Joe Walsh The Rock Legend Endorses Congressman Joe Walsh's Opponent
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (CBS) -- Eagles guitarist and rock legend Joe Walsh is taking sides in the Illinois 8th Congressional District race – and he's not throwing his support to the Congressman who shares his name.
Walsh is endorsing Democrat Tammy Duckworth over Tea Party favorite U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.)
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"I'm the real Joe Walsh and I'm proud to back a real American success story — Tammy Duckworth," the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said in a statement endorsing Duckworth.
"Tammy's story, her service to our nation and her continued commitment to working families (like the one I come from) have convinced me that she's the right choice for Congress," Walsh continued.
Of course, this is not the first time a famous pop musician and an elected official from Illinois have shared a name. But while singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) appeared side-by-side on "Saturday Night Live," the two Joe Walshes have a history of acrimony.
The Eagles' Walsh sued the then-Congressional candidate in 2010, alleging that politician Walsh took guitarist Walsh's 1970 hit with the James Gang "Walk Away" and changed the lyrics to turn it into a campaign song called "Lead the Way."
Since being elected to office, Rep. Joe Walsh has drawn both praise and controversy for his straight-talk approach, biting rhetoric, and frequent propensity for raising his voice. He has also found himself embroiled in a scandal, as his ex-wife, Laura Walsh, accuses him of failing to pay more than $117,000 in child support funds.
Musician Walsh, a six-time Grammy award winner, grew up in Evanston and will perform a special concert in support of Duckworth on July 1 at John Barleycorn in Schaumburg.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
