The Family Research Council, a social conservative advocacy nonprofit headed by Tony Perkins, has awarded Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), a Tea Party freshman in Congress, a 100 percent rating as a “True Blue” member of Congress because of his “unwavering support of the family”:
“We thank Cong. Walsh who has voted consistently to defend faith, family and freedom,” said the Council’s President, Tony Perkins, and for “upholding the institution of marriage and family.” “I am proud and honored to be recognized by the Family Research Council as the only member from Illinois with a 100 percent pro-family voting record,” Walsh said in a news release.
According to ThinkProgress, the press learned in July that Walsh “owed $117,000 in unpaid child support to his ex-wife. Walsh, despite earning a hefty salary as a member of Congress, has continued to refuse to pay his ex-wife to support his children.”
Additionally, also according to ThinkProgress,
… it’s worth noting that Walsh’s failure to pay child support isn’t even his only failure to look out for the basic needs of his own family. As Marie Diamond noted for ThinkProgress a few months ago, “Walsh also rejected the congressional health insurance plan for his family on principle, much to the chagrin of his current wife, Helene, who had a preexisting condition and needed surgery while the couple was uninsured.”
Recently, a judge rebuked Walsh for failing to even show up to a court hearing about his missed child support payments, telling the Chicago-area lawmaker that he doesn’t deserve special treatment and that he’s “no different than anyone else.”
The Chicago Sun-Times notes that Walsh counters that he and his wife had a “verbal agreement” that he didn’t have to pay child support during years when he wasn’t earning as much.
Joe Walsh is, of course, very proud of his achievement: “Defending American values have [sic] always been one of my top priorities, and this reward reaffirms my dedication to that fight,” he says.
What a patriot. What a parent!
