Tammy Duckworth

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Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth
March 12, 1968–
Army Maj. Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth of the Illinois Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, narrates the Salute to Fallen Asian Pacific Islander Heroes in Arlington, Virginia, June 2, 2005.
Nickname	Tammy
Place of birth	Bangkok, Thailand
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Reserve
Years of service	1992–
Rank	Major
Unit	Illinois National Guard
Awards	Purple Heart Air Medal Army Commendation Medal
Relations	Bryan W. Bowlsbey, husband

Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth (born March 12, 1968) is a U.S. Army Major and Iraq War veteran from the U.S. state of Illinois. She was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for the sixth district of Illinois and lost by 2% of the vote in the highly competitive 2006 House election.^[1] On 21 November 2006, Duckworth was appointed the director of the Illinois Veterans' Affairs Department by governor Rod Blagojevich.^[2]

Duckworth's combat wounds in Iraq cost her both legs and damaged her right arm. She is married to Major Bryan W. Bowlsbey of the Illinois Army National Guard. In 2007, Bowlsbey was informed that he would be deployed to Iraq in April.^[3]

Contents 1 Early years 2 Military service 3 2006 Congressional race 3.1 Positions 3.1.1 Health care 3.1.2 Education 3.1.3 Immigration 3.1.4 Criticism of the handling of the Iraq War 3.1.5 Call for audit of war spending 3.1.6 Gun politics 3.1.7 Criticism of earmarks 4 VFW endorsement controversy 4.1 Negative tactics by political opponents 4.1.1 Robocalling 5 References 6 See also 7 External links 7.1 Audio links 7.2 Video link

[edit] Early years

Duckworth was born in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of Frank L. Duckworth and Lamai Sompornpairin, a native of Thailand. She has a brother named Tom. Her family moved around Southeast Asia when she was young due to her father's jobs with the United Nations and several international companies.^{[citation needed]}

The Duckworth family moved to Hawaii when she was 16. In 1985, she graduated with honors from McKinley High School after skipping the ninth grade. She attended the University of Hawai'i, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and later received a Master of Arts in international affairs from George Washington University.^{[citation needed]}

Duckworth was working towards a Ph.D. in political science at Northern Illinois University with research interests in the political economy and public health in southeast Asia when she deployed to Iraq. She was also working as a staff supervisor at Rotary International headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Military service

Duckworth joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) as a graduate student at George Washington University in 1990. She became a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve in 1992 and chose to fly helicopters because it was one of the few combat jobs open to women. As a member of the Army Reserve, she went to flight school and joined the Illinois National Guard in 1996.^{[citation needed]}

Duckworth lost both of her legs^[4] on November 12, 2004, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. The explosion "almost completely destroyed her right arm breaking it in three places and tearing tissue from the back side of it."^[5] Duckworth received a Purple Heart on December 3 and was promoted to Major on December 21 at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she was presented with an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal.^{[citation needed]}

Duckworth was fitted for prosthetics and, despite her paraplegia, is now fully mobile. She helped establish the Intrepid Foundation and is involved in its fundraising to build a rehabilitation center for other injured veterans, and has been critical of the administration of President George W. Bush for its provision of veterans' care:

The Iraqi war has created a new need for these centers ... because of the nature of the combat injuries, wounded soldiers are requiring care of more than just a month or two. We weren't ready for that. But the Army is a huge institution — it can't react as quickly as something like the Intrepid Foundation. And the VA just can't support all the veterans it needs to; its budget needs to be protected from cuts. There are veterans who, after having served this country, have to go without the basic care they were promised they would get.

– Tammy Duckworth, ^[6]

Although Duckworth disagreed with Bush's decision to invade Iraq, she said that she felt obligated to uphold her commitment. She said, "We should have been fighting the enemies that attacked us at home on 9/11," she said in December 2005. "We should have been out there trying to catch Osama bin Laden."^[7] Duckworth is still a major in the Illinois National Guard, and still serves on some weekends.^[8]

Former Republican Presidential candidate Bob Dole dedicated his biography One Soldier's Story in part to Duckworth: "And to Major Tammy Duckworth ... a brave woman wounded in Iraq, who represents all of those with their own battles ahead of them, and their own stories to tell."^[9] Duckworth credits Dole for inspiring her to pursue public service while she recuperated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dole has since endorsed Duckworth's opponent.^[10]

[edit] 2006 Congressional race

Duckworth is a resident of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Although part of Hoffman Estates is within the sixth district, Duckworth lives three miles outside of the district.^[11] She lives in a disabled-accessible house which was refitted for her access by friends.^[12]The U.S. Constitution requires only that a member, when elected, be "an inhabitant of the state in which he shall be chosen." Illinois does not have a district residency requirement.^[13] Duckworth has never held office before, and the 2006 race was her first campaign.

