Fighting Dems Victories
There are a special group of Democrats who first sign up to serve their country, often in wars half way around the world, and then return home and continue to fight for the values they hold dear in the Democratic Party.
Of this special group, some became new members in 110th Congress. Here are some of their stories.
IL-17: Phil Hare
Phil Hare joined the United States Army Reserve where he served his country for six years. Simultaneously, he went to work at a clothing factory, where Hare served as President of his union. Hare became Congressman Evans' District Director when Evans was elected, serving in the position for 24 years. After Evans retired, Hare decided to run for Evans' seat when he announced he was retiring.
MN-1: Tim Walz
At the age of seventeen, Tim enlisted in the Army National Guard retiring in 2005 after twenty-four years of service that included overseas duty with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition to military service, Tim taught overseas in China for Harvard University and developed a program of cooperation between American and Chinese students through a scholarship funding American students to travel and study in China – a program that continues to this day. Walz also established a small business called Educational Travel Adventures, Inc.
PA-7: Joe Sestak
In January, Navy Vice Admiral Joe Sestak retired after 31 years of service to run for Congress in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District against Republican incumbent Curt Weldon. Sestak's impressive resume includes service as the Director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review, Director of Defense Policy on the National Security Council staff at the Whie House, and has a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard. Sestak's campaign for Congress burst on to the national scene on successive days in early April. First Sestak announced that his campaign had raised an impressive $420,000 in the first sixty days after kicking off the effort. The next day, his opponent Curt Weldon "tried to score political points on a residency issue" suggesting "to a Washington newspaper that Sestak should have sent his daughter [being treated for a malignant brain tumor] to a hospital in Pennsylvania or Delaware." [Philadelphia Daily News - 4/6/05]
PA-8: Patrick Murphy
Patrick Murphy is a leader of character. He is an Iraq War veteran, former West Point professor, criminal prosecutor, and most importantly, a good family man. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia – the youngest of three to a Philadelphia police officer and career legal secretary – he learned at an early age that hard work, sacrifice, and focus will lead you to achieve your dreams.
PA-10: Chris Carney
A Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, Chris Carney served multiple tours overseas and was activated for Pperation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Southern Watch. After 9/11, Chris served at the Pentagon as an intelligence analyst and senior advisor on intelligence and counterterrorism issues. Chris coordinated counterterrorism activities in the Middle East and later worked on the integration of national-level intelligence products in the effort to destroy international terrorist networks. Chris is currently an Associate Professor at Penn State teaching courses in U.S. Foreign Policy, American Government, and U.S. Security Policy.
VA-Senate: Jim Webb
Jim Webb's illustrious military career began as a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy. Out of the 841 cadets in Jim's graduating class, only he and seventeen other people chose a commission in the United states Marine Corps. After a tour of duty in Vietnam and serving on the immediate staff of the Secretary of the Navy, Webb moved on to his next achievement, a law degree from Georgetown University. Still dedicated to his life of service, Webb did six years of pro bono work for Marine convicted of a war crime in Vietnam until the conviction was overturned. Ready to face his next challenge, Webb wants to represent the people of Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
