.Iraq Vets Band Together For House Bids
A group of Iraq War vets turned House candidates are banding together in '10 for what they hope will be a "surge" on Capitol Hill, and the candidates are unhappy with how both parties have handled national security issues.
"I want Congress to stop being disingenuous about (the Iraq War) and just put it out there," Army vet/SC-01 candidate Katherine Jenerette (R) said in an interview at CPAC today. "We need to be honest with the American people about why we are where we are and that we're going to be there indefinitely, or at least we're going to have a footprint there indefinitely."
Jenerette said she was "not happy" with the Bush admin.'s approach to national security issues. "Any soldier knows we didn't go to Iraq for democracy," she said.
But that doesn't mean these vets are pleased with the Obama admin. Army vet/VA-08 candidate Patrick Murray (R) said in an interview at CPAC today that he supported Pres. Obama's decision to send additional troops to Iraq, but he called Obama's troop pull-out plan a "signal of weakness."
Murray is also concerned about how the Obama admin. is dealing with captured alleged terrorists, specifically alleged Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab -- a campaign trail message GOPers have latched on to in recent weeks. "We didn't even both to ask this guy about what else is in the pipeline," Murray said. "That is unconscionable."
The candidates said voters have been receptive to their backgrounds in the military. "We're starting to see the American people look for individuals who have put their lives on the line," Army vet/FL-22 candidate Allen West (R) said. "We're going to bring back that sense of commitment to the American people."
"People know I'm a strong leader, and that's something they look in for in political leadership just like they look for in their military leadership," Murray said.
Jenerette, Murray and West are supported by Iraq Veterans for Congress, a PAC that is supporting about 25 conservative GOP veterans running for Congress in '10. Not surprisingly, the group is touting the victory of Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), a National Guard member, in explaining why conservative Iraq War vets will be successful this year.
Of the candidates the group backs, many are not considered front-runners in their GOP primaries, much less favorites to beat Dems. But some, like West, ex-US Atty/AR-01 candidate Tim Griffin (R), ex-state Sen./NV-02 candidate Joe Heck (R), IL-11 nominee Adam Kinzinger (R), construction exec./AZ-08 candidate Jesse Kelly (R), state Sen./OH-15 candidate Steve Stivers (R) and GOP activist/ID-01 contender Vaughn Ward (R) are all members of the NRCC's "Young Guns" program.
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"I want Congress to stop being disingenuous about (the Iraq War) and just put it out there," Army vet/SC-01 candidate Katherine Jenerette (R) said in an interview at CPAC today. "We need to be honest with the American people about why we are where we are and that we're going to be there indefinitely, or at least we're going to have a footprint there indefinitely."
Jenerette said she was "not happy" with the Bush admin.'s approach to national security issues. "Any soldier knows we didn't go to Iraq for democracy," she said.
But that doesn't mean these vets are pleased with the Obama admin. Army vet/VA-08 candidate Patrick Murray (R) said in an interview at CPAC today that he supported Pres. Obama's decision to send additional troops to Iraq, but he called Obama's troop pull-out plan a "signal of weakness."
Murray is also concerned about how the Obama admin. is dealing with captured alleged terrorists, specifically alleged Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab -- a campaign trail message GOPers have latched on to in recent weeks. "We didn't even both to ask this guy about what else is in the pipeline," Murray said. "That is unconscionable."
The candidates said voters have been receptive to their backgrounds in the military. "We're starting to see the American people look for individuals who have put their lives on the line," Army vet/FL-22 candidate Allen West (R) said. "We're going to bring back that sense of commitment to the American people."
"People know I'm a strong leader, and that's something they look in for in political leadership just like they look for in their military leadership," Murray said.
Jenerette, Murray and West are supported by Iraq Veterans for Congress, a PAC that is supporting about 25 conservative GOP veterans running for Congress in '10. Not surprisingly, the group is touting the victory of Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), a National Guard member, in explaining why conservative Iraq War vets will be successful this year.
Of the candidates the group backs, many are not considered front-runners in their GOP primaries, much less favorites to beat Dems. But some, like West, ex-US Atty/AR-01 candidate Tim Griffin (R), ex-state Sen./NV-02 candidate Joe Heck (R), IL-11 nominee Adam Kinzinger (R), construction exec./AZ-08 candidate Jesse Kelly (R), state Sen./OH-15 candidate Steve Stivers (R) and GOP activist/ID-01 contender Vaughn Ward (R) are all members of the NRCC's "Young Guns" program.
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posted by madtom at 11:18 PM
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