Do Democrats hate the military? No, they are the military. (IAVA PAC)

These are veterans from the current war who are running for congress as Democrats. I believe there are nine others. There is only one veteran running as a Republican. I'm not saying that Democrats are the only party of veterans, I'm saying that to even suggest that Democrats, in general, have disdain for American soldiers is incredibly stupid.



http://www.iavapac.org/index2.html




Andrew Duck (Maryland-6)
www.duckforcongress.com
Andrew Duck served as a Military Intelligence Officer with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Iraq and served in Bosnia prior to that. With his extensive military service and early start, he represents the most viable opposition the Republican incumbent has faced from the Democrats since he won the seat in 1992 from a conservative Democratic incumbent.



Tammy Duckworth (Ilinois-6)
www.duckworthforcongress.com
Before Duckworth’s service in Iraq as a Blackhawk pilot (where she lost and arm and both of her legs), she studied International Relations and worked for Rotary International. She was pursuing a PhD in Political Science before her deployment to Iraq. She is charismatic and has the policy credibility to match her service record and make her a truly viable candidate in a race that Stuart Rothenberg named as one of his “Dangerous Dozen” Open House Seats. Rep. Henry Hyde, who is retiring, won just 56% of the vote in 2004 but had to outspend his opponent 3-to-1. In the 2004 Presidential, President Bush held the district with only 53% of the vote.




David Harris (Texas-6)
www.followmetodc.com
David Harris is currently a professor of Military Science at UT-Arlington and served in Iraq for 14 month as a logistics officer. Harris has the potential to capitalize on current criticism of the administration and speak with credibility on defense issues and the Iraq War. His capability as a messenger will help his campaign deliver the first serious challenge to the incumbent in over two decades. The incumbent has not faced a serious challenge from Democrats in the district since 1986. The Democratic opponent in 2004 spent $100k to the incumbent's $1.8 Million. Delivering funds and resources to Harris will make this a district to watch in 2006.



Patrick Murphy (Pennsylvania-8)
www.murphy06.com
Patrick Murphy is one of the most exciting veterans running in this cycle. He is a former West Point professor, and served in the Iraq War as a JAG with the 82nd Airborne Division. He was also deployed to Bosnia in 2002. The 8th District of Pennsylvania has been trending Democratic in statewide and national contests since 1992. The district went for Democratic Governor Ed Rendell in 2002 and gave Senator John Kerry and Vice President Gore 51% of the vote in 2000 and 2004.



Joe Sestak (Pennsylvania-7)
www.sestakforcongress.com
Joe Sestak has a resume that offers the perfect challenge to the incumbent. Sestak graduated from the US Naval Academy and holds a PhD in Political Economy from Harvard and rose to the grade of Vice Admiral and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs (N6/N7) and represented the Navy to the White House, Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also served as Battle Group Commander for a fleet of 30 allied ships and 15,000 troops engaged in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council at the White House during President Clinton's Administration The 7th District went for Senator John Kerry by 53% in 2004 and for Vice President Gore with 51% in 2000. The incumbent has seen his percentage slip from 66% in 2002 to 59% in 2004. In 2004 he outspent his opponent $678k to $23k. the incumbent is weak on fundraising, having only $266k on hand, the least of any incumbent IAVA PAC’s endorsed candidates are facing.



Other Democrats who are Veterans :

Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) - distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990. (1)
Representative Richard Gephardt, former House Minority Leader - Missouri Air National Guard, 1965-71. (1, 2)
Representative David Bonior - Staff Sgt., United States Air Force 1968-72 (1, 2)
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle - 1st Lt., U.S. Air Force SAC 1969-72 (1, 2)
Former Vice President Al Gore - enlisted August 1969; sent to Vietnam January 1971 as an army journalist, assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Bien Hoa, an airbase twenty miles northeast of Saigon. More facts about Gore's Service
Former Senator Bob Kerrey... Democrat... Lt. j.g., U.S. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam (1, 2)
Senator Daniel Inouye, US Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, World War Two (1, 2)
Senator John Kerry, Lt., U.S. Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat (1)
Representative Charles Rangel, Staff Sgt., U.S. Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea (1, 2)
Former Senator Max Cleland, Captain, U.S. Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam (1, 2)
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - U.S. Army, 1951-1953. (1)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) - Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. (1, 2)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - U.S. Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91 (1)
Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II, receiving the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. (1)


Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Lt. Col., U.S. Army 1956-76; two tours in Vietnam, two Distinguished Flying Crosses as a helicopter pilot, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier's Medal. (1, 2)
Former Representative "Pete" Peterson, Air Force Captain, POW, Ambassador to Viet Nam, and recipient of the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. (1, 2)
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA: Staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army; was wounded and received a Purple Heart. (1, 2)
Bill McBride, Democratic Candidate for Florida Governor - volunteered and served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam; awarded Bronze Star with a combat "V." (1)
Gray Davis, former California Governor, Army Captain in Vietnam; received Bronze Star. (1)
Pete Stark, D-CA, served in the Air Force 1955-57
Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate - lengthy military career

http://www.awolbush.com/whoserved.html