In the game of politics, if you are so great and wonderful, so sure of winning, and the richest guy in Congress, you never, never, ever, mention your opponents name. Why would you need to? Why belittle yourself if you are such a sure thing?
Well, I have never thought Issa was a sure thing, and he seems to be starting to wonder himself. He recently attacked his challenger, Doug Applegate, with a hit piece on a 20 year old divorce. Not only was it stooping low (“punching down”) it was also untrue.
Retired Marine Colonel Doug Applegate answered this false charges with grace. (Divorce is messy. It just is.) Doug Applegate's ex-wife has endorsed him for Congress and his children (some still living at home with him) are behind him as well.
In fact in this interview, the Colonel says his kids are one of the reasons he is running.
As a Marine Colonel serving around the world and a civilian trial attorney for nearly four decades, I have a proven record. After joining the Marines months before Saigon fell, I chose to first become an infantry officer and later a Judge Advocate. I grew up the son of a hardworking middle class, blue collar family, and was the first Applegate to ever graduate from college. My values come from my parents. My mom owned a neighborhood convenience store and later was an insurance agent. And my father, a World War II veteran twice wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, worked a bread route and was an union GM plant security officer.
My business career and military duties span advising Marine commanders, defending & prosecuting war crimes, complex civil & criminal trials and a combat tour in Ramadi, Baghdad & Fallujah, retiring after 32 years active and reserve in 2006. I have lived and worked in this District since stationed at Camp Pendleton in 1981, with my family raising our three children.
I chose to volunteer to serve my country, the greatest on earth. We need new, positive leadership committed to integrity, accountability and transparency in a Congress that is willing to take big-money’s influence out of our Government. I will fight to bring back American jobs that provide living wages & equal pay for equal work. I have the experience to ask the right questions to get us the Strongest National Defense, the best Veterans Administration, and to stop endless wars. I will demand comprehensive immigration reform that makes American employers part of the solution.
For me, true patriotism is not only about pledging allegiance. It is about serving our country however you can. Our duty is to keep America strong and working for all Americans. Too many people today know that simply playing by the rules and working hard is no longer enough to give the next generation the same chance to get ahead. I will fight to give all Americans who work hard an opportunity to succeed. With three children, one in college, I know our future depends on good-paying jobs, affordable college, and fighting for the middle class. By cutting through the politics and focusing on finding common sense solutions, I will connect with voters across party lines in a district that includes Camp Pendleton, and nearly 80,000 veteran households. I ask for and would be honored to have your vote. We need to make government work for all Americans.
Doug Applegate is a supporter of 90for90 as well.
Let’s Send in a Marine to Take Back the Hill!