Self-awareness is a rare trait in a politician, so when Tim Walz described himself at last week’s vice presidential debate as a “knucklehead," the Minnesota governor should have been applauded rather than mocked. It was a welcome moment of honesty in a short national political career that has so far been characterized by extended episodes of biographical dissimulation.
It might even have been endearing except that it came wrapped in a thick blanket of more obfuscation, bluster and diversion that left us all still confused not only about the man’s whereabouts when the Tiananmen Square massacre was taking place in Beijing, but about much more besides. I don’t suppose anyone cares where he thinks he was in June 1989, but there is something a little unsettling about the apparent compulsion on his part, as we’ve seen with claims about his military record, to place himself, like Woody Allen’s Zelig, at the center of events of world-historical importance.
Unlock Premium Insights from The Wall Street Journal
Take your experience further with Mint Premium- access insights and analysis on global markets
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Login
Premium benefits
30+ articles from print edition and premium publication daily
Present across social media apps to keep you updated
In-depth Market Reports from leading experts
Most loved Mint podcasts on 35+ topics
Sharp insights supported by simple data and visuals
Unlock 30+ well researched
and bias free premium articles daily
Access to global insights with
100+ exclusive articles from
international publications
Get complimentary access to
3+ investment based apps
TRENDLYNE Get One Month GuruQ plan at Rs 1
FINOLOGY Free finology subscription for 1 month.
SMALLCASE 20% off on all smallcases
5+ subscriber only newsletters
specially curated by the experts
Free access to e-paper and
WhatsApp updates
Not convinced yet?
Share your contact details and
we will get in touch with you…
= 48 && event.charCode Confirm
Thanks for sharing your number