Before the Congressional vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq, the question was raised about how members of Congress would vote if their children had to go and fight and risk their lives. Michael Moore even went around and tried to get members of Congress to encourage their kids to enlist. Congressmembers who have sons that served in Iraq are Sen. Tim Johnson(D-SD), Rep. Joe Wilson(R-SC), Sen. Kit Bond(R-MO), Rep. Tom Akin(R-MO), Rep. Duncan Hunter(R-CA). More Below.
I don't doubt that these members are greatly influenced by the experiences of their children in Iraq. Part of the strategy of the Fighting Dems is the idea that those who served whether in Iraq or during peacetime or during other conflicts have a unique perspective on the current conflict. Yet, there are other Democratic challengers who have children(or grandchildren) who are either currently in the military, or have served in Iraq, or have the potential to soon serve. Below is a list of those Democrats, it is probably not a complete list since I only looked at those candidates who have websites listed on the
Barry Welsh fifty state strategy page. Some candidates may not have included the information in their biographies. Many candidates don't have websites. Feel free to mention those candidates you know about who are not included.
AZ-08 Jeff Latas - son in Army Reserves & served in Iraq
CA-02 Bill Falzett - son in Army & served in Iraq
CA-04 Charlie Brown - son in Air Force & served in Iraq
CA-11 Jerry McNerney - son in Air Force
CA-26 Russ Warner - son served in Iraq
IA-02 Dave Loebsack - stepson in Marines served in Iraq
- daughter-in-law in Marines likely to serve in Iraq
IA-05 Joyce Shulte - son in Air Force
MD-03 Oz Bengur - son in Marines served in Iraq
MI-11 Tony Trupiano - son in Naval Reserves
MN-02 Coleen Rowley - daughter in Navy-ROTC
OH-18 Jennifer Stewart - daughter in Army served in Iraq
TX-08 James Wright - 2 grandsons serving in Iraq
TX-31 Mary Beth Harrell - 2 sons on active duty
I did not include people like FL-04 Bob Harms - son was in Marines-just missed Persian Gulf War-discharged in 1996, or IN-05 Katherine Carr and WI-08 Nancy Nusbaum - husbands Vietnam veterans, or MN-02 Sharon Marko - husband was in National Guard for 27 years.