What Joe Walsh was really waiting for: $3.5 million

Do you remember Cong. Joe Walsh of Illinois? Of course you do.

Since taking office in January, he's famously refused to go to the State of the Union Address, served as a bullhorn for the far-far-right on topics like reproductive choice and Medicare, is a member of the Tea Party caucus and has been cited by the Chicago Sun-Times as a prime example of "what’s wrong with Washington." Oh, and he’s being sued for $100,000 in child support by his ex-wife.

Cong. Walsh -- who currently represents Illinois’ eighth congressional district, fled his constituents earlier this year when it appeared his path to re-election would be hindered by EMILY’s List endorsed candidate Tammy Duckworth. In September, Walsh said he'd run in the 14th district -- a less-Democratic district where Walsh’s extreme agenda might have been more welcome.

But last week Cong. Walsh flip-flopped and decided to go back to running in the eighth and today we understand why.

Walsh has been bribed back into the tougher district by state and national Republican officials like Speaker Boehner. Today, the Daily Herald reports that Cong. Walsh’s return to the 8th District was "lured by the thought of an easier primary and the promise, according to top Illinois GOP officials who requested anonymity … of $3.5 million in general election fundraising help from House Speaker John Boehner."

Apparently Speaker Boehner is giving out early holiday presents to buy his way into holding the House. While I am dismayed by Boehner's brazen move, I am not shocked. Time and again Boehner has proven he will do anything -- including almost shutting down the government over access to women's health care -- to keep the House in the hands of folks like Joe Walsh.

Republicans are trying to buy the seat and the NRCC is not denying it. Shameless, yes -- but here at EMILY’s List our tune hasn't changed and we have been singing the praises of Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and former assistant secretary in the U.S. Veterans Affairs Administration. Tammy's a savvy candidate who knows what it will take to win. No matter who her opponent is, or the size of her opponent's war chest, we stand with Tammy.

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