Marine dad, Iraq vet to vie for House seat

[unhappycamper]

Marine dad, Iraq vet to vie for House seat
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 18:39:11 EST

WASHINGTON — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq announced Tuesday he is running for the Pennsylvania House seat held by the only Iraq war veteran in Congress.

Thomas Manion, a Republican who recently retired as a colonel in the Marine Reserve, is unhappy with positions Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., has taken against the war.

Manion’s son, 1st Lt. Travis L. Manion, 26, of Doylestown, Pa., died April 29 during his second Iraq tour while living with an Iraqi unit he was leading and training. He said his son’s death was a wake-up call to step forward and serve.

“I’ve learned that if you want to make something happen, you’ve got to get out on the playing field,” Manion, 53, said in a phone interview.

Murphy, 34, served as a military lawyer in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Seizing on voters’ discontent with the Iraq war, Murphy in 2006 beat then-Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick with less than 51 percent of the vote. The competitive district includes a part of Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_marinefather_080114/

[tsuki]

1. Guess it is time to send some love to Patrick Murphy. I have

been impressed with him this past year. I feel sorry for Manion, but no more war mongers in congress.