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DESPERATE TIMES

Ex-Congressman Joe Walsh Files Request to End Child Support Payments

The Tea Party Republican can't pay his bills

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by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t +

Image: addictinginfo.com

Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh, who Talking Points Memo describes as a "Tea Party darling" is finding it hard to pony up the cash for his child support payments. Wilson, a Chicago resident, has filed a request in Cook County to officially cease the effort, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

"Joe's employment has been terminated through no voluntary act of his own and he is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay his support obligation," reads the filing. "Due to substantial change of circumstances, Joe requests that his child support obligation be terminated based on his present income and circumstances."

In case you hadn't worked it out, the employment termination referred to is Walsh's loss of his seat in Congress to Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Walsh has fended off accusations by political opponents of being a "Deadbeat Dad" in the past, and as the report notes, his son Joey has come to his defense on this front, saying the charges are off base.

Via Talking Points Memo and the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Is it fair to describe Walsh as a "Deadbeat Dad"?

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100 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Cheenoguy
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    I love how Tea Party types always rant about personal responsibility and then refuse to take any for themselves.
    Imagine how Walsh would react if a guy who had just lost his minimum wage job was saying this. He would criticize the guy for not having savings and for being out of work because of his laziness.
  • DapperDave
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    The are, of course, the champions of "family values". It would be hard to match the hypocrisy of these double-talking, hardline right wingers.
  • drpeeper
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    Looks like no one reads stories any more (as posted below)- That being said- another reason for term limits- ALL of them should be limited so as not to make politics a career.

    “Two weeks ago, I did what every other father who is paying child support is supposed to do — by law — when their employment situation changes: I modified my support agreement,” Walsh said in a statement.“With my congressional term ending on Jan. 3, and with my ex-wife having been paid in full through my term in Congress, by law, I filed a modification of my support payments for my remaining un-emancipated child for these next four months. This modification called for me to pay my ex-wife 20 percent of my net income during these four months, which is my responsibility by law.”
  • DogLady_1
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    Cheeno, I think you are taking it too far to say that ALL tea partiers refuse to take responsibility just because Walsh does. But I totally agree with you that he would criticize a min wage earner who tried to get out of caring for his kids.

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  • Dan_Tien
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    I guess he wants his kids to be on the government dole that he criticized for existing. It sure is easy to yell "Get a job!" until you can't get one yourself. Hey Joe, where you gonna run to now?
  • Real4WheelDrv
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    Same could be said for many of the posters here, while I am a proponent of doing what you can to support yourself...I am proud that I have not been banned from Politix..and I avoid this by not lashing out at some of the more outlandish "get a job" people on here. I'd gladly get a job...when somebody can offer me the help I need to GET one.
  • Real4WheelDrv
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    @PoliticalSpice Nah, he's too busy for that, like many current and former officials, he'd give someone access to his account to post on his behalf, and then fire 'em when they screw up.

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  • MarkJM
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    So you lost your reelection bid. You don't sit and pout, you get off your collective ass and find another job to support your kids. Collect cans, flip burgers, deliver pizza, shovel crap, who cares. Find another line of work. You have kids, pay for them!!!
  • MarkJM
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    @PoliticalSpice He's an embarrassment to the TEA Party. He preaches jobs then goes off wanting a reprieve from his responsibilities. I for one have no sympathy for the idiot. He can follow his own advice and get a job.
  • MarkJM
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    @PoliticalSpice Now now, I'm not excusing them either. But there are plenty of CONgressional idiots on both sides of the aisle here. How about Anthony "show off the junk" Weiner, Robert "Likes little kids in the Dominican Republic" Menendez, William "Money in the freezer" Jefferson, David "Sex w/18yr olds" Wu. Again, that's why they're all idiots...all of them think they're above us so it must be okay for them to apparently get away with it...

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  • Hireman
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    It's time for him to suck it up and get a job. Reduce payments for now with the requirement to pay the rest later with interest. I agree with the Tea Party the people need to take personal responsibility. Time for him to step up.
  • fridayjones
    !
    While his kids are past the need of the child support, he was ORDERED to pay and didn't and is now in arrears so much that most people would have had jailtime! If he wants the end of the payments, he should have to meat his arrears payments due and then have them canceled the same way MOST people have had theirs stopped. Believe me, that piece of shit ain't NOTHIN' special and deserves NO preferential treatment! In fact.......due to his former position, he ahould be made an example!
  • DogLady_1
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    And while Walsh was being sued for back child support last year, he loaned his campaign $35,000 and has paid himself back, plus he has taken a few international vacations with different girlfriends. He's been a deadbeat dad for nearly 10 years... How shameful that he doesn't think his kids are priority one...
  • TheJimmy
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    @PayThatCEO
    You were supposed to respond, "Shirley you can't be serious?" Unfortunately you blew your lines. Better luck next time.
  • Arumizy
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    Pay what you can, i have always been against mandatory child support payments and things like alimony. If it was easier to change your payment amount when you loose a job, get demoted etc it would be one thing.
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @Cheenoguy Of course he is. You know how these republicans hypocrites are. A poor family needs food stamps it's "get a job" their former wife needs child support its "get food stamps." remember Newt served divorce papers on his wife while she was in the hospital.
  • Arumizy
    !
    @PoliticalSpice It is very easy to make baseless accusations and presumptions isn't it, especially from the left it seems all though i had always assumed that was a stereotype and a cliche.
    Food stamps can be a good thing when they are regulated to buying just that food, not energy drinks, pop and so forth. As well food stamps need to be harder regulated and better kept an eye on to ensure our money is not being squandered on non-necessities, and the ultimate goal is to get them to where they do not need to rely on the government and forcing other people to support them. Not to create a habitual user of a service that should not be a long term service.
  • Arumizy
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    @Cheenoguy How to explain this better, although i feel i explained it already in a manner where it is easy to understand without taking the extreme. I am not against people having to take care of their children, i am in many ways against the government mandating it in the manner they do. Mostly my problem revolves around the court and the practices such and around it.
    A person who makes 1200 a month and his payments are 300 is paying. But when he looses that job and gets a new job that is say 900 a month he is still required to pay 300 instead of an automatic adjustment. The person still has to survive on his paycheck and a diminished paycheck should result in a lesser payment.
  • culinary
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    @Arumizy These welfare recipients are very crafty. A large portion of them will sell those food stamps for cash. Here in my state we have a soda that is only sold here. You can get it in returnable bottles worth 30 cents each. I have seen them buy a case of it with foodstamps, take it outside and poor it out, then return the bottles for cash.

    My thoughts on welfare: all recipients should be drug tested to get it, then randomly tested as long as they receive it; they should have to show proof of looking for employment or that they are successfully attending college courses-can't go to school forever though (if they are employed or going to school and it isn't enough, I have no problem with supplementing); there should be a maximum amount (meaning they can't continue to pop out kids to get more money).

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  • culinary
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    If that were my ex, his ass would be sitting in a jail cell. Get a freaking job and pay your support. You were the one that created them, therefore it is your responsibility to support them. Period. I HATE men like this.
  • Jlp1129
    !
    I bet this guy pays a hefty support payment each month!!! Lol. I love seeing the wealthy pout when they are not getting there way.
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