Iraq Veterans for Congress
Encyclopedia
Iraq Veterans for Congress is a grass-roots political organization consisting of military veteran
s who are Republican
candidates for the United States House of Representatives
.
.
A prominent member of the organization is Duncan Duane Hunter
, the son of Congressman and former presidential candidate
Duncan Hunter
of California. Roughly a quarter of the 110th United States Congress
has military service on its resume, down from nearly 50 percent in 1991. According to a recent study by Duke University
, veterans are under-represented in Congress compared to the population as a whole for the first time in U.S. history. The organization is closely allied to the Veterans for Freedom organization, which was founded by one of its members.
corporal Kieran Lalor
. The organizations pledges to restore "leadership and honor" in Washington, D.C.
, and perceives itself as a counterweight to "the alliance of the Democratic leadership with the antiwar Left, abetted by a compliant news media." The organization has positioned itself in stark contrast to anti-war veterans groups such as Veterans for a Secure America, and The Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy. The organization's platform includes victory in Iraq, staying on the offensive in the war on terror
, and taking care of all veterans.
The organization also supports the claims of President
George W. Bush
that the administration's goal in the invasion
was to bring democracy to countries in the Middle East and to oppose "islamofascism
". While the organization typically avoids discussing the justifications
leading up to the war, it points to American successes in Iraq, including establishing democracy
and the countless successful reconstruction operations from Civil Affairs
units, which are not well-covered by major media outlets. Candidates strongly favor the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
, and disparage opponents as defeatists who are inexperienced or unrealistic. They insist that by fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq, the United States is made more secure. Also, they believe that having American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan
offers strategic advantages in a potential conflict with Iran
. Massachusetts
candidate Nathan Bech
served in both wars.
and major metropolitan papers, and members were invited to the National Republican Campaign Committees annual Washington, D.C. dinner in March 2008. The organization endorsed veteran John McCain
for President of the United States
, and urged Republicans to unite behind him as nominee. They hoped his presidential bid can help candidates for Congress achieve victory on his coattails.
The organization has also drawn attention to the attacks by MoveOn.org on Gen.
David Petraeus
, calling the group devoted to "defeat in Iraq" after MoveOn ran an ad full of factual inaccuracies in The New York Times referring to him as "General Betray Us", which was widely criticized by the media and both Republicans and Democrats
.
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s who are Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidates for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Overview
The candidates have all served during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which they state forged them leaders who are "fearless, tested and ready to lead." A main objective of the organization is to counter what they feel is the "often misleading and biased reporting" on IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
A prominent member of the organization is Duncan Duane Hunter
Duncan D. Hunter
Duncan Duane Hunter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter...
, the son of Congressman and former presidential candidate
Duncan Hunter presidential campaign, 2008
Fourteen-term Congressman and Vietnam War veteran Duncan Hunter of California announced his intentions to run for the 2008 Republican nomination for President of the United States in January 2007. He focused his campaign on the issues of border security, trade, and the war on terrorism...
Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter
Duncan Lee Hunter is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the House of Representatives from California's 52nd, 45th and 42nd districts from 1981 to 2009....
of California. Roughly a quarter of the 110th United States Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
has military service on its resume, down from nearly 50 percent in 1991. According to a recent study by Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, veterans are under-represented in Congress compared to the population as a whole for the first time in U.S. history. The organization is closely allied to the Veterans for Freedom organization, which was founded by one of its members.
Philosophy
Iraq Veterans for Congress was founded by MarineUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
corporal Kieran Lalor
Kieran Lalor
Kieran Michael Lalor is an American politician, entrepreneur and author who founded Iraq Vets for Congress . He works in the defense industry, and is a former social studies teacher, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.Lalor was the Republican candidate in New York's 19th congressional...
. The organizations pledges to restore "leadership and honor" in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and perceives itself as a counterweight to "the alliance of the Democratic leadership with the antiwar Left, abetted by a compliant news media." The organization has positioned itself in stark contrast to anti-war veterans groups such as Veterans for a Secure America, and The Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy. The organization's platform includes victory in Iraq, staying on the offensive in the war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, and taking care of all veterans.
