When Tim Walz launched his 2006 campaign for Congress in rural Minnesota, he boasted in his public biography that in 1993, he “was named the Outstanding Young Nebraskan by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce for his service in the education, military, and small business communities.” That was not true.
It was a small lie about a minor honor, but for Walz it was part of a pattern of deceit and embellishment that helped pave the way from high school teacher to Congress to the Minnesota governor’s mansion and now, should the Democrats win in November, to the vice presidency.
Walz’s 2006 boast about being named “Outstanding Young Nebraskan” can still be found in an archived version of his campaign website. That November, the president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Barry Kennedy, wrote Walz to object. “It has come to my attention that as part of your campaign for U.S. Congress, you have posted your biography on your website that claims you received an award from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce for your service to the business community,” he stated plainly. “We researched this matter and can confirm that you have not been the recipient of any award from the