- The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Freshman Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has the distinction of being the first female combat veteran in Senate to give a GOP rebuttal to the president’s State of the Union speech. She’s also the first to do so in camouflage heels.

The Republican senator, who continues to serve as a Lt. Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after more than 20 years in service, delighted conservatives with her pro-military foot gear.

“Joni Ernst has more U.S.A. in her camo pumps than O has in his entire being,” Capt. E Schamberger said on Twitter Wednesday night.

“Loving Joni Ernst’s camo pumps,” Kimberly Pinter added, Western Journalism reported.

The freshman senator’s speech implored President Obama to work with Republicans on a number of key issues, including the simplification of the tax code and relaxing trade barriers with Asia and Europe.

Sen. Ernst noted, however, that the Republican Party would not shy away from taking on the president with its new House and Senate majorities, if necessary.

“We heard the message you sent in November — loud and clear. And now we’re getting to work to change the direction Washington has been taking our country,” Sen. Ernst said.

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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