More vets seek to add their voices in Congress

[unhappycamper]

Marine Reserve Capt. Duncan D. Hunter poses next to a mural of Saddam Hussein in Fallujah in 2004. Hunter, a Republican candidate for Congress in California’s 52nd District, is one of 20 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for national office.


More vets seek to add their voices in Congress
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 3, 2008

WASHINGTON — Congressional candidate Duncan D. Hunter says if lawmakers are going to set policy for troops in Iraq, they ought to have more members who know what it’s like to fight there.

"I’ve served two combat tours over there. I’m friends with men and women over there; I talk to them," the Marine reservist said. "I know what those guys need, and I think it’s important for people making the decisions to know what we’re talking about."

Hunter, a Republican, is one of 20 veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan running for Congress this year. That’s up from the 12 Iraq and Afghanistan vets whose names appeared on the ballot in November 2006.

Pete Hegseth, chairman of the lobbying group Vets for Freedom, said he expects that number to continue to climb. His group is backing nine Republican candidates for office, including Hunter, on a platform of "supporting victory" in Iraq.

"I think what voters see with veterans is that they have an understanding beyond party politics," he said. "These guys have inherent leadership skills. And especially on issues like foreign policy, it helps to have a concept of decisions on the ground."

Still, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy transition to go from serving in Iraq to serving in Washington.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58579



uhc comment: Neither VoteVets nor VetVoice support Hunter. And he's Duncan 'Let them eat lemon chicken' Hunter's son. :rofl: