winning the primary over her competitor who would have won the seat.

As for the issue of vets. We forced our troops into Iraq and Afghanistan and we should treat them properly, with respect, and take care of their needs something Bush and Cheney fought hard against since to them people are meat and a source of money and nothing more.

[mjb5406]

The question of whether to stay in Iraq or get out is not as simple as a "yea" or "nay". At the time she supported staying in, 2years ago, Iraq was overrun by insurgents and was as unstable as it's ever been. If we pulled out then, the region would most certainly have been destabilized. Unfortunately, 2 years later, Bush wants to stay there and most intelligent people think it's time to draw down and turn the country's defense over to its own military.

You can't look 2 years in the past and unilaterally say that the situation is the same today.

[VOTER]

Tammy Duckworth lost her bid for Congress by 2% of the votes.
She was the best choice for the Dems.
It "irks" you that Senator Obama and Rahm Emmanuel supported her?
Huh?
As you know she was running her campaign in Crook Henry Hyde's
district, a GOP stronghold. Nest of Vipers.

I for one have never forgiven McCain for coming in and campaigning
against Tammy Duckworth.

[westreal]

Give it to her!

[lattedrinker]

Hire her... PLEASE!!!!

[sb17]

She's so impressive, hardworking, intelligent, and really seems to stay true to her ideals about what's best for veterans. Hope this comes to pass.

[Chaucea]

That would be so awesome if she ended up as Secretary of Veteran's Affairs!

And, she has the coolest name, too. Duckworth. What a great name! Looking forward to hearing it more often when she is part of Obama's administration. :-D

Duckworth. (Not to be confused with Henweigh, of course! ;-) )

[ExpatDane]

The obvious choice.

[JJ30]

Please leave this man alone and let him pick his Cabinet in peace with his advisors. I'm sure they know what they're doing when the choose someone to a position. They really do not need any outside people weighing in. Leave him alone! Geez!

[Dystopic]

well, then they probably don;t need you to run cover for them either.

[Chaucea]

LOL!

"outside people"

Yeah, god forbid if those "outside people" take any kind of passionate interest in the political process! ;-)

[mjb5406]

What on earth is your problem? As anyone who supported Obama knows, he respects the opinion of the people, unlike the current office holders.

[VOTER]

I believe no one needs to promote Tammy Duckworth to Obama.
He knows her and has the greatest respect for her.

However offering her praises is not bothering him but is honoring her and
I for one have every intention of doing so.

AirForceVet/Vietnam

[mairs]

Leave Obama ALONE!!! This reminds me of that video unfortunately. LOL

[helonias]

Duckworth joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) as a graduate student at George Washington University in 1990. She became a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve in 1992 and chose to fly helicopters because it was one of the few combat jobs open to women. As a member of the Army Reserve, she went to flight school and joined the Illinois National Guard in 1996.[10]

Duckworth lost both of her legs[11] on November 12, 2004, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. The explosion "almost completely destroyed her right arm, breaking it in three places and tearing tissue from the back side of it."[12] Duckworth received a Purple Heart on December 3 and was promoted to Major on December 21 at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she was presented with an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal

[helonias]

Great choose.

A real American who has experienced war and the worst of things