Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is being touted as a dad and coach to endear him to Americans who are being gaslighted about his military service and his radical policy stands.
But after his rousing welcome as the party’s vice presidential nominee at this week’s Democratic National Convention, it seems he is even less willing to address accusations of stolen valor or even talk policy.
Yet, Chris Cillizza, former CNN editor-at-large, believes Walz “oozes” authenticity and he earned plenty of mockery on social media after he unpacked his new-found admiration for the Democrat in a thread on X.
“I didn’t really *get* the Tim Walz thing before last night,” Cillizza wrote Thursday.
1/ I didn’t really *get* the Tim Walz thing before last night.
I knew of him when he was a Congressman. And when he got elected governor.
But the political world never touted him as a rising star. Not “someone to watch.”
So, I underestimated him…
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) August 22, 2024
Admitting that he “underestimated him,” the former CNN political analyst said he thought the choice of Walz as a running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris “was a mistake.”
“Josh Shapiro made much more sense in terms of raw political considerations,” he wrote. “But what Walz has — and it’s rare in politics these days — is that he’s totally comfortable in his own skin. He knows who he is. He’s authentic. And he doesn’t try to be someone else.”
“And authenticity is the coin of the realm. He oozes it,” Cillizza declared.
3/ But what Walz has — and it’s rare in politics these days — is that he’s totally comfortable in his own skin. He knows who he is. He’s authentic. And he doesn’t try to be someone else.
And authenticity is the coin of the realm. He oozes it.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) August 22, 2024
He did not see Walz as being a major factor in getting Harris elected president, contending that “People vote on the top of the ticket.”
“But I totally SEE why Walz made sense as the pick now,” he noted, adding “I guess Kamala Harris knew what she was doing more than I did” with laughing emojis.
4/ Do I think that Walz is going to get Harris elected? No. She will do that. Or she won’t.
People vote on the top of the ticket.
But I totally SEE why Walz made sense as the pick now.
I guess Kamala Harris knew what she was doing more than I did
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) August 22, 2024
Social media reaction was brutal as many X users dropped a reality check on Cillizza’s hot take on Walz.
“This take will age badly,” one person noted simply.
Democrats lie and make crap up. It’s who they are. So he’s “authentic”.
— David Klug (@davidklugFL) August 23, 2024
“He’s authentic.”
That man has lied about every aspect of his past. He’s lied about his DUI arrest, his military service, and his own children’s conception.
This is a bad take.
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 22, 2024
Au contraire, he is an empty suit, who has created a persona to further his ambitions. If he is “totally comfortable in his own skin”, why is Harris’ Communications Director repeatedly required to step in and attempt to clean up his “misspeaks”?
— RaeSM (@RaeSM3) August 22, 2024
He literally lies to enhance his clout almost every time he speaks in public.
— SILAWZ (@stucknLAwzmbies) August 22, 2024
He has lied about basically every detail in his life.
Sounds a lot more like he’s comfortable in someone else’s skin, Mr. “Journos Don’t Root For A Side.”
— Grateful Calvin (@shoveitjack) August 22, 2024
Counterpoint: Walz oozes phoniness. It’s why his rollout has been marked by being caught telling one lie after another. The opposite of “authentic,” he was a centrist to win a swing congressional district, then reinvented himself as a far left liberal to win statewide.
— Alberto E. Martinez (@albertemartinez) August 22, 2024
Unbelievable gaslighting buddy, great work
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) August 22, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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