The organization also supports the claims of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
that the administration's goal in the invasion
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
was to bring democracy to countries in the Middle East and to oppose "islamofascism
Islamofascism
The term Islamofascism is a neologism which draws an analogy between the ideological characteristics of specific Islamist movements from the turn of the 21st century on, and a broad range of European fascist movements of the early 20th century, neofascist movements, or totalitarianism.-Origins of...
". While the organization typically avoids discussing the justifications
Rationale for the Iraq War
The rationale for the Iraq War has been a contentious issue since the Bush administration began actively pressing for military intervention in Iraq in late 2001. The primary rationalization for the Iraq War was articulated by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress known as the Iraq Resolution.The...
leading up to the war, it points to American successes in Iraq, including establishing democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and the countless successful reconstruction operations from Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs is a term used by both the United Nations and by military institutions , but for different purposes in each case.-United Nations Civil Affairs:...
units, which are not well-covered by major media outlets. Candidates strongly favor the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
, and disparage opponents as defeatists who are inexperienced or unrealistic. They insist that by fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq, the United States is made more secure. Also, they believe that having American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
offers strategic advantages in a potential conflict with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
candidate Nathan Bech
Nathan Bech
Nathan Bech was the 2008 Republican Party candidate for U.S. Congress from Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. The seat is currently held by Rep. John W. Olver, an Amherst Democrat...
served in both wars.
Activities
The organization has had spots on Fox News, NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
and major metropolitan papers, and members were invited to the National Republican Campaign Committees annual Washington, D.C. dinner in March 2008. The organization endorsed veteran John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, and urged Republicans to unite behind him as nominee. They hoped his presidential bid can help candidates for Congress achieve victory on his coattails.
The organization has also drawn attention to the attacks by MoveOn.org on Gen.
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
, calling the group devoted to "defeat in Iraq" after MoveOn ran an ad full of factual inaccuracies in The New York Times referring to him as "General Betray Us", which was widely criticized by the media and both Republicans and Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
List of candidates
The array of candidates put forward by the group includes soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marine officers and enlisted personnel who served in the war in Iraq. While most are running against incumbent Democrats or running in a primary for an open seat, a few are running against Republican incumbents in primaries. All of the candidates have pledged to run as a "united front" in support of each other, and the group will provide fund raising and volunteers to its candidates.- Brian J. Rooney, Michigan's 7th congressional districtMichigan's 7th congressional districtMichigan's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan. It consists of all of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Lenawee counties, and includes most of Calhoun and a large portion of western and northern Washtenaw counties.In the November 2, 2010...
- Nathan BechNathan BechNathan Bech was the 2008 Republican Party candidate for U.S. Congress from Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. The seat is currently held by Rep. John W. Olver, an Amherst Democrat...
, Massachusetts's 1st congressional districtMassachusetts's 1st congressional districtMassachusetts's 1st congressional district is in western and central Massachusetts. The largest Massachusetts district in area, it covers about one-third of the state and is more rural than the rest. It has the state's highest point, Mount Greylock... - David BellaviaDavid BellaviaDavid Bellavia is an American Iraq War veteran who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Bellavia has also received the Bronze Star, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross...
, New York's 26th congressional districtNew York's 26th congressional districtThe 26th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Western New York. It includes all of Genesee, Livingston, and Wyoming counties, and parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans counties... - Will Breazeale, North Carolina's 7th congressional districtNorth Carolina's 7th congressional districtNorth Carolina's 7th congressional district is located in the southeastern corner of North Carolina. It covers Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, and Sampson counties....
- Mike CoffmanMike CoffmanMichael "Mike" Coffman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009, and a former Secretary of State of Colorado. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and business career:...
, Colorado's 6th congressional districtColorado's 6th congressional districtColorado's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in central Colorado, the district encompasses much of the southern part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area, including the suburbs of Littleton, Centennial and portions of Aurora.The district... - Wayne E. Harmon, Indiana's 7th congressional districtIndiana's 7th congressional districtIndiana's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in the heart of the state, the district encompasses most of Marion County and Indianapolis....
