Media deception: Harris and pundits hide Walz’s true far-left beliefs by labeling him a ‘moderate’

When Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate, she was relying on two key factors.

Firstly, Walz appears to be a typical Midwestern father figure rather than a radical progressive.

Secondly, the expectation is that the national media will obscure the fact that Walz is actually a radical progressive with a proven track record to support this claim.

At first glance, the 60-year-old Walz, originally from Nebraska, doesn’t fit the mold of a left-wing extremist.

His demeanor is rough and strong, he looks comfortable in a flannel jacket, and speaks like someone you’d meet at a home improvement store.

Not your typical lawyer-politician, Walz has a background as a former football coach, manufacturing worker, and teacher, as well as 24 years of service as an enlisted member of the Army National Guard.

Despite representing a congressional district that supported George W. Bush and Donald Trump, Walz, a gun owner, earned an A rating from the NRA, alongside top ratings from various left-wing groups on other issues. However, he has since changed his stance on gun control.

Since becoming governor in 2018, Walz has shifted firmly to the left, prompting scrutiny for his actions.

During the COVID lockdowns in Minnesota, Walz implemented strict measures, including a hotline for residents to report non-compliance by their neighbors.

One of the many individuals who lost their job due to these restrictions was George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. While the city was in turmoil, Harris was raising funds online to bail out rioters.

Walz’s administration has been plagued by oversight failures.

In one instance, a bill in 2022 meant to provide “hero pay” to pandemic workers ended up disbursing funds to deceased individuals, with only 60% of recipients meeting the eligibility criteria. Additionally, a nonprofit misappropriated funds meant for education.

Walz himself faced scrutiny for missing text messages, and his governance has been heavily criticized in local media in Minnesota.

Following a one-seat majority in the state senate in 2022, Walz endorsed several controversial measures pushed through the legislature, such as issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants, legalizing marijuana, and more.

Under Walz, Minnesota became a hotbed for progressive policies, including mandating “antiracist” education and other divisive initiatives.

While nearly half of the state’s public school students struggle with reading, Walz signed laws making the state a sanctuary for taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries on minors.

The state’s stance on abortion has also shifted dramatically, with laws allowing abortions up until birth, and removing requirements for informed consent and protection against coerced abortions.

Walz’s spending priorities have also raised eyebrows, as he depleted a surplus and increased spending significantly, resulting in higher taxes for residents.

As Minneapolis faces a police shortage, Walz has raised various taxes to cover the costs of his policies.

With Harris receiving lenient media coverage on her leftist views, she likely anticipates that the same will happen for Walz and his controversial record.

However, a deeper dive into Tim Walz’s background reveals a far more progressive figure than his outward appearance suggests.

Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review. Twitter: @BaseballCrank