Developing: Bridge Collapses Near Seattle…Unknown Injuries…See the Photos

Watch Today’s BlazeCast With Your Questions, Comments & Live Chat!

Government

Will This New Illinois Democrat Break the Chicago Political Machine?

Jan. 31, 2013 10:39am Tiffany Gabbay

Congressional Thought Leader: Tammy Duckworth

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attends a celebration for leading women in Washington hosted by GOOGLE, ELLE, and The Center for American Progress on January 20, 2013 in Washington, United States. Credit: Getty Images for ELLE

January marks a new year, and the induction of the new 213th Congress. Some of its members are career politicians hardened by years of campaigning and politicking, some are bright-eyed freshmen yet unjaded by an unforgiving Washington machine, and at least one is an Iraq War veteran, who despite losing both lower limbs during a tour of duty, has remained dedicated to public service.

You might be surprised to learn that newly elected U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth, the Democrat who replaced tea party favorite Joe Walsh in Chicago’s 8th congressional district, actually credits Republican stalwart Bob Dole as a source of inspiration. In the midst of the Chicago political machine, will this Iraq War veteran be the one who actually upends politics as usual in America’s increasingly polarized climate?

Despite their initial disappointment, Chicago Republicans may find themselves pleasantly surprised by Duckworth’s patriotic bent and an ancestry that includes a long line of American heroes dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Congressional Thought Leader: Tammy Duckworth

So who is Tammy Duckworth?

The first-ever Asian-American woman elected to to Congress in Illinois was born in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1968, to Frank Duckworth, an American World War II veteran and long-standing NRA member, and Lamai, a Thai national of Chinese descent.

Due to her father’s work with the United Nations and multinational corporations, Duckworth spent her youth moving across Southeast Asia. Ultimately, she became fluent in Thai and Indonesian as well as English and by the early 1980s, she and her family settled in Hawaii.

Despite her new environs, Tammy is said to have excelled in academic studies, skipping the ninth grade and graduating with honors from McKinley High School in 1985. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii, a Masters in international affairs from George Washington University, and was in the midst of completing her Ph.D. in political science at Northern Illinois University when the call of duty arrived.

In terms of her family’s political leanings, Duckworth told ChicagoMag that she actually had a conservative upbringing.

“My dad [whose military service spanned World War II to Vietnam] was from Virginia—lifetime member of the NRA, a marksman,” she said in the interview.

“My brother is also a lifetime member of the NRA [signed up by their father when he was a child]. My dad loved Ronald Reagan. My brother lives in Nevada. He is a Harley Davidson motorcycle mechanic. He’s a Coast Guard vet; did eight years as a navigator on C-130s rescuing fishing boats and iceberg patrol.”

While Duckworth herself is not an NRA member, she noted that she “grew up shooting guns.” Not surprising given her family’s military background.

A long line of military service

While her achievements in higher education could have taken her down any number of paths, Duckworth felt compelled to carry her forebears’ legacy of service and joined the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while still a graduate student and would later serve as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve. This, of course, may have come natural to Duckworth, whose paternal lineage comprises veterans from the Revolutionary War, World War II, Vietnam and those in between.

While the desire to serve her country seems a given, an ambitious Duckworth wouldn’t settle for just any position in the armed forces, rather she wanted the opportunity to contribute in equal measure with her male counterparts. Of course, combat roles for women in the military are few and far between, but that did not stop the resourceful grad-student from gaining entry into the world she desired. Capitalizing on her seemingly innate ability to excel academically, Duckworth attended flight school and became a helicopter pilot. Later she would become the first female platoon leader of her unit.

Leadership seemed to come naturally to Duckworth and indeed she proved capable of holding her own with her male compatriots, but that is not to say she didn’t endure her share of criticism. And preparing a batch of hot cocoa for her team prior to a helicopter training exercise one blustery winter day even earned her the moniker “mommy platoon leader” — something Duckworth has winced at in past interviews.