- Duncan D. HunterDuncan D. HunterDuncan Duane Hunter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the son of his predecessor Duncan Hunter...
, California's 52nd congressional districtCalifornia's 52nd congressional districtCalifornia's 52nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Diego County. The district consists of many of San Diego's suburbs, including Lakeside, Poway, Ramona, La Mesa, and Spring Valley.... - Kieran LalorKieran LalorKieran Michael Lalor is an American politician, entrepreneur and author who founded Iraq Vets for Congress . He works in the defense industry, and is a former social studies teacher, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.Lalor was the Republican candidate in New York's 19th congressional...
, New York's 19th congressional districtNew York's 19th congressional districtUnited States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19... - Tom Manion, Pennsylvania's 8th congressional districtPennsylvania's 8th congressional districtThe 8th Pennsylvania Congressional District serves Bucks County, along with a small portion of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania...
- Vince Micco, New Jersey's 9th congressional districtNew Jersey's 9th congressional districtNew Jersey's Ninth Congressional District is currently represented by Democrat Steve Rothman.-Counties and municipalities in the district:For the 108th and successive Congresses , the district contains all or portions of three counties and 37 municipalities:Bergen County:Hudson CountyPassaic...
- Bentley Rayburn, Colorado's 5th congressional districtColorado's 5th congressional districtColorado's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. The district lies in the center of the state and mostly comprises Colorado Springs and its suburbs including Cimarron Hills and Fort Carson....
- Tom Roughneen, New Jersey's 7th congressional districtNew Jersey's 7th congressional districtNew Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Leonard Lance.In the 2008 election, Mike Ferguson did not seek another term. Linda Stender won the Democratic nomination unopposed, while Republican primary voters chose State Senator Leonard Lance in a field of...
- William Russell, Pennsylvania's 12th congressional districtPennsylvania's 12th congressional districtPennsylvania's 12th congressional district is represented by Congressman Mark Critz after a special election was held on May 18, 2010 following the death of Democrat John Murtha. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1...
- Matt Salisbury, Idaho's 1st congressional districtIdaho's 1st congressional districtIdaho's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Idaho. The district encompasses the western and northern parts of the state and includes the western third of the state capital, Boise, and most of its suburbs, including Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian...
- Duane SandDuane SandDuane Sand is a North Dakota politician, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and a U.S. Navy officer during the Iraq War. Sand ran for the United States Senate in North Dakota on the Republican ticket in 2000 against incumbent Kent Conrad of the Democratic-Nonpartisan League, and was...
, North Dakota's At-large congressional districtNorth Dakota's At-large congressional districtNorth Dakota's At-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of North Dakota. All of North Dakota is contained within one at large Congressional District making it the eighth largest district in the nation.- History:... - Steve StiversSteve StiversSteve Stivers is the U.S. Representative for He is a member of the Republican Party. Stivers previously served in the Ohio Senate, representing the 16th district...
, Ohio's 15th congressional districtOhio's 15th congressional districtThe 15th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Republican Steve Stivers.Union County and Madison County are entirely within the district's boundaries as is approximately half of Franklin County... - Charlie Summers, Maine's 1st congressional districtMaine's 1st congressional districtMaine's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. The geographically smaller of the two congressional districts in the state, the district covers the southern coastal area of the state. The district consists of all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc,...
- Allen WestAllen West (former U.S. military officer)Allen Bernard West is a Republican U.S. Representative who represents , serving since January 2011. He is the first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction.West served in the United States Army in Iraq and was a...
, Florida's 22nd congressional districtFlorida's 22nd congressional districtFlorida's 22nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district encompasses the coastline from northern... - Lee ZeldinLee ZeldinLee M. Zeldin is a Republican member of the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd district.Zeldin was raised in Shirley, New York, and graduated from William Floyd High School in 1998. He received a B.A...
, New York's 1st congressional districtNew York's 1st congressional districtThe 1st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern Long Island. It includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold,...