Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) turned the tables on Donald Trump. He does not know who he is messing with, because the former Black Hawk pilot and retired Army Lt. Colonel is no pushover. Now, she is on his case with blistering criticism.
Duckworth was in the Iraq War in 2004 when she lost both of her legs. She also lost partial use of her right arm. That has not slowed her down one minute. Now, she has taken on Trump for his bullying.
https://youtu.be/_F_o6J25nrc
Part of that bullying involves the president giving people ugly nicknames, so Duckworth one-upped him. She nicknamed him “Cadet Bone Spurs,” referring to Trump getting five draft deferments and avoiding the Vietnam War.
Senator Duckworth told POLITICO’s Women Rule podcast:
‘I just think it’s descriptive. I think bullies need to have a taste of their own medicine, and he is a bully. And you stand up to bullies. He was a cadet in a prep school. And the bone spurs thing, I just think it’s ironic that you have an injury that is so severe it keeps you out of serving your country, but you don’t remember which foot it was in, or whether it was in both feet.’
Duckworth was the first Asian-American to be elected to the Illinois Congress, and the first woman with a disability to be elected to the U.S. Congress.
When POLITICO asked her if she thought the Democrats could retake the Senate, she replied:
‘I don’t know. I think that we need to just get out there and do the hard work of connecting with the American people, and a little less talk, a lot more action.’
The Illinois senator added:
‘What the Midwest can teach the Democratic Party is: we have to care about everyone. We can’t just care about minorities, or immigrants, or identity politics. If we just focus on the left wing side of the party, or the more conservative side of the party, it doesn’t get us anywhere.’
After POLITICO asked Duckworth who she wanted to replace Trump in the next presidential election she pointed to Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The Minnesota senator said:
‘I’m going to have to say Amy Klobuchar. I would love to see more Midwestern Dems run. I think Sherrod Brown would be fantastic. Amy would be fantastic.’
The Senate is closely held by the Republicans, 51 to the Democrats 49. Duckworth is pregnant, and she has a big problem. On the Women Rule podcast, she said:
‘I can’t technically take maternity leave. Because if I take maternity leave, then I won’t be allowed to sponsor legislation or vote during that time period.’
This will be her second child, and she has the honor of being the first sitting member of the Senate to give birth while in office. Duckworth plans on changing some rules:
‘It’s going to change some Senate rules…You are not allowed to bring children onto the floor of the Senate at all. If I have to vote, and I’m breastfeeding my child, especially during my maternity leave period, what do I do? Leave her sitting outside?’
Featured Image via Getty Images/Scott Olson.
