Progressive Democrat Issue 45: GIVING VOICE TO OUR VETS

I am repeating this because last week I didn’t have any info on the new PA-7 Iraq war candidate. So I am adding that race and repeating the others.

I want to highlight some of the upcoming 2006 races where Iraq War vets are running as Dems. First off, I want to emphasize that almost ALL Iraq war vets who are running for Congress are doing so as Democrats. The most famous so far was Paul Hackett who did wonders in the OH-2 special election, losing by 4% when no other Dem has pulled even 30% for 15 years. He made the Repubs spend a bunch of money that they hadn't planned to spend!

But there are more Dems who are running. I have to emphasize something, though. Some of these folks may face primary challenges. I am highlighting them BECAUSE THEY ARE IRAQ WAR VETS. I think they are worth looking at to consider supporting them. But if they have a Dem primary challenge, please consider ALL candidates running. Furthermore, if anyone KNOWS of such primary challengers and want to provide information to balance what I mention here, I promise to include it in a future newsletter.

Think of what it will look like if a whole slew of Iraq War Vets oust Republicans in 2006!

So, now on to the list of Iraq War candidates running as Dems:

1.The one I missed last week is Iraq War veteran Bryan Lentz will run against Curt Weldon (PA-7). Here is a Daily Kos diary on Bryan Lentz.

And here is Lentz’s website.

Here is how he introduces himself:

I'm running because I believe that we stand at a crossroads. The choices we make today will go a long way in determining what kind of country we live in tomorrow.

The American dream that I grew up with in southeastern Pennsylvania promised good jobs at good pay; quality, affordable healthcare; strong schools; a fair and equitable tax structure; a clean environment; and fundamental respect for the rights and liberties of all Americans.

Today, that dream is slipping away for too many of our friends and neighbors. The failed policies of the Bush administration and the Republican Congress have left us a weaker, more divided nation.

We can do better than that.

As a former prosecutor and veteran of the Iraq war, I'm prepared to work hard for you, as I have in the past, to make sure the American dream works for all of our citizens. But I can't do this alone. I need your help.

In the coming months I'll travel the district to meet with as many of my neighbors as possible. I'll also use this website to share my ideas with you. I hope you'll check in from time to time as the site grows, and that you'll send me your thoughts and comments along the way.

Together, we can put America back on the right track and allow all our citizens to enjoy the blessings of our democratic birthright.

So check out his site and help him out if you like what you see.


2. Then I want to highlight Tim Dunn, running for the NC-8 seat. Here is a dKos diary on his candidacy. His main plank in his platform is opposition to CAFTA. And here is his statement on announcing his candidacy:

A Note from Tim,

I wish to express to you my sincere appreciation for...your support of our campaign to return North Carolina values to the United States Congress.

While I am not the seasoned politician that my opponent is, I have served my country for 19 years as a United States Marine, and currently hold the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. I view this opportunity as a chance to serve my nation in a different capacity.

I care deeply about our nation and, like you, am deeply troubled by the direction that this Congress and this administration is leading us.

I believe that we need to give our men and women in the armed services the tools that they need to carry out their mission effectively, so that we can bring them home safely and soon. I believe that we need to stop playing Washington politics with people’s jobs and livelihoods and I believe that when a man gives his word it should be his bond.

I believe that we should value education and work over idle wealth and I believe that the promise of opportunity that we know as the American Dream should be available to all, not just the privileged few.

I hope you’ll join me in our effort to make America strong at home and abroad.

Our opponent has a proven ability to raise millions of dollars and is capable of spending significant personal funds in this campaign. We don’t have to outspend him, but we do need to be able to have the tools necessary to be competitive. Your contribution, no matter the amount, will go a long way to helping us put the North Carolina 8th back in the blue.

Thank you and best wishes,

Tim Dunn

Sounds like a good beginning to a campaign. If you like what you hear, consider giving him some support.


3. David Ashe is running for the VA-02 open seat. Endorsed by Max Cleland, former Senator from Georgia and disabled Vietnam Vet, Ashe’s name is synonymous with service. Excerpts from his website:

48 hours after the [9/11] attacks, David [Ashe] rented a car and made his way to Manhattan. He entered the perimeter with a group of police officers and spent several days at GroundZero searching for survivors with the rest of the "bucket brigades."

On abortion:

Abortion should be safe legal and rare. We must educate to prevent the situations where this choice must be made.

On the Hate Amendment:

David Ashe believes that marriage is sacred, just as the U.S. Constitution is sacred. David Ashe opposes a Constitutional amendment on marriage and believes the federal government should not intrude on religious matters.

Ashe strikes me as being more conservative than I prefer, but he also sounds reasonable, dedicated and appropriate for his community. He has my best wishes. Please visit David Ashe's website.

4. David Harris, a Bronze Star recipient, is running for the TX-06 seat. You can read a little about his views on the Iraq war in this article. Harris is opposing GOP incumbent Joe Barton in Texas' very red sixth district. So this in many ways is a close parallel to OH-2 where a long-shot Iraq war vet ran in a very red district. Barton is one of the 11 Republican Reps. who voted against giving aid to the victims of hurricane Katrina (the so-called Katrina 11). Maybe we can do even better in TX-6 than in OH-2. His website won't be up until October, I hear, so as far as I know we can't make direct donations to him. However, I believe this is part of Tarrant County (Fort Worth area) so I suggest a donation to the Tarrant County Democrats or the Tarrnat County Youg Democrats. This can set the county Dem party up for supporting whichever Dem candidate wins the primary in 2006. Or go to my Defeat the Katrina 11 website and donate to the general fund for the TX-6 race. I suspect that this race will be a sleeper for awhile, but will get hot in the last weeks of the campaign in 2006. That would parallel the OH-2 race. But this time we really have a chance to give this race some early attention. Please keep an eye on it and give when you can!

5. Patrick Murphy is running for the PA-08 seat. This may be the most likely pick up because Murphy is running against a vulnerable Repub in a moderate district. He is also a recipient of a Bronze star and served both in Bagdhad and in Bosnia. Here is a Daily Kos diary on him. His focus is on Working Families, Supporting Our Troops and Honoring Our Veterans, and Protecting Our Constitutional Rights. If you can only support one of these good vets, this might be the most practical race to focus on. Check out his website and help him out if you like what you see.