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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTammy Duckworth to prospective congressional foes: 'Bring it'
Battle-hardened double amputee to prospective congressional foes: 'Bring it'
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/25/15323763-battle-hardened-double-amputee-to-prospective-congressional-foes-bring-it?lite
When Tammy Duckworth steps into Congress this January for her first term, shell be carried by two prosthetic legs and the potent notion that if she can survive a grenade blast while piloting a chopper, she surely can endure any political flak on Capitol Hill.
The worst day for me in Washington on the floor of the House is never going to be as bad as me getting blown up. So bring it, said Duckworth, a Democrat who represents Illinois 8th Congressional District, the suburbs north of Chicago.
One of the first women to fly combat missions in Iraq, Duckworths Black Hawk was hit by enemy fire in November 2004 as the aircraft skimmed tree tops at about 135 miles per hour. The explosion vaporized her right leg, smashed her left leg into the instrument panel, sheering it off, and tore away most of her right arm. Before losing consciousness, she used her remaining arm to try to land the sputtering chopper. On Nov. 6, she won election to the U.S. House.
Theres nothing anyone can say to me or do to me short of actually pointing a gun and shooting at me thats going to be as bad as it was in Iraq and that year I spent recovering. So its really freeing, Duckworth told NBC News. Had you talked to me 10 years ago, before I served and got hurt in combat, I would not have the courage to do what Im doing now.
Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., U.S. representative-elect for Illinois' 8th Congressional District, is pictured with other female members of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 14. Duckworth, a helicopter pilot in the Iraq war who was shot down and lost both her legs in the attack, is the first disabled woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Kick some Puke/Bagger ASS!
TexasProgresive
(12,159 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)dhill926
(16,370 posts)and how the hell did she survive! Jaysus what a story....
blue sky at night
(3,242 posts)about 20 more Tammys in congress! Way to go..you make me a proud democrat, only wish I could vote for someone like her.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)tritsofme
(17,405 posts)Adios Joe!
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)For electing such an amazing woman to replace the unbelievably terrible Joe Walsh.
May her colleagues in Congress be inspired by this determined young woman to do good work for their constituents.
murielm99
(30,773 posts)I heard her speak at an Illinois Democratic Women's convention several years ago. Since she was working for the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs, she did not discuss politics. She talked about women in leadership roles, and how that differs from male leadership roles. She used examples from her life.
I was talking to her at an event one other time, and a couple of Illinois legislators came up to greet her. I left after a discreet interval, because she started to go into advocacy role. She began talking about the soldiers who are coming home now with head injuries. She was trying to get more attention for that problem, and she was doing her work. It was interesting to see her shift gears. She was very knowledgeable, and did that job well. She will be a good congressperson, too.
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)Can't wait to see what else she is able to accomplish!
Scuba
(53,475 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)...and get cut to pieces in the process.
SunSeeker
(51,740 posts)Love her!
GoCubsGo
(32,095 posts)She's the embodiment of "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I'm glad she's on our side.
rurallib
(62,460 posts)dmr
(28,349 posts)So many good Dems elected this year.
Duckworth, Grayson, Warren ...
I wish Anthony Weiner hadn't screwed up. He was a voice to be heard, too.
mucifer
(23,574 posts)Walsh. But, her district is not in a liberal part of Chicago. Also, she has an amazing story.
Joey Liberal
(5,526 posts)She's a hero and the republicans are scumbags for always attacking her.
AAO
(3,300 posts)Berlum
(7,044 posts)As usual.
ruffburr
(1,190 posts)Actionman
(115 posts)those clowns are just mean spirited... Tammy has faced that kind of spirit with a gun. Now, do you think any of those guys scare her.
JKingman
(75 posts)No one else who attained elective office gave as much to this woman did.
Hillary can be VP, or run for Prez again, if she really wants it, but I doubt she wants any more of politics after so many years.
I hope she inspires 100 more disabled vets to run for office, we sure need more of what she brings.
longship
(40,416 posts)She was born in Thailand. I do not know if she's a natural citizen. I suspect she might be as her father was military deployed to Asia.
Indeed, I would support her if she runs.
JKingman
(75 posts)Of course, Republicans will make her out to be a socialist Thai.
Let's see, which recent President only had one American citizen parent? And which Republicans and Tea Party folks are still insisting that President is NOT an "American citizen"?
I don't think you need 5 seconds to answer that.
This woman is more qualified than 99.9% of everyone elected to office in the last 50 years, (Since WW II and other vets).
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)vlyons
(10,252 posts)to lay off Amb. Rice and for John McGrumpy to take a hike!
Cha
(297,774 posts)of her.. those in her District must be over the Moon she's representing them in Congress. Those who didn't vote for masochism, that is.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Go Tammy!
Skittles
(153,212 posts)sheshe2
(83,940 posts)Skittles
(153,212 posts)Hepburn
(21,054 posts)Instead of wearing slacks or boots to hide her missing legs, she decorated one prosthetic leg with the Stars and Stripes!