Despite being, at times, what she has described as “hyper-sensitive” over the perception that her gender might in some way limit her, Duckworth erased anyone’s doubt one fateful November day in 2004 when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was struck down by Iraqi insurgents.

According to the account, Duckworth slipped into shock immediately following the traumatic wounds she had sustained — wounds that took both of her legs and severely damaged her right arm. The blood-loss at this initial stage often marks the difference between life and death, and it has been noted that a myriad soldiers have slipped quietly from life following a trauma of this magnitude.

Whether it was luck, a sheer resolve to live and to fight, or a combination of both, Duckworth held strong and lived through the series of operations required to save her arm and surgically remove what remained of her irreparably damaged lower limbs. She received a Purple Heart, an Air Medal and an Army Commendation Medal and was also promoted to major on Dec. 21 YEAR? at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Often, the physical pain of rehabilitation, coupled with psychological barriers resulting from grave injuries are too great to surmount. Still, none of Duckworth’s new physical limitations seemed enough to stop the headstrong veteran, who is now fitted with prosthetic limbs and learning to fly helicopters again.

Past interviews with Duckworth reveal a forward-thinker who has come to be known for her trademark optimism.

Today, the highly decorated veteran continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard along with her husband, Maj.Bryan W. Bowlsbey, who is also a fellow Iraq War veteran. In addition, she has promised to tackle issues important to her Illinois constituents head on.

Congress

Prior to her role in congress, Duckworth took her wartime experience, along with her academic credentials, and was appointed Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, where she served from April 24, 2009 to June 30, 2011. She also served as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs from Nov. 21, 2006 to Feb. 8, 2009.

In terms of running for higher office, Duckworth credits two seemingly opposite figures with helping her realize her goals. The first one, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), may seem obvious for a Chicago Democrat, but the Illinois freshman credits the longtime senator with inviting wounded warriors to attend the State of the Union address in 2005 and in helping her fellow veterans at the VA hospital resolve difficult administrative hurdles.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Duckworth cites former Republican presidential candidate — and fellow veteran — Bob Dole as a source of inspiration. During her interview with ChicagoMag, Duckworth recalled meeting Dole at the VA hospital where she was, at the time, undergoing treatment for her injuries.

“I felt just so inspired by Senator Dole’s life, and he was sitting on a hospital bed next to everyone else going through therapy, and so I think for me that was the clincher,” she said.

“I saw in him a path…I’ve been asked to consider running for Congress and I’m talking to a gentleman that I admired so deeply who had lived his entire life of service. I talked to him a lot about the bills that he passed. He co-authored the Americans with Disability Act with Teddy Kennedy. We developed a little bit of a friendship.”

Duckworth went on to explain that when she sees Dole today, he jests that if he had known she was actually going to run for office, he’d have made sure she would have done it as a Republican.

Today, as a newly elected congresswoman, Duckworth plans to focus on issues she believes are directly impacting her constituents, including jobs, the economy, and the fate of Chicago’s manufacturing industry.

What also sets Duckworth apart is her expressed desire to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle. While she has lauded Democratic Senators Durbin, Duckworth has also praised Republican Senators Olympia Snowe, Johnny Isakson and Lisa Murkowski, the former of whom she has worked with on veterans’ issues.

Given her conservative, military background, wartime accumen and dedication to service, Duckworth may help to assuage the effects of the notoriously divisive Chicago political machine and build bridges that have been missing for quite some time.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (83)

911Patriot
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:04pm
Ummm… will someone update Glenn Beck’s The Blaze about who Tammy Duckworth REALLY is? A FAR LEFT ‘Progressive’ Liberal HACK with the emotional maturity of a 14 year old girl? Hand PICKED by Rahm Emanuel, political CRONY of incarcerated HACK Rod Blagoyevich, David Axelrod. And, currently being SUED by former VA members for WRONGFUL TERMINATION? Busted for wasting MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars that should have went to Veteran benefits on a BOONDOGGLE in Hawaii? Seriously WTF?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
CSteven
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:44pm
In 2006, Ms. Duckworth garnered support from the Communist Party USA and far-left communist Frank Lumpkin who, according to the Marxist news site Peoples World, led a labor walk for her as a candidate for the IL 6th CD.