Sixth district incumbent Henry Hyde announced his retirement, leaving an open seat. On March 21, 2006, Duckworth won the Democratic primary with 44 percent of the vote against 2004 Democratic nominee Christine Cegelis, who received 40 percent, and Wheaton College professor Lindy Scott, who received 16 percent.^[14]

She faced the Republican nominee, State Senator Peter Roskam in the general election.

Duckworth was chosen by the Democratic Party to give the 30 September 2006 response to President Bush's weekly radio address. Her comments included the following:

Instead of a plan or a strategy, we get shallow slogans like 'Mission Accomplished' and 'Stay the Course,'...Those slogans are calculated to win an election. But they won't help us accomplish our mission in Iraq...I didn't cut and run, Mr. President. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed, my helicopter was shot down long after you proclaimed 'mission accomplished.'...We need a Congress that will ask the tough questions and work together for solutions rather than attacking the patriotism of those who disagree,...It is time to encourage Iraqi leaders to take control of their own country and make the tough choices that will stop the civil war and stabilize the country.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}

At the AmVets' National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans, Duckworth called for improvements in veterans health care:

She called for mandatory funding of veterans’ health care, rather than discretionary funding that could change with political winds; she also wants improvements in transition assistance for those returning to civilian life, particularly for those with disabilities. Duckworth also wanted the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire more veterans as doctors and nurses because they understand what combat veterans face, and she wants the VA to prepare for the possibility of severe respiratory problems in the future for Iraq war veterans.^[20]

On October 24, 2006, actor and Parkinson's disease sufferer Michael J. Fox appeared at a fundraiser for Duckworth at Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton, supporting Duckworth's stance on embryonic stem cell research.^[21]. After Duckworth's fundraiser was announced, her opponent organized a news conference that was held just hours before Duckworth's event to announce his support of adult and umbilical stem cell research.^[22]

On October 3, 2006, Duckworth charged that Roskam should return the $40,000 in campaign contributions that he received from House Speaker Hastert and other House leaders who she accused of covering up the Mark Foley sexual harassment scandal.^[23] Roskam trailed Duckworth in fundraising. Roskam raised $3.44 million vs. Duckworth's $4.52 million, but started the fall campaign with more cash on-hand, due in part to not having a primary challenger. Roskam has been more dependent on contributions from PACs: 56% of Roskam's donations and 82% of Duckworth's donations came from individuals.^[24] 87% of Roskam's contributions and 51% of Duckworth's contributions came from the state of Illinois.^[25] Top zipcodes of contributers for Roskam were Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and Hinsdale. Duckworth's top zip codes were Chicago, Winnetka and New York City.^[26]

A Zogby-Reuters poll released 1 November found Duckworth leading Roskam by 15 points, 54% to 40%.^[27]

In the 2006 November 7th elections Tammy Duckworth was defeated in her run for US Congress by State Sen. Peter Roskam. In an interview, Duckworth said another run in 2008 was a "possibility."^[28]

[edit] Positions

Duckworth describes herself as a "fiscal conservative and social moderate."^[29]

[edit] Health care

Duckworth considered health care to be one of the most important issues to the voters of the Sixth District. She said, "The fact that there are kids who don't have access to health insurance, we need to be expanding S-CHIP. The fact that there are 25 percent of Americans between 50 and 64 who don't have access to health insurance, we need to let them buy into the federal employee health care system. And we certainly need to fix the entire mess made out of Medicare Part D by this administration. So that's what I'm worried about."^[30]

[edit] Education

On 23 August 2006, Duckworth was endorsed by the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. In accepting the endorsements, Duckworth criticized the Bush Administration's education policy. "The strict, one-size fits-all approach under the No Child Left Behind Act doesn’t offer the flexibility that our local schools, teachers and parents need. The fact that schools in our District are on the "watch list" shows that current adequate yearly progress rules are sorely in need of flexibility," she said. "In our community, too many good schools and their resources are at risk and it’s time for real relief and results for students in the Sixth District.^[31]

[edit] Immigration

Duckworth supported the Senate's immigration plan, which includes strengthening the border but also would allow citizenship for illegal immigrants who meet certain requirements, which include: criminal background checks, paying all back taxes, paying fines for illegal residency, learning English and taking courses in American culture and civics. Residents would then be placed at the end of the line awaiting citizenship.^{[citation needed]}

