Posted on 08/03/2006 7:47:47 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
GEORGETOWN, Texas — Stung by criticism from Republicans that they are "cut and run" candidates on the war in Iraq, a group of Texas Democrats running for Congress who are also military veterans pushed back Thursday.
The "Texas Fighting Dems" staged a small rally at the Sun City retirement community to support fellow Democrat Mary Beth Harrell, the wife of an Army veteran and mother of a soldier in Iraq. She is running against incumbent Republican John Carter of Round Rock in the 31st Congressional District.
With a color guard, American flags and red-white-and-blue bunting on the podium in front of a crowd about 60, the Democrats lashed out at Carter, who sent a campaign fundraising letter to his supporters last month calling Harrell a "cut and run" liberal.
Although the group supports pulling out of Iraq, they bitterly resent any suggestion their position is cowardly and criticized Carter for not serving in the military.
"It's an insult," said Charlie Thompson, a retired Navy flight officer who is running for the 5th Congressional District in North Texas. "And it's despicable."
Joining the rally to support Harrell were candidates Dan Dodd, running in the 3rd District; Roger Waun in the 13th District; John Courage in the 21st District; Rick Bolanos in the 23rd District and Ted Ankrum, running in the 10th District as an independent. All are facing GOP incumbents.
"We are tired of hearing our patriotism questioned for our opposition to the occupation of Iraq, which is draining our national resources .... while placing our troops in the middle of a civil war between sectarian factions in Iraq," Waun said.
Carter's July 6 letter to supporters says Harrell has "joined with national liberals who call for a `cut and run' policy in the War on Terror."
Harrell has two sons in the Army: Joshua, 27, who is stationed in Arizona, and Robert, 30, who is in Iraq with the 4th Infantry from nearby Fort Hood. Carter met Robert on a visit to Iraq to posed for a photograph with him.
"I think it is an honor that Mrs. Harrell's son is serving his country in Iraq," said Carter's chief of staff, Richard Hudson, in a statement. He also criticized Harrell for supporting Pennsylvania Democratic John P. Murtha, one of the most outspoken critics of the war in Congress.
Carter believes immediate withdrawal from Iraq "sends the wrong message to our troops and the terrorists they are facing and he will continue to speak out against it. There is no substitute for victory in Iraq," Hudson said.
Harrell said she supports the troops but believes President Bush's policies in the war have failed.
Although she believes the United States will have a troop presence in Iraq for a long time, she would support a large United Nations peacekeeping force that would allow most American troops to leave.
"We have a failed policy in Iraq," she said. "The only way to change it is to change the leadership that supports it."
Harrell said she has discussed her opinion with her son in Iraq, who also served in Bosnia. She described him as a professional "who does not want to leave the job half done."
The group of Democrats also supports a "Contract With Soldiers." The contract pledges to improve health care and other benefits for troops and their families and veterans and adequately fund domestic military facilities drained by the cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We have to do better by our soldiers," Harrell said.
What can they do, other than lie about it??
"Oh, that is not our position!"
Hypocrisy reigns supreme on the left.
It matters little if they're veterans or have kids in the service.
They're Democrats. John Carter, of all congressmen, is safe.
Uh huh....right on, RATs
Where and when is the next "Support Our Troops Rally" that the RAT Party puts on?
I'll go....just provide a place, time and date.
LOL those wouldn't be the ones the fled to Arizona .. or was it Oklahoma? A vote is scheduled ... cut and run! cut and run!
Democrats in Texas. It's like on "Whose Line is it Anyway?"....the points don't matter.
The Dems don't matter! Ronnie Earle is a pesky gnat in the face of the "Hammer." The biggest supporter of the Tx Dems is Willie "bring your own toke" Nelson. Dems in Texas are actually a great source of amusement.
Yeah really. They can hang a million flags, but....
I won't insult chickens.....by comparison.
Actions actions actions, not BS BS BS
Projected order of finish in the Texas Gubernatorial race (per Rasmussen:
1. Rick Perry (R) 40%
2. Carole Keaton Rylander (Your Name Goes Here) Strayhorn (I) 21%
3. Kinky Friedman (I) 14%
4. Chris Bell (D) 12%
Actually, Bell is running 5th in this race -- behind Undecided (13%).
Give it up you slime ball dims! you have been painted with this label "an ya caint" wash it off,
It just happens that the enemies of America are not among that privileged number.
Gee, I dunno, after cut 'n running to Ardmore and then Albuquerque...
Ahhh, Yes....yet another, "We support the troops, but not the policy makers" liberal policy wonk....won't be long before she'll be "parroting" / "bleating" everything Sen. Shrillary "Rodam" Klintoon has to say.
I would believe them if one had the guts to have run against one of the lib Dems. Nope. Just more BS from the Dems.
LOL! hehehe...marvelous.
The base is trashing Lieberman because he thinks we have to win in Iraq. These people are lunatics.
2. Carole Keaton Rylander (Your Name Goes Here) Strayhorn (I) 21%
No I don't!
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