CNN’s Jake Tapper – who never served, who was never a war reporter, who got rich off of books and movies he’s written about other peoples' war stories – had some pretty strong, negative thoughts about Republicans who answered the call to serve America, on Wednesday. Ahead of Night Three of the Democratic National Convention were valor thief Governor Tim Walz (MN) was set the accept the veep nomination, Tapper lashed out Republicans who called out his candidate.
Tapper took issue with how the Trump campaign put out a letter “signed by nearly 50 Republican lawmakers who served in the U.S. military” and how they called out Walz for – what Tapper described as – “alleged embellishments” to “his honorable military service.”
The rank hypocrisy took over quickly as an unearned righteous indignation erupted from Tapper over how “two of these Republicans signatories are accused of similar embellishments.” At no point in his coverage of Walz’s stolen valor, had Tapper show the same level of rage at the subject:
Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas signed this letter in which he referred to himself as a retired Navy admiral he is not, not anymore. The U.S. Navy demoted Congressman Jackson to the rank of captain in 2022 after a scathing watchdog report.
It has also been reported many times that Republican Congressman Troy Nehls, also from Texas, used to until recently, wear a combat infantry been – infantry men badge that actually the U.S. Army gave to him an error and revoked. Congressman Nehls has taken off the badge, not because it was wrong for him to wear, he says, but because we in the media are vultures.
CNN's @JakeTapper lashes out at Republicans who served in the military for calling out Tim Walz's stolen valor.
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) August 21, 2024
Tapper, who never served, is at the center of $1B defamation suit against CNN because of comments he made against a Navy vet who was rescuing women from Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/FNNsCgvyy8
“How seriously are people in the American public supposed to take this open letter when apparently none of the signatories are concerned, that two of the Republican signatories on it engaged in similar things that they're accusing governor Walz of doing,” he chided.
Writing off the entire letter and the other signatories who had done more for America than Tapper ever could, he added: “Is it possible that this letter is more about politics than actually being offended by what they're accusing Governor Walz of allegedly doing?”
Again, Tapper had never served in the military and couldn’t bother even being a war correspondent in his career (he started off as a Democratic Party operative). He made it clear previously that his respect for military service was contingent on party affiliation and voting history; in 2021, he questioned Texas Congressman Brian Mast’s (R) love for America because he voted a way he didn’t approve of.
He’s also gotten rich off of converting the war stories from people who actually served into books and movies; he’s the author of The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor.
And, as NewsBusters has extensively covered, Tapper was at the center of a $1 billion defamation suit against CNN because of comments he and reporter Alex Marquardt allegedly made against a Navy veteran, who was rescuing woman from the Taliban after the collapse of Afghanistan. The judge recently said he didn’t trust what Tapper had to say to avoid being deposed.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
CNN’s The Lead
August 21, 2024
4:26:26 p.m. EasternJAKE TAPPER: The Trump campaign distributed an open letter signed by nearly 50 Republican lawmakers who served in the U.S. military. In it, they fiercely go over these embellishments or alleged embellishments that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has made about his honorable military service.
Now, we at The Lead have certainly covered these issues as well. You heard me just asking about it. But it is worth noting two of these Republicans signatories are accused of similar embellishments.
Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas signed this letter in which he referred to himself as a retired Navy admiral he is not, not anymore. The U.S. Navy demoted Congressman Jackson to the rank of captain in 2022 after a scathing watchdog report.
It has also been reported many times that Republican Congressman Troy Nehls, also from Texas, used to until recently, wear a combat infantry been – infantry men badge that actually the U.S. Army gave to him an error and revoked. Congressman Nehls has taken off the badge, not because it was wrong for him to wear, he says, but because we in the media are vultures.
How seriously are people in the American public supposed to take this open letter when apparently none of the signatories are concerned, that two of the Republican signatories on it engaged in similar things that they're accusing governor Walz of doing. Is it possible that this letter is more about politics than actually being offended by what they're accusing Governor Walz of allegedly doing?
We'll be right back.
