Democratic Candidate had to stop bid for Congress - called up to Iraq

[tandot]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040720/ap_on_el_ho/candidate_deployment

Reservist Called Up, Ends Congress Run

PHILADELPHIA - Congressional candidate Greg Philips will get a chance to serve his country, but it won't be in Washington. The suburban Philadelphia Democrat ended his long-shot bid to unseat Republican Rep. Curt Weldon on Tuesday after his Naval Reserve unit was called up for duty in Kuwait.

A lieutenant in the Navy's Civil Engineers Corps, Philips is scheduled to report for duty on July 26, then spend at least a year in the Iraq (news - web sites) theater working with a logistics battalion that specializes in unloading military cargo ships.

<snip>

On the campaign trail, Philips had been sharply critical of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. His Web site deplored "the continued loss of American lives in Iraq while the President's friends make large profits." He also charged that the armed forces are underpaid, overstretched and often poorly equipped.


On Tuesday, Philips said he was no longer at liberty to criticize the government or his commander in chief.

<snip>

How many Republicans running for Congress/Senate have been forced to stop their bid and go to Iraq? Oh wait...totally forgot: Most Republicans probably never joined the Military in the first place. They were too busy getting rich.

[MadAsHell]

1. One of the repubs running against Sen. Feingold ....

is floating balloons about how he might get called up. He is basically running on his military service, so it seems a little contrived and forced.

[Massacure]

2. Can the army call up someone who is serving congress?

Like for instance had he won, could he have been called up next spring?

[HootieMcBoob]

3. He doesn't have to go because he's working on a congressional campaign

The precedent was set when Bush left the Texas ANG to work on a campaign during war time. He wasn't even the candidate, just an employee of the candidate! So, it seems to me that if we follow the example set by our commander in chief he should just sort of not show up.