Republican direct mailings accused Duckworth of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants; however, the Chicago Tribune has called the charge dishonest.^{[citation needed]} Instead of building a fence along the border, as the House bill called for, Duckworth suggested increasing the number of border patrol agents by 12,000. Duckworth has called deporting millions of illegal immigrants "unrealistic"^[32]

[edit] Criticism of the handling of the Iraq War

Duckworth has criticized the Bush Administration for "failing miserably to plan for Iraq." According to Erinn Deshinsky of the Peoria Journal Star, "Speaking at a news conference before the dinner, Duckworth said experiencing the war firsthand was frustrating, because she saw how the money was being misused. Instead of having a properly equipped helicopter, she was fed lavish meals. She said simple tasks were contracted to companies for large sums of money, even though soldiers could have easily handled the jobs. She called for more accountability from U.S. leaders when it comes to funding for the war. 'I didn't become a soldier to eat steak and lobster,' Duckworth said, 'but I want my men to be protected.'"^[33]

Duckworth's strategic recommendations included requesting an immediate accounting by the U.S. Secretary of Defense of the readiness level and the training of the Iraqi forces, followed by aggressive benchmarks for progress and redeployment of U.S. troops linked to the stand-up of Iraqi troops, saying the U.S. should proceed by standing-down a defined number of U.S. units for every Iraqi battalion that can be properly trained and certified as combat-ready.^[34]

Duckworth has said that the war in Iraq is not central to the war on terror: "I think a very small percentage of what is happening in Iraq is terrorist activity. I think most of it is sectarian violence, it's Sunnis fighting Shiites ... I think that to try to tie Iraq to the war on terror is a disservice to the real work that has to be done in the war on terror, which includes finishing the job in Afghanistan, capturing Osama Bin Laden and destroying Al Qaeda but also protecting our people here at home."^[35]

The Sunday Times reported that Duckworth agreed with General Sir Richard Dannatt, the British Army chief, that the presence of coalition troops is exacerbating the conflict:

"We’re attracting more people to terrorism than ever before. We really need to think about drawing down," she told The Sunday Times. "I want the secretary of defense to come before Congress and tell us how many Iraqis are fully trained. If two guys can do traffic control in Kirkuk, I want to bring two Americans home."^[29]

Duckworth's opponent responded to Duckworth's proposals by saying: "The 6th Congressional District is not a 'cut and run' district. It is not a timetable district."^[11] In a debate, Duckworth reacted angrily to this idea: "I just could not believe he would say that to me. I have risked my life to serve my country and you cannot question my patriotism."^[36]

When asked whether she would like to see Bush impeached, Duckworth said that Congress has "far more pressing issues to deal with."^[37]

[edit] Call for audit of war spending

In August 2006, Duckworth called on Congress to audit the estimated $437 billion spent on overseas military and foreign aid since September 11, 2001.^[38] She said, "Real and meaningful oversight has taken a back seat to partisan inaction. With the right kind of leadership Congress can bring greater fiscal discipline and accountability to the billions of dollars we are spending on our military efforts."^[38]

[edit] Gun politics

On October 10, 2006, Duckworth was endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The endorsement was announced in a joint appearance with the Fraternal Order of Police, who had also endorsed Duckworth. At the press conference in Lombard, Illinois, Duckworth referred to the recent school shootings and criticized her opponent's opposition to renewing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004. Duckworth pointed out that Henry Hyde, then the Sixth district congressman, supported the ban. Duckworth claimed, "Basically, whatever the NRA wants, Peter Roskam will vote for it." Duckworth also supported the Brady Law, which requires background checks for gun purchases from federally licensed firearm dealers.^[39][40][41]

[edit] Criticism of earmarks

In August 2006, Duckworth criticized the use of earmarks and pork-barrel spending in Congress. Duckworth said that earmarks should be eliminated to rein in spending and to reform ethics, arguing that they often are divvied out in exchange for votes. Duckworth's opponent opposed earmark reform, saying they are 'part of the process' legislators use to cut through bureaucracies and deliver constituents projects like the proton beam..^[42]

[edit] VFW endorsement controversy

On November 3, 2006, according to the Washington Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars angered some Illinois veterans by endorsing Roskam over Duckworth. Democratic Senator and Vietnam veteran Bob Kerrey said, "They should be ashamed of themselves."^[43] Duckworth held a press conference and said that the VFW had not contacted her or asked her to fill out any forms regarding her positions, as would be typical for a group deciding candidate to endorse.^[44] Duckworth is a member of the VFW; her opponent is not eligible for membership.^[45]

[edit] Negative tactics by political opponents

In August 2006, the National Republican Congressional Committee spent $200,000 on seven mailings attacking Duckworth. It was the first congressional race in the country for which the NRCC sent out direct mailings.^[46]