When Barack Obama won in 2008, the Editors and Writers of the Socialist paper ‘In These Times’ selected Ms. Duckworth as one of their preferred top Progressive choices for a potential Obama Cabinet post. Their stated goal was to influence a newly-elected President Obama in representing the most progressive Cabinet in contemporary history.

It would be no surprise then that her admirer would be Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the most Progressive member in Congress, who stated in this video, ‘Americans don’t deserve to keep all their money,’ asserting the IRS should have the right to seize up to 49% of your earned income in taxes. In 2006, her lobbyist husband, was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion and served time in prison.

Worse, Ms. Duckworth is also tied at the hip with the Muslim advocacy group CAIR. CAIR is a Muslim Brotherhood group. They were named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorist funding trial in our nation’s history. And notably, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have severed all ties with CAIR because of radical ties to terrorism & Hamas. Learn the TRUTH about Duckworth > http://klsouth.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/duckworths-il-08-radical-ties/
If you fancy yourself a political reporter Tiffany, you

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
peteto1
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:34am
She’s as conservative as any other Dick Durbin-supported, pro-abortion, pro-gun control, teacher’s union-supported candidate……

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
I.X.Pect
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 12:49am
I’m from Illinois, and I can tell you that she is part of the machine. Just because she served in the military doesn’t make her a conservative. On the contrary, she protested against the Iraq war after her injuries. Duckworth has been picked by several IL Democrats for various political offices. If anything, you should watch out to see how liberal she really is.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RonBrzoska
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:58pm
I can’t believe this article! Tammy Duckworth ran on an anti-tea party campaign. She called Joe Walsh and anyone who backed him an extremeist. She was a crony of disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. She actually said that the economy has gotten better under Obama. She denied benefits to VETERANS. It was widely reported by a sympathetically liberal press in Illinois that when the congressional districts were redrawn, this district was made to get her back to Washington. She is a Democratic insider in every sense of the word. This is a poorly researched article.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:58pm
She praises Senators Olympia Snowe and Lisa Murkowski? Oh, a true conservative. Joe Walsh, who is a true conservative lost his race to her. The unions and George Soros gave her tremendous support.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
gmoss
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:52pm
She is just a few terms away from acting publically like all the other wacko DEMS, thats just who they are.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Mathchopper
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 4:41pm
I have just one question of this beautiful lady… “In light of your history, why are you a democrap?”?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TommyHolly
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 4:06pm
Hopefully my comment won’t be buried too far down. I only wish I saw this sooner. I usually don’t post here and haven’t done so for a few years but people have got to here this.

I AM A MILITARY OFFICER IN THE ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD AND SERVE WITH TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

I am shocked that the Blaze of all websites would write a pro-Duckworth article like this? She is one of the most Liberal and Polarizing figures in Illinois politics today. I personally know Tammy. I know her stances on issues, I know how incredibly biased and untrustworthy she is. This is the kind of person that is willing to compromise integrity for political ideology. She has parroted like a puppet every single piece of Obama administration propaganda. During debates with Congressman Joe Walsh, she couldn’t even explain her own ideology or even respond half the time just rattling off Democrat talking points that didn’t even make sense in the conversation?

Just because someone is in the military and is a veteran doesn’t automatically make them a champion of Individualism and the Free Market. Tammy is a huge supporter of Keynesian Economics, (the idiotic idea that Governents can steer and control markets using other people’s money.) Yes she means well. They all do. But it is an arrogant position to take that you can run someone’s else’s life better than they can under the guise of you are just helping them.

It’s not about R vs D. It’s about Individualists vs Collectivists and sh

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
flntlok1949
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 4:04pm
I thank Her fir her service and wish her the best of luck: But, I hope she hung on to her military armor – she may just need it if her chances in Chicago look too promising to the ruling elites!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SkyhawkFlyer
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:50pm
I’m not holding my breath. Actions speak volumes. So, let her back up her words with actions.

