I've followed the discussion of late about the 30 veterans running for Congress in the 2006 election, that have banded together as the "Fighting Dems" (all credit to Air America for that name). I thought I'd tell you why I joined. I'm a Democrat running in the Texas 10th Congressional District, running from Houston to Austin, against freshman Republican Mike McCaul.
Ted Ankrum CONTRIBUTE
First a commercial. Filing in Texas closes today. I am pleased to report that I filed last Friday by Petition in lieu of Filing Fee. I submitted more than 700 signatures, of which some 600 were from voters in TX 10. It was important to me to file by petition because it indicated that I enjoy grass roots support, and the support of many of the Democratic Party activists in the District who worked to gather those signatures. My thanks to them. It also saved an important sum of money.
The really big news is that there are at least three candidates that have filed, and the possibility of a fourth before filing closes at 6 pm, today. All of the others are filing by fee. This is a race in which you couldn't give away the Democratic nomination at filing time in 2004 (Lorenzo Sadun later filed as an Independent when he learned that no one had filed-more credit to him). This is a race that I was told was hopeless, when I first entered it last May. Now, in the last month, we have gotten three, and possibly a fourth candidate! This can only mean that it's not so hopeless anymore, and we have the President, Tom Delay, and the Republican Congressional Leadership to thank for that!
Now, back to the subject. When I have spoken to groups over the past months about the foolishness of this Iraq war from my perspective as a wounded and decorated veteran of four tours in Vietnam, I have always received a positive response. But in the last month, I have also been able to tell people that there are some 30 veterans that have chosen to run, many for the first time, as Democrats and in opposition to the path down which the Republican Leadership has taken our country. I tell them that "the President can stand up in front of all the service members he can order up, but those of us who can choose, are choosing to run as Democrats." This gets a huge positive response, as does the news that we are networking in support of each other. We are going to take care of each other, just as we did in combat.
But there's an even more important reason to develop a bond: If I manage to get elected, it will mean that there has been a Nationwide movement against the failed policies of the Republicans; and many of our "Band of Brothers" will also have been elected. If half of us make it, our votes in caucus will give the Democrats control of the House. That will be the most important vote we will ever make, as Freshmen. If we stick together, that vote can force the Democratic Party Leadership in the House to take a stand on the things that are important to us. There are all sorts of caucuses in the House. I think ours will be one of Members that are more interested in getting things done, than getting ahead; and so if we stick together, we will make a difference all out of proportion to our numbers and seniority.