One Of Our Own Is Going to Take Down McConnell

As an Iraq war veteran, today is pretty exciting for me and all the other vets I talk with. Today, one of our own took the first step towards knocking off Senator Mitch McConnell in 2008. Iraq War Veteran Andrew Horne jumped into the race.

Andrew Horne, who had to step down as a Senior Advisor to VoteVets.org to run this race, not only has a good shot to beat McConnell, he has a tremendous shot. That's got us Iraq veterans pumped because not only will we have a voice in the Senate that comes from our own ranks, but we're also going to take down the guy who is the single most responsible person in Congress for the war in Iraq, as well as the defeat of pro-troop, pro-veteran legislation.

Let's take just a small walk through the record of Mitch McConnell (Warning: Hold your nose):

• He led the filibuster of the Webb-Hagel "Dwell Time" amendment that would have given our exhausted troops as much time at home as in the field.

• He led the all-night filibuster of legislation that would have set us on a real change of course in Iraq, that would have allowed us to give Iraqis more responsibility, while freeing U.S. forces to take on the real threat to America -- al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• He consistently worked his side of the aisle against the same veterans he's been fighting tooth and nail to keep in Iraq, beating back amendments to ensure a funding stream for veterans' health care, increase Veterans' medical services by closing corporate tax loopholes, and guarantee full-funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• And, most recently, he callously quipped that we ought not feel too bad about those who died in Iraq, because, afterall, "remember, these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."

Andrew Horne is going to serve Kentucky well. I've known Andrew for a couple of years now, and he's one of the brightest, toughest guys I've ever encountered. But, more importantly, he's fiercely loyal. At any point over the last couple of years, he could have broken away from the veterans movement and tried to make a name for himself. But, he didn't. He felt a profound sense of responsibility to those he was fighting alongside, something that we all feel in the military. Kentucky can trust that he's never going to abandon them and "go Washington" like Mitch McConnell.

But, more importantly for the readers on here, Andrew's candidacy represents the best shot beat the largest obstruction to veterans care and responsible use of the military that Congress has ever seen.

For all McConnell has done to hurt troops and veterans, how sweetly ironic it is that it's going to be an Iraq War Marine that sends him packing.

That's why, today, I'm truly, truly excited.

Read more about Andrew and consider making at donation at www.AndrewHorne.org

Follow Jon Soltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonsoltz

Comments

[Talcott]

Go Andrew!

[DustyT]

Jon - thank you for the blog. I wish Andrew Horne luck with his campaign and plan to find out more about him. I agree that we must switch from mitch. I'd like to see more veterans, who understand war, in our congress.

[nellie]

Great post. Getting this information out is the best thing you can do for Andrew Horne -- and the country.

[Beckyjo]

Oh, Happy Day!!! It is wonderful to read that at last Sen. McConnell will have a serious candidate running against him. He was actually in our county when he made the horrendous remark about the soldiers who have died or been wounded being professional soldiers. Is he crazy? Is he calling these young National Guardsmen professinals? This will be a surprise to their families.

Sen. McConnell has close friends in this county...which is a Republican county anyway, and there are some of us who know just exactly how close to him some of these people are!

[Oldtimer]

I certainly pray that you are right about Mr. Horne's chance but Mitch McConnel has been
Kentucky's boy for a long long time. It's
true he is a chickenhawk so expect that his
campaign will bring back the swiftboat
fascist propaganda.

[wisechild]

Thanks Jon, I'm glad this is a good day and good news considering all that Iraq Vets have to cope with these days.

I hope to see as many Vets, on both sides of the aisle, run in '08. If it raises consciousness and boots out the chicken hawks it will be a great day, year, term!

I'd almost move to KY to vote for Horne but I think a contribution will suffice.

As for McConnell, what a wretched excuse for a public servant is he. He will ultimately get what he's earned but in the meantime I love the sound of 'Ditch Mitch in'08' and look to a trend of good men and women coming into politics and changing it, us, our country for the better.

[ConcernAmerican]

Hey Jon, TY. I hope Andrew win in Kentucky. I was disgusted by the statement of McConnell about our troops.

[provgrays]

All the best to the new candidate. McConnell is an ultra right wing obstuctionist zealot who doesn't brush his teeth without approval from King George.

[dnegri]

Good luck, Jon and Andrew. I'll be giving him some monetary support. But, this is Kentucky, so he'll need more than money and a great campaign: he'll need some strong infusions of sanity among the electorate.

[ljsfolly]