That means going head to head with 90% of other Democrats. Frankly, I don’t how how anyone can be a “conservative” and a “Democrat” in this time. A true conservative would not stand for any act that would be in contradiction with the Constitution.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
marine249
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:47pm
A new start, I HOPE.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Endstatism
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:24pm
Duckworth is a hero, but she is not that much different on her stands on issues than the Chicago thugs. She is a gun grabber and a socialist. Nothing here of substance.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JediKnight
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 2:27pm
That’s strange, I didn’t see any description of her conservative background anywhere in this article. It was almost entirely her military background and her admiration for Bob Dole. Just because Bob Dole is a Republican, that doesn’t mean he’s a Conservative. She also has admiration for other Senators who are clearly progressives.

Why don’t you do just a little bit more homework Blaze. The short answer I would give is, no, she’s not going to change anything. Of course, this says everything I need to know right here (from Wikipedia):

“On October 10, 2006, Duckworth was endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.” That’s not what I’d call a Conservative.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
overthecliff
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:50pm
…and Jimmy Carter was a conservative, southern born again Christian who supported killing babies and subordinating America tto the UN.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Rowgue
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:42pm
Who your family is and what they believe in doesn’t mean anything.

She is as liberal and socialist as they come. She isn’t going to be trying to break anything.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BatesclanMary
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:39pm
How can someone without legs be serving in the National Guard? Is it because she is a woman or because she is Asian? Lt Cols get paid a lot of money.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Sgt Lamb
  Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:07pm
  she was in the national guard,……… while flying a blackhawk over Iraq, she got her legs blown off by a RPG
  
  Report this comment
hades3
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:31pm
Any person with integrity who is inside Chicago politics , should be added too the endangered species list. The corrupt machine will make mince meat of her. Dumb Durbin will manage the grinder.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
gwinf
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:14pm
Tiffany, please! Do you really believe this pile of fluff? I know you know better. Why try to put a silk lining on this sow’s ear. I thank her for her service, but she will be further instrumental in the destruction of our nation in direct violation of the oath she has taken to support and defend the Constitution. I know NO Democrat that can truthfully say they are living up to that oath. If they were thy would be seekin the impeachment of Obama and most of his staff and czars.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
IndianaJan
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:13pm
Tammy Duckworth is a Democrat with a Capital D. She is part of the Machine. She used her “disability” agressively in the election campaign until her frustrated oponent pointed out that she should have more going for her than being a wounded veteran, whereupon he was roundly harangued in all of her remaining TV ads. It was an ugly campaign, and her white, male opponent had as much chance to have his voice heard as Mitt Romney. Too bad. Joe Walsh is an intelligent, very competent, experienced public servant. Duckworth is sadly, but certainly, no different from the other Illinois Machine Democrats. They used her, and she will “march” in lockstep. Do your homework.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
gwinf
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:09pm
Droppin the names of liberals, RINOs and non-conservative Republicans does not do much to convince me she will be any better. Why should I belive she will help when she trumpets the careers of RINOs like Murkowski and Snowe. Those two have been the bane of the Republican party thier entire careers.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Endyr
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:29pm
Met her personally. She is a party-line socialist that will not hesitate to trash whats left of the Constitution.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
demsrtraitors
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:24pm
Democrats are Traitors. Period!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Big Media Bias
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:11pm
Every Democrat is a dirtball. Why even bring up this liberal nutjob Tammy Duckworth? Yea right, she’s going to break Chicago. TheBlaze writers create a lot of idiotic stories.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:11pm
As a veteran I respect her service and admire her determination following horrific wounds.

Concerning her future performance as a Democratic politician, I will reserve judgement until I see her performance.

Fellow vets. Remember All gave some. Some gave all.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 911Patriot
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 1:09pm
  Remember: All gave some – Some TOOK All! which is the current state of our nation. Ms. Duckworth is the anthesis of a Constitutional Conservative! She is a progressive idealogue PERIOD!
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.