Fox Attacks Sen. Duckworth, A Disabled Vet, For Using Vet Benefits

By David Edwards — October 3, 2021

Fox News faced backlash over the weekend due to a report about Sen. Tammy Duckworth's taxes.

In a column on Sunday, Fox News writer Dom Calicchio reported that Duckworth had not paid property tax on her Illinois home since 2015.

The headline for the column omitted the fact that Duckworth legally qualifies for the tax break because she is a disabled veteran who lost both of her legs when an Army helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004.

The news about Duckworth's taxes was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

"Utterly trash headline, even by Fox News standards," Marine-turned-journalist J.D. Simkins noted on Sunday.

Utterly trash headline, even by Fox News standards

Duckworth is tax exempt in her county as a disabled veteran who lost both of her legs in Iraq in 2004 when her helicopter was hit by an RPG https://t.co/9kvfLxhUdN

— J.D. Simkins (@simkins_jd) October 3, 2021

Other journalists and veterans joined the criticism of Fox News.

"Fox News deliberately leaving out some very important context in their tweet headline. An absolutely shameless attack on a veteran who sacrificed both legs and part of an arm in combat," former soldier Brandon Friedman commented.

Read some of the responses below.

Fox News deliberately leaving out some very important context in their tweet headline. An absolutely shameless attack on a veteran who sacrificed both legs and part of an arm in combat. https://t.co/tjXHJD9qmi pic.twitter.com/qNeEsBZAYy

— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) October 3, 2021

*Senator* Duckworth lost both legs & partial use of her arm in combat serving our union. The VA rates her as 70%+ disabled, & thus eligible for a full property tax exemption for disabled veterans in Illinois.

Does @FoxNews oppose exemptions for disabled veterans?

— Alex Howard (@digiphile) October 3, 2021

Fox News attacks disabled veteran over use of disabled veteran benefits … https://t.co/2xsIb7l0wU

— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) October 3, 2021

She’s missing limbs from combat service and is exempt from property taxes like any disabled veteran in Illinois. Is this Fox News advocating for rolling back veterans benefits? That seems newsworthy.

— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) October 3, 2021

What?!? . @FoxNews is Attacking a DISABLED VETERAN For getting US Government BENEFITS?!?! Tammy Duckworth is a HERO!

WTF is wrong with you #Foxnews? 🤮🤬 u support TRUMP not paying taxes but ATTACK a disabled Vet getting BENEFITS🤦🏼‍♂️ https://t.co/EcrFKq4TkT

— Daniel Newmaη (@DanielNewman) October 3, 2021

Correct. You do not pay federal income taxes, either, not on the federal veterans disability compensation. I assume that's the next synthetic scandal aimed at Tammy Duckworth, just preempting it with that factoid. https://t.co/ANAQc5fWrU

— Robert Caruso (@robertcaruso) October 3, 2021

Seriously. How dare @FoxNews try to make a story about a disabled veteran using benefits that she has more than earned.#WtFox?https://t.co/7Jq6HuAtDW

— Randy Bryce (@IronStache) October 3, 2021

Rep Duckworth lost both her legs in the Iraq war and is legally exempt from paying taxes. Why does @FoxNews hate veterans? https://t.co/7JLKrKp2wG

— Nick Vasos (@NickVasos) October 3, 2021

What’s the next headline? “Democrat Tammy Duckworth Found Parking In Handicapped Spots”? Something she also does legally. https://t.co/ZU4KxApTGq

— Andrea Caruso (@AndreaNRuth) October 3, 2021