Max Yashirin
Encyclopedia
Max Yashirin is an Iraq War Veteran who ran for U.S. Congress in Nebraska's 1st congressional district
. He was one of two Iraq War Veterans running for office in Nebraska
in 2008, and ran unopposed in the primaries. Yashirin was defeated in the general election by Republican incumbent Jeff Fortenberry
.
n émigré, Yashirin came to the United States
when he was 8 years old. After graduating from Lincoln Northeast High School
he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After completing training
, Yashirin enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in international business
with minors in Russian
and economics
. In the years after enrolling in college Yashirin was found guilty of driving with a suspended driver's license
and for driving under the influence
of alcohol.
While he was a student at UNL in 2004 his unit was activated and he was sent to Iraq
. Yashirin earned the rank of sergeant and served a seven-month tour of duty at Al Asad Airbase, the largest U.S. military airbase in the largely Sunni western Iraq Province of Al Anbar Province. He was a heavy equipment mechanic.
After serving one year Yashirin returned to Nebraska and to the university, where he plans to finish his degree in international business
in spring 2008.
As of fall 2008 Max’s brother Nick was deployed in Iraq.
, reducing the national debt, focusing on economic growth, providing health care
for children, developing a healthy and well-educated work force, and investing in the future.
In February 2008, early in Yashirin's campaign, it was revealed that the Nebraska Republican Party
had snapped up the www.maxyashirin.com domain name
and posted pictures of him drinking and smoking taken from the social networking website Facebook
. "We’re using it to highlight the differences between our two-term congressman and a 25-year-old who hasn’t finished college. Our goal is not to be malicious or mean," said Matt Miltenberger, executive director of the state Republican Party. Yashirin responded, "I can’t believe that they would stoop that low. Obviously, they must be taking me seriously. This is what people do when they really feel threatened."
After Yashirin revealed he had raised about $4,100 for his campaign, former U.S. Senator/Medal of Honor
recipient Bob Kerrey
announced he would serve as chairman for Yashirin's campaign finance committee.
Yashirin was one of two Democratic
anti-Iraq War Veteran candidates running for Congress in Nebraska in 2008, the other being Richard Carter, who is also running against a Republican incumbent who supports the Iraq War. Yashirin was defeated in the general election by Jeff Fortenberry, who won more than twice the number of votes as Yashirin statewide.
Nebraska's 1st congressional district
Nebraska's 1st congressional district seat encompasses most of the eastern quarter of the state. It includes the state capital, Lincoln, Fremont, Norfolk, Beatrice and South Sioux City. It is currently held by Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican. George W. Bush received 63% of the vote in this district...
. He was one of two Iraq War Veterans running for office in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
in 2008, and ran unopposed in the primaries. Yashirin was defeated in the general election by Republican incumbent Jeff Fortenberry
Jeff Fortenberry
Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and...
.
Biography
A RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n émigré, Yashirin came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was 8 years old. After graduating from Lincoln Northeast High School
Lincoln Northeast High School
Lincoln Northeast High School is a public secondary school located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. It is part of the Lincoln Public Schools school district. Lincoln Northeast was founded on September 9, 1941 when three rival schools were combined into one...
he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After completing training
United States Marine Corps Boot Camp
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training, commonly known as "boot camp", is a program of initial training that each recruit must successfully complete in order to join the United States Marine Corps...
, Yashirin enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in international business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
with minors in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. In the years after enrolling in college Yashirin was found guilty of driving with a suspended driver's license
Driver's license in the United States
In the United States, nearly all driver's licenses are issued by individual states , rather than the federal government. Drivers are normally required to obtain a license from their state of residence, and all states recognize each other's licenses for temporary visitors subject to normal age...
and for driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
of alcohol.
While he was a student at UNL in 2004 his unit was activated and he was sent to Iraq
Iraq
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....
. Yashirin earned the rank of sergeant and served a seven-month tour of duty at Al Asad Airbase, the largest U.S. military airbase in the largely Sunni western Iraq Province of Al Anbar Province. He was a heavy equipment mechanic.
After serving one year Yashirin returned to Nebraska and to the university, where he plans to finish his degree in international business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
in spring 2008.
As of fall 2008 Max’s brother Nick was deployed in Iraq.
Campaign
This is Max Yashirin's first campaign for public office. Regarding his positions Yashirin has stated, "I am an ardent fiscal conservative." He has said his political priorities include balancing the federal budgetBalanced budget
A balanced budget is when there is neither a budget deficit or a budget surplus – when revenues equal expenditure – particularly by a government. More generally, it refers to when there is no deficit, but possibly a surplus...
, reducing the national debt, focusing on economic growth, providing health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
for children, developing a healthy and well-educated work force, and investing in the future.
In February 2008, early in Yashirin's campaign, it was revealed that the Nebraska Republican Party
Nebraska Republican Party
The Nebraska Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Nebraska. The party is headed by Chairman Mark Fahleson. Its headquarters are in Lincoln.- Political plans :...
had snapped up the www.maxyashirin.com domain name
Domain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
and posted pictures of him drinking and smoking taken from the social networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. "We’re using it to highlight the differences between our two-term congressman and a 25-year-old who hasn’t finished college. Our goal is not to be malicious or mean," said Matt Miltenberger, executive director of the state Republican Party. Yashirin responded, "I can’t believe that they would stoop that low. Obviously, they must be taking me seriously. This is what people do when they really feel threatened."
After Yashirin revealed he had raised about $4,100 for his campaign, former U.S. Senator/Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient Bob Kerrey
Bob Kerrey
Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey was the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska . Having served in the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions, he moved into politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992...
announced he would serve as chairman for Yashirin's campaign finance committee.
Yashirin was one of two Democratic
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...
anti-Iraq War Veteran candidates running for Congress in Nebraska in 2008, the other being Richard Carter, who is also running against a Republican incumbent who supports the Iraq War. Yashirin was defeated in the general election by Jeff Fortenberry, who won more than twice the number of votes as Yashirin statewide.
External links
- Max Yashirin for Congress, official campaign site
- "Iraq veteran sets sights on Congress", Daily NebraskanDaily NebraskanThe Daily Nebraskan, established in 1871 as the Monthly Hesperian Student, is the student newspaper of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Although many journalism students work there, the Daily Nebraskan is independent of the University's College of Journalism and Mass Communications. The...
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln student newspaper.