Democrats turn to vets to run in 2014

[xchrom]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/2014-elections-democrats-96962.html?hp=l1

Democrats need to win in conservative parts of the country next year to capture the House and keep the Senate — and they’re turning to a few good men (and women) to help.

The party has mounted a concerted push to recruit military veterans to run in next year’s midterm, figuring it’s a lot harder for Republicans to caricature people who’ve donned their country’s uniform as Obama-loving liberals.

House Democrats, who need to net a daunting 17 seats to win the House, have so far recruited a half-dozen veterans to run in red-tinged districts. Among them: Jerry Cannon, a 65-year-old retired Army major general from upstate Michigan, and Kevin Strouse, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who’s seeking a seat in the Philadelphia suburbs. In Iowa, where Democrats are trying to knock off bomb-throwing GOP Rep. Steve King, the party is fielding Iraq War veteran Jim Mowrer.

In the opposite chamber, Senate Democrats, who are trying to defend a six-seat majority, are waging an uphill battle to protect a conservative Montana seat. The party is wooing the state’s lieutenant governor, John Walsh, a retired Army brigadier general. Democrats are also trying to protect a Michigan Senate seat, where Rep. Gary Peters, a former lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve, has launched a campaign.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/2014-elections-democrats-96962.html#ixzz2fF4mBljo
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/2014-elections-democrats-96962.html#ixzz2fF4SGhlL

[Aristus]

1. Running vets won't necessarily win us more seats.

The repukes have a way of disrespecting any vet who doesn't sport an -R- after his or her name.

I crewed a tank in the Gulf in 1991. I served in the US Army from 1986 to 1993; four years active and three reserve. My patriotic credentials are pretty solid. Yet, if I decided to run for office as the liberal Democrat that I am, as sure as the sun rises in the East, some dumbfuck billionaire with more dollars than sense will hire a bunch of losers to form, I don't know, 'Abrams Tankers For Truth' or some shit.

They'd go on all the morning shows and spew crap like: "Well, I din't see him over thar, s'that means he din't serve! He ain't no patriot! I'm a patriot! Nope, I wudden't in no mil'tary; I had other priorities. But this fellers HATES Amurica 'cause he's a lib'ral!"

Sound familiar?

Liberal veterans are going to get skewered by the right. Not in spite of their service, but because of it.

[busterbrown]

2. “Now let me see if my food stamps came"

[Aristus]

3. Huh?

[busterbrown]

4. I dunno, Trying to pile on..

many of them type people get some some sort of govt. assistance..
My clever hat isn’t working this a.m.

[bigdarryl]

5. Stop being so damn negative at least there trying

To win the House back instead of giving up like some progressives are by saying the house is jerrymandered and we can't win.That kind of thinking will never get democrats out to vote in a midterm election

[Liberal Veteran]

6. Good. We need more animal lovers in congress. -nt