Iraq war veterans fight for US Congress seats

[cal04]

Iraqwar veterans are set to make their mark on the campaign for US congressional elections this year that could see
President George W. Bush's Republican Party lose control. About a dozen candidates who have fought in Iraq are running in the November midterm election, including Asian-American helicopter pilot Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth, who lost both legs when she was shot down in 2004.

Nearly all of those who have been in Iraq are political neophytes. And despite a US military that has a pronounced Republican leaning, most of the contenders are Democrats. The "Band of Brothers" group, which assists Democratic veterans running for elective office, said there were 56 veterans of all conflicts running for a seat in the US legislature.

"All over America, veterans are running for Congress as Democrats," the group boasted on its website. "They've been there, they know the story, and it's time to let them speak." The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has identified 39 candidates with military experience. Democrats hope they can regain control of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the election because of public anger over Iraq and scandals that have hit the Republican Party. Some observers see the entry of Democratic veterans into the campaign as a rebuke to the Bush admininstration's handling of the war, and an open challenge on security matters traditionally seen as an area of Republican dominance.

"The grassroots movement by veterans across the country who have decided to run for Congress as Democrats further highlights the dissatisfaction of the American public with the handling of the war in Iraq," said Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "These men and women are running because President Bushand Republicans in Congress have simultaneously mishandled the war in Iraq while launching a misguided assault on veterans benefits," she told AFP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060217/wl_afp/usiraqvotemilitary

[Kerrytravelers]

1. What is the Band of Brothers website?

[Bucky]

2. I just read Tammy Duckworth's bio. DAMN!

This is one tough chick! We could do with a real fighting Democrat like her in office. Until, of course, the Republicans try and link her to Osama bin Laden.