The War in Iraq has created a new generation of combat veterans, and possibly, a new breed of politician, the veteran running as a Democrat.
A recent count by the Associated Press put the number of Operation Enduring Freedom veterans campaigning as Democrats in 2006 at eight. The magazine Atlantic Monthly recently counted 14 new veterans running under that banner.
The most well-known is Army helicopter pilot Tammy Duckworth of Chicago, who lost both legs in Iraq, and is running for Congress in Illinois. But that trend also includes two newly minted veterans here in Minnesota, ex-Marine intelligence officer Andrew Borene of Edina and a retired National Guard sergeant major, Tim Walz of Mankato.
"I did not prepare my life around a run for Congress, but it has prepared me very well to do that," said Walz, "I'm speaking with the authenticity of been there, I'm speaking with the authenticity of understanding what those soldiers need."
----MORE----
No comments:
Post a Comment