Readers Write: Gov. Tim Walz
Critiques on his handling of COVID and the 2020 riots fall flat.
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The complaints about Gov. Tim Walz in these pages (and elsewhere) coalesce around two themes: the 2020 Minneapolis riots and COVID. But these critiques don’t survive close examination, or even make sense taken together.
The 2020 riots? He allegedly did too little — they say he should have instantly deployed military force to quell the unrest. I guess like Tiananmen Square, where officials harbored no namby-pamby concern about civil rights. But we are supposed to be different, nay, exceptional. We honor our citizens’ rights to rise in protest — and this protest began as a spontaneous outpouring of despair at the “last straw” of George Floyd’s brutal murder. Yes, it turned ugly, and violence is no more justified when it’s perpetrated by citizens than by our police. Yes, there were plenty of mistakes, miscues, confusion about which level of government was responsible — the proverbial fog of war. But to reduce this scenario to a meme — “Tim Walz coddled the rioters and let Minneapolis burn” — is a grotesque caricature.
COVID? They say he did too much — rammed lockdowns and mandates down the throats of Minnesotans, just for the sheer fun of it, apparently. Because, while Walz hates to stop a good riot, he relishes the idea of making ordinary people miserable. Again, the facts are a problem for these critiques. Walz invoked emergency powers to address an unprecedented emergency. The measures he imposed were similar to those used across the globe. All were guided by principles of public health, recommended by epidemiologists everywhere. And Minnesota emerged from the pandemic with less death, and a better economy, than many other jurisdictions.
Oh, one more complaint: He’s fake-folksy. An easy response: Just meet former teacher Walz in person, and then compare to alleged hillbilly but actual Yale-educated investment banker JD Vance. You decide who’s fake.
Stephen Bubul, Minneapolis
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The news story that Walz mischaracterized his rank and war experience when he retired from the military is very disturbing. According to men that served with him he quit before his battalion was deployed to Iraq. [Opinion editor’s note: According to a Star Tribune fact check at tinyurl.com/walz-military, Walz submitted his National Guard retirement papers in May 2005 in order to run for Congress. His unit’s first call-up notice came in July 2005. The regiment deployed in March 2006.] He then ran for political office and said in campaign speeches he served and carried weapons in war. Classic example of “stolen valor.”
Having lost a family member (Navy SEAL Team Six member killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011) while serving our country, I deeply respect and honor those who serve. Those who lie, especially regarding “stolen valor” for personal gain, should not be trusted and should never be awarded leadership positions. The fact that Walz could be a heartbeat away from being commander in chief is terrifying.
Bob Tumilson, Apple Valley
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As critics of Walz pillory him for all sorts of things that happened in Minnesota while he served as governor, it is misleading to attribute all of the highs and lows to one man and disingenuous to oversimplify problems and the multifaceted efforts to address them.
One criticism concerns the governor’s efforts to manage the COVID pandemic. These were challenging, frightening, frustrating and sad times. Consider Minnesota’s experience from a public health perspective. How did Minnesota do? According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, between 2020 and 2022, Minnesota was among the states with the lowest rates of COVID death. During those first three years, just under 12,000 Minnesotans died — too many, but likely fewer than would have died if we had taken fewer public health measures. The mean death rate due to COVID over those years was 55.77 per 100,000 Minnesotans. Surrounding states, which did not invoke these measures, had much higher rates: South Dakota’s was 79.2; North Dakota 75.7; and Iowa 71.5. Wisconsin was closer to Minnesota’s record, but still had a higher age-adjusted death rate of 59.3 per 100,000 population.
Many factors and many people contributed to these patterns. Minnesota fared better than most other states during this gruesome time for many reasons: how many citizens actually followed established public health measures, the many strengths in Minnesota’s health care system and the dedicated workers within it, the efforts of public health officials, as well as community and governmental leaders throughout the state — led by Walz. Gov. Walz does not deserve the full credit, but he does deserve his rightful share, and we owe him ample thanks for that.
William N. Robiner, Minneapolis
The writer is a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
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The Harris-Walz campaign slogan is, “We’re not going back.” Guess that means we’re not going back to secure borders; lower prices for gas, groceries and housing; fully staffed police departments and safer neighborhoods; and no wars in Ukraine or the Middle East. Instead, we’re just going to continue in the same mess we’re currently in.
Danny Skillings, Edina
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I was born and raised in Minnesota and am a graduate of the University of Minnesota, but I have lived in Australia for the last 24 years. There are not many “yanks” in these parts. In fact, I can count the number I know on two hands.
When I found out that a group of Minnesota delegates were coming to Melbourne on a trade mission last November, I was excited. I was determined to score a ticket to the event — my only qualification was being one of the very few Minnesotans living in the city. I got lucky!
I came away from the event proud of my Minnesota roots after meeting Walz. In fact, I called my mother back in Edina and told her I thought he had the qualities for national leadership. In my 30 years working in international business, I haven’t seen such an impressive leader and communicator.
Here are three reasons why I felt that way:
- Strategic vision. I was inspired by his leadership efforts to grow the Minnesota economy in a sustainable and diplomatic manner beyond the state and the U.S.
- Engagement. I introduced myself, we had an open and honest conversation, and he listened and asked many questions, genuinely trying to find a point of connection. He then drew comments from our conversation and wove them into his speech.
- Communication. His performance at the podium, in person, is as impressive as his performance on TV. He delivers an authentic message that genuinely connects with his audience.
Walz is a terrific choice for vice president. The Harris-Walz ticket is an optimistic option for the United States of America.
Kirsten Romanin, Melbourne, Australia
PRONOUNCING ‘WALZ’
There’s a reason for the confusion
A recent editorial says Gov. Tim Walz’s last name should be pronounced “walls” as there is no “t” in the name (”It’s W-A-L-Z, people,” Aug. 8). I grew up in Stearns County, Minnesota, where there were many Walz families and in fact have three Walz high school classmates from Melrose High School. There are still families with that name in the county. The name never was and still never is pronounced “walls.” It may be the old German pronunciation, but that’s how it was and is pronounced. And if anyone is going to give a lesson on how to pronounce his name, it should be Tim Walz himself.
Lois Thielen, Grey Eagle, Minn.
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