Fighting for America Again

By John Calhoun of Portland, Oregon. John is an active Democrat and the CFO of a biomedical company. Previously, he contributed "Gordon Smith: Making Oregon Less Competitive"

Since the end of the draft, and because most college grads had other things to do during the Vietnam War, our nation has fewer and fewer veterans in Congress and in the leadership of the national government. In the decision to go to war in Iraq, the only person involved in the upper reaches of the administration who had combat experience was Colin Powell and he was ignored. The voices of the few veterans in Congress like Congressman John Murtha are attacked by chicken hawks. As Marine Lt. General Greg Newbold recently said, the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions or bury the results.

Believing that there is a need for those with military experience to be more fully represented when the decision to go to war is being made, a newly formed political action committee made up of progressive Oregon veterans has been formed. Fighting for America Again is the slogan of the new group; Veterans in Action, online at VeteransInAction.org. VIA will support fellow veterans running for public office with both money and time. By supporting progressive veterans at lower levels in Oregon VIA hopes to build the bench for future congressional races. Even if they stay at the state or local level they will have a platform to help shape the public debate here in Oregon. VIA will also contribute funds to candidates running for congress like Tammy Duckworth who is running for the House in Illinois and James Webb who is trying to oust Republican Senator Allen in Virginia.

The new group will hold a Meet the Military Veteran Candidates night Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Photo Image Gallery, 79 SW Oak St., Portland. Military veteran candidates attending include Paul Evans (Senate race, District 10) and Lee Coleman (House race, District 26) and Jesse Cornett (Senate race, District 24). There is no entry fee, but attendees are encouraged to bring their checkbooks. And you don t have to be a vet to attend or contribute.