Without mentioning Roskam's name, the mailings assailed "liberal Tammy Duckworth" on taxes and immigration. One featured a blue-eyed baby and asks "Taxes or Diapers?" Another showed a ghost with the letters IRS on it and warns: "If you vote for Tammy Duckworth you may be visited by the 'ghost of taxes future.'" Republicans based the attacks on what they said were Duckworth's vague statements about repealing some of the Bush administration's tax cuts. Duckworth rebutted with mailings of her own, accusing "Roskam and his friends in Washington" of telling "ghost stories" that distorted her stance, which included making permanent the marriage-penalty reduction and the child tax credit. The mailings implied she opposes them.

"Essentially they are sending lies through the mail," said Duckworth spokeswoman Christine Glunz.^[46]

The headline of a September 7, 2006 Roskam campaign press release described Duckworth as "unhinged". The press release described the language used in a Duckworth direct mailing as "shrill".^[47] An October 16 Chicago Tribune editorial later admonished Duckworth's opponent to stop misleading voters about what the paper had said. The article ends:

A word to Mr. Blagojevich and Mr. Roskam. If you choose to quote us, please take care to relate what we said, not what you wish we'd said. Get it right--or leave us out of it.^[48]

The Financial Times reported that "...the Republicans have put out well packaged television advertisements questioning Ms Duckworth's patriotism."^[49] Duckworth has responded to this questioning vigorously:

I am sick and tired of the Republicans saying "Either you agree with us on national security or you are not patriotic." It is total baloney – in fact I have a better army word, but I can't use it. We must never forget that it is patriotic and it is American to question people in power.^[49]

In October 2006, U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama appeared in a Duckworth TV ad. It said in part:

"Illegal immigration is a serious problem – one that demands honest answers. That's not what you're getting with Peter Roskam's TV ads. The Tribune calls his attacks on Tammy Duckworth misleading. Tammy and I both support John McCain's plan, which does not include amnesty or benefits for illegal immigrants.^[50][51]

According to the Chicago Tribune:

Roskam told the crowd at the GOP's campaign headquarters that the "entire world is watching this campaign" against Democrat Tammy Duckworth for the west suburban seat being given up by retiring Rep. Henry Hyde. As proof, he said a radio producer told him that Al Jazeera--the Arabic language news network--had covered his debate with Duckworth last week. The crowd gasped. "Now that's a real interesting group that would come out and cover the 6th Congressional District," Roskam observed. "Al Jazeera has an interest in who wins in the 6th Congressional District? I'm telling ya, let's send them an answer, whaddya say?" The crowd cheered.^[52]

[edit] Robocalling

According to the Elk Grove Times, The National Republican Congressional Committee paid a Richmond, Virginia contractor to call Sixth district voters with a recording that says: "Hi. I'm calling with information about Tammy Duckworth..." The repetitive frequency of these calls annoyed people, and the message's failure to identify its source made many people believe the message came from the Duckworth campaign, and hurt its ability to speak to voters. The Duckworth campaign characterized the calls as harassment.^[53] The Daily Herald reported that the NRCC spent $9,000 on robocalls to help Peter Roskam in a single week. This translates into approximately 180,000 calls.^[54] Congresspedia, a user created online encyclopedia, claims that since recordings, used in other states, did not announce their patron at the beginning of the message, the robocalls were not in compliance with FCC Title 47 CFR 64.1200(b)(1),^[55] which states "All artificial or prerecorded telephone messages shall at the beginning of the message, state clearly the identity of the business, individual, or other entity that is responsible for initiating the call."^[56] However, the NRCC released a statement claiming the messages were in compliance with the law and compared them to similar ones made by DNC Counsel Joe Sandler.^[57] The Federal Trade Commission Telemarketing Sales Rule excludes political calls, since they are not included in the definition of telemarketing.^[58] No FCC or FTC fines have been issued for robocalls relating to the 6th district 2006 congressional campaign in Illinois.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Veterans for a Secure America

[edit] External links

• Tammy Duckworth campaign website
• Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Staff biography page
• Veterans For A Secure America
• Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy
• Tammy Duckworth at the Notable Names Database
• Newsmeat.com's list of Duckworth's campaign contributors
• opensecrets.org Total Raised and Spent: Illinois District 6
• Federal Election Commission contributor list

[edit] Audio links

• 24 September debate on WBBM radio
• Audio and transcript of Duckworth's 30 September response to President Bush's weekly radio address
• National Public Radio piece on 19 October debate at College of DuPage

[edit] Video link

• NCRR Mailers and Ads at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights website