Iraq veterans become pro-war candidates

By JULIE CARR SMYTH, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 26, 5:05 PM ET
http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com/
http://electioncenter.military.com/vets_for_congress/
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/...162909,00.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Scott Radcliffe believes two tours of duty in Iraq gave him the stuff to serve in Congress. As a platoon commander, he helped spearhead economic development, built citizen coalitions and made many tough decisions, often amid enemy fire.

"I would be putting all I learned in that pressure-filled environment into practice. So it really cuts through metal," said Radcliffe, 28, who seeks to unseat a newly elected Republican in northwest Ohio.

He's among the dozen young Republicans from across the country helping each other campaign under the banner of Iraq Veterans for Congress, cross-promoting each other and directing donors to a shared Web site. It's a response to the anti-war veterans whose campaigns drew attention in 2006, when Patrick Murphy of Philadelphia was the only Iraq vet to win election while openly supporting the war.

The platform of Iraq Vets for Congress grew out of the attitudes of the previous election: They believe in victory in Iraq, staying on the offense in the war on terror and taking care of all veterans, said founder Kieran Lalor, who's running for a seat in New York.

Lalor's pro-war band of brothers includes California's Eric Egland, a military intelligence officer who gained national attention for his book "The Troops Need You, America" and a charity of the same name. Other members of the group hail from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana and Maine.

"Most people say we (Republicans) lost the Congress last time because of the war," said Lalor, 32, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. "I put my life on the line there, I lost friends there, and if I didn't believe American national security was at stake, I would be the first to say so.

"We as messengers are as important as the message."

The warrior returned from battle to serve in public life is as ancient as the Roman hero Cincinnatus and as familiar as five-star general-turned-President Dwight Eisenhower. Political scientist Costas Panagopoulos, director of Fordham University's graduate program in Elections and Campaign Management, said combat experience resonates with voters, especially during wartime.

"It doesn't surprise me that we're seeing this development in the current election cycle," Panagopoulos said. "We're a country facing major national security and international issues and ... that experience will grab attention on the campaign trail."

Both parties have recruited veterans in some of the nation's most competitive congressional districts. Democratic state Sen. John Boccieri, an Air Force reservist who's served in Iraq, is seeking the northeastern Ohio district being vacated by 18-term Republican Rep. Ralph Regula.

And in Maine's 1st District, where six-term Democratic Rep. Tom Allen is running for Senate, Republican Charlie Summers is seeking Allen's seat while serving in Iraq as a Navy reservist.

Despite the war's unpopularity, Americans still support their troops, and facing a veteran on the campaign trail can be difficult, said Michael Dejak, campaign manager for Summers' challenger in the Republican primary, Dean Scontras.

"It gives a candidate an unfair disadvantage because you're just kind of campaigning in a vacuum, but your opponent is draped in this ...," Dejak said, without finishing his sentence. "He's untouchable, almost."

Many veterans cite the military as essentially their only qualification for office.

"After you've been in combat and you survived it, you've got this real energized sense that, 'I can accomplish anything,' and you view your country differently," said Ohio Democrat Paul Hackett, among the notable anti-war candidates in 2006.

Hackett dropped out of a U.S. Senate race that year when Congressman Sherrod Brown, a star among Ohio Democrats, decided to run. But he gained attention a year earlier for nearly beating Cincinnati-area Congresswoman Jean Schmidt with an outspoken anti-war campaign in a heavily Republican district.

J. Ashwin Madia, a former Marine running in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District, is among anti-war veterans whom Hackett has endorsed this year. He's also part of VoteVets.org, a counterpart to Iraq Vets for Congress that has created Internet ads for anti-war veterans seeking office.

Madia, 29, who opposed the U.S. entry into Iraq and now favors orderly withdrawal, said the war remains a focus of his campaign.

"Certainly there are other issues weighing on people's minds — the economy, health care, education — but the war is central to the campaign because people realize it's all related," he said.

http://electioncenter.military.com/2...an-hunter.html


Duncan Hunter

Stats| About Duncan| Campaign news| On the issues

Stats
Name: Duncan Hunter
Party: Candidate for U.S. House, CA 52nd District (Republican)
Military Background: Marine Corps - Iraq War veteran
Residence: Rocklin, CA
Website: www.hunterforcongress.com
Address: PO Box 3917
La Mesa, CA 91944



About Duncan

"Marine Captain Duncan D. Hunter recently returned from serving his country in Afghanistan. This was his third tour of duty since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Captain Hunter was honorably discharged from active duty in December of 2007, and is now campaigning full time for the United States Congress.

Duncan D. Hunter was born in San Diego and grew up in the 52nd District of California. He graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, and earned a degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University. Duncan worked to pay for his college education by creating websites and programming databases and ecommerce systems for high tech companies. Upon graduation from college, Duncan went to work full time in San Diego as a Business Analyst.

Just a few months after being employed, our country was attacked by the terrorists on 9/11/01. The very next day, Duncan quit his job, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps' Officer Candidate School, and graduated as a Lieutenant in March of 2002. Duncan excelled in the area of field artillery, inspired by his grand-father, Robert O. Hunter, who was a Marine Corps artillery officer in the Pacific campaigns of WWII. Duncan went on to serve in the 1st Marine Division, Regimental Combat Team 1 in Iraq in 2003.

Lt. Hunter completed his second tour in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, serving in Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. In September of 2005, 1st Lieutenant Hunter was honorably discharged from active duty and began life as a civilian, while in the Marine Corps Reserves. Using his leadership skills developed in the military, he started a successful residential development company. While in the reserves, Duncan was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2006.

In the early part of 2007, Duncan decided that his leadership skills are best utilized in the continued service to his country on a great level. He made a decision to run for the United States Congress, to serve the American people and the people of the 52nd District, where he grew up. Shortly upon filing to run for Congress, Duncan was re-called to active duty in the Marine Corps for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He was able to campaign while on the front lines through his wife Margaret and his family, as they reached out to the voters on his behalf. Captain Hunter is now home and campaigning full time.

Duncan and his wife Margaret reside in Lakeside, California. The Hunters are proud parents of Duncan, Elizabeth and Sarah.

Duncan D. Hunter is a strong conservative and hopes to work in Congress for a strong national defense to protect America; increased border security to stop illegal immigration and fiscal responsibility to protect taxpayers."


Source: www.hunterforcongress.com

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