Now That's Real (GOP) Patriotism

Freshman Rep. Joe Walsh, who has earned a reputation for caustic remarks and spontaneous tirades, this week accused opponent Tammy Duckworth--a double-amputee who lost her legs while serving as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq--of using her military service to score political points.

The Illinois Republican-- who has not served in the military-- on Wednesday chose not to back down from comments he made accusing his Democratic opponent of talking too much about her time in the Army.

"She is a hero, and that demands our respect, but it doesn't demand our vote," Walsh said Wednesday on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. "All she does, guys, is talk about her service."

On Thursday, Walsh stood by his comments, telling CNN host Ashleigh Banfield: "This wasn't a slip up. I don't regret anything I said." Walsh added that he honors every man or woman who served in the military and accused Duckworth's campaign and his opponents of "manufacturing" an issue and of conducting opposition research against him.

Walsh's comments Wednesday and Thursday followed a speech Walsh made at a campaign event Sunday at which Walsh lauded Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, for his humility and refusal to talk candidly about his service.

"Now I'm running against a woman who, I mean-- my God-- that's all she talks about," Walsh told an audience in Elk Grove, Ill. "Our true heroes, the men and women who served us, it's the last thing in the world they talk about." Progressive site ThinkProgress captured video of Sunday's criticism: