Wading back into the sewer of GD-P. How about this guy for VP?

[cali]

(I'm so not interested in the slamming of Bernie or Hillary at this point. I want Bernie to concede and endorse and campaign for Hillary. And that's all I have left to say about that).

But I've just been reading about Seth Moulton and I know he's a long shot for VP, but I think he'd be a very interesting choice. Yes, He's a first term Congressman, but the guy did four tours of Iraq. He's got guts. He speaks well. He's young- 38. He's not a lawyer but has a double masters from Harvard in public administration and business. He's attacked Trump effectively. He's strongly pro-LGBT, and pro-Syrian refugees being admitted to the country.


Seth Wilbur Moulton was born on October 24, 1978, in Salem, Massachusetts, the son of Lynn Alice (née Meader) and Wilbur Thomas Moulton, Jr.,[2][3] and grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, as the oldest of three siblings.[4] He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1997[5] and attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in physics in 2001. He gave the Undergraduate English Oration at his commencement address, focusing on the importance of service.[6]

Moulton joined the Marine Corps after graduation, a few months before the September 11 attacks,[7] and attended the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. After graduating in 2002 with the rank of second lieutenant, Moulton was among the first service members to enter Baghdad at the beginning of the Iraq War.[4][6]

Military career[edit]

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Moulton led of one of the first infantry platoons to enter Baghdad. He served a total of four tours of duty in Iraq from 2003 to 2008.[4] Moulton took part in the 2003 Battle of Nasiriyah, leading a platoon that cleared a hostile stronghold. In that action, he went to the aid of a Marine wounded by friendly fire, and for his actions he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor.[8] Moulton was active in combat against insurgent forces in Iraq, including the 2004 Battle of Najaf against the militia of Muqtada al-Sadr.[9] Over two days, he "fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire" as his platoon was pinned down under heavy fire and then directed the supporting fire that repelled the attack. He received the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in this battle.[8] He told only his campaign manager, a former Marine, about these awards, keeping them secret even from his parents. When Boston Globe reporter Walter V. Robinson disclosed in October 2014 that Moulton had earned the Bronze Star and the Navy Commendation Medal, Moulton said that "There is a healthy disrespect among veterans who served on the front lines for people who walk around telling war stories". He said he was uncomfortable calling attention to his own awards out of respect to "many others who did heroic things and received no awards at all." He asked Robinson not to refer to him as a hero: "Look, we served our country, and we served the guys next to us. And it's not something to brag about." The Globe reported that "his voice choked with emotion" as he added: "The greatest honor of my life was to lead these men in my platoon, even though it was a war that I and they disagreed with."[8]

In 2008, General David Petraeus requested Moulton's assignment to work as a special liaison with tribal leaders in Southern Iraq during his fourth tour of duty in Iraq. Following that tour, Moulton left the Marine Corps with the rank of captain.[4][10][11]

Media contributions[edit]

In 2003, Moulton co-hosted a television program with his Iraqi interpreter, Mohammed Harba, called "Moulton and Mohammed," during which they discussed regional conditions in the period following the U.S. invasion before an audience of U.S. servicemen and Iraqi citizens.[12] The show ended after three months when Moulton's unit left the area.[4]

Between 2003 and 2008, Moulton was frequently interviewed about his experiences as an officer in Iraq by U.S. national media, including CNN, MSNBC, and NPR programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered.[4][13]


Moulton was also prominently featured in the Academy Award-nominated 2007 documentary No End in Sight. In the film, Moulton criticized the U.S. government's handling of the occupation of Iraq. UCLA anthropology professor Sherry Ortner wrote that Moulton's comments "sum[med] up the emotional tone of the film."[14]

<snip>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Moulton

GQ interview with Moulton
By Jason Zengerle

GQ | June 16, 2016, 3:34 pm ET


Seth Moulton, Democrat from Massachusetts, is suddenly a big deal after he walked out of a congressional moment of silence for victims of the Orlando shooting as a protest against the lack of gun reform. Here he talks about prepping his soldiers for the brutality of war, whether genuine gun reform might actually succeed, and if he’s really in the running to be Hillary’s veep.

Seth Moulton is a 38-year-old freshman Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, but his youth and lack of seniority haven't prevented him from cutting a large profile on Capitol Hill. A Harvard grad who joined the Marines and served four tours in Iraq—and who refreshingly (and shockingly) has underplayed his military service, including the fact that he won a Bronze Star—Moulton has already become one of his party's top foreign policy thinkers. This week, after the attack in Orlando, he waded—plunged, really—into the gun-control debate, appearing on the front page of New York's Daily News with an op-ed calling for an assault-weapons ban. I recently spoke to Moulton about Orlando, ISIS, Trump, and whether he wants to be Hillary Clinton's running mate.

On Sunday, after the attack in Orlando, you posted a tweet offering your "thoughts and prayers," and then on Monday you walked off the House floor during the moment of silence for the victims of the shooting, later explaining that you won't attend another one ever again. What changed between that original tweet and your walking off the floor?

<snip>

http://www.gq.com/story/seth-moulton-republicans-scared-of-nra


More info:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/06/06/twitter-and-beyond-freshman-lawmaker-seth-moulton-draws-attention/qs7e55Npm4K2bjQYRP3VWN/story.html

http://swampscott.wickedlocal.com/news/20160609/moulton-blasts-trump-on-vets-issues

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Thank you for the contribution and good will.

[cali]

4. What do you think about this guy as a possible VP choice?

I know you want Warren, but I think that's just not going to happen for any number of reasons. Same goes for Brown. Yesterday, there was this interesting article about potential vp choices for HRC. Moulton wasn't mentioned but I think the analysis was interesting.

http://www.vox.com/2016/6/16/11954878/hillary-clinton-vice-president-veepstakes

[Fumesucker]

2. I'd be interested in his opinion regarding the wisdom of invading Iraq in the first place

[Tarc]

3. Has a great resume there, but I think being so young will hold him back.

He's barely...3 years...even eligible for the presidency. I'd love to see him in a few election cycles with some seasoning, then he'd be a great contender.

If she picks Warren, I wonder if the Mass Congress can finagle the rules again and get a special election up right away, get him into the Senate.

[cali]

6. I'm one who doesn't think Warren will be HRC's choice

And yes, he's young, but he's only a couple of years younger than Castro who is frequently mentioned as a possible vp choice.

[geek tragedy]

5. probably not this election cycle but definitely someone to keep an eye on. nt

[Demsrule86]

7. He sounds great.

But would a first-term Congressman be able to assume the presidency if the unthinkable happened? Would he be considered qualified?

[cali]

9. Would Castro, someone who is frequently mentioned as a vp possibility?

And yes, from what I've read, I think he could assume the Presidency if he was put in that position. But it's very unlikely that he would be.

[BootinUp]

12. According to Hillary its her main criteria. Being able to step in. Qualified etc. nt

[emulatorloo]

14. I also think Castro is too green for the job

And I don't think he will be chosen for that reason.

Seth Moulton sounds really really great. Thanks for telling DU about him.


I am another one rooting for Warren. I think she will be a very active and dynamic Vp.

[Blaukraut]

8. Maybe in 8 years. I'd like to keep my congressman a little while longer :) n/t

[Vattel]

10. Sounds like an interesting choice. If it turns out to be Castro or Booker, I will puke.

[LonePirate]

11. He's certainly a very interesting choice. He'd be a slam dunk choice if he were from NC or OH.

Last edited Fri Jun 17, 2016, 11:49 AM - Edit history (1)

I simply have no idea what specifically Hillary wants in her VP. For the longest time I thought she would select a Latino/Latina as her running mate; but I don't think she is worried about that voting bloc flipping to Trump. As such, I think she will select a VP to shore up her support with the far left members of the party or she will select one who will help her in swing states. I don't know if Moulton is that person but I suppose he could be.

[JonLeibowitz]

13. Hi cali, thanks for the thread. I actually met Seth Moulton in person in a small group meeting. So..

We had a bit of a Q&A with other young tech students at my school.

I asked him where he stood on the PLCAA (this was before it was politicized) and he said he had never heard of it. I explained a bit of what it was about, and his only response was "well I don't know the specifics of the law but I know that if the NRA supports it then I am 100% opposed to it". I don't think politicians who respond to issues with gut reaction based on association is a good thing.

I'm not trying to make this an argument about the merits of the PLCAA (though I disagree with him on that, but I'm used to disagreeing with politicians), but I was very concerned that members of congress would make declarations of support for legislation without any real careful analysis.

It just doesn't seem like what I am looking for in a leader.

By the way, I heard he won his primary by simply arguing that he is a fresher face for the same policies of his opponent. That was not endearing to me, even though I know nothing about who he replaced. Oh, and he's a proud New Dem as he told us.

So put me down for a "no"