Congressman Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) is no stranger to incendiary remarks and name-calling: but usually, they originate with him.
Walsh was previously thrown into the national spotlight over comments decrying "radical Islam" and its presence in Illinois, scolding fellow Republicans over their reaction to Rep. Todd Aikin's (R-Mo.) controversial statements about rape and accusing his Democratic challenger, veteran and double amputee Tammy Duckworth, of not being a "true hero."
At the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Tuesday, Walsh's fellow Illinoisan, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) had a few choice words for the outspoken politician, whom she referred to indirectly as Duckworth's opponent.
"[Walsh], I believe, is an embarrassment to the United States Congress and to the Republican party," Schakowsky said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "We can win this race. Joe Walsh is really an accidental member of the house of Representatives, winning by only 200 votes."
Referring to recent redistricting of Walsh's 8th District, she later said "we have a better district now," according to the newspaper.
Schakowsky's remarks follow earlier statements from Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who called Walsh “the worst congressman in America" at the Illinois State Fair last month, according to NBC Chicago, after Walsh's comments about Islam were closely followed by attacks on area mosques and religious centers.
Walsh's camp dismissed Quinn's remarks, telling Chicagoist the Congressman shared Quinn's intolerance for religious discrimination. His reaction to Schakowsky, released in a prepared statement, was more pointed.
“It is sad that first Gov. Quinn and now Schakowsky are acting like children with their name calling, while this state falls of a fiscal cliff,” Walsh said in a statement, according to the Daily Herald. “I would encourage Jan to join me in fixing the fiscal problems of Illinois and this country instead of spending all of her time on political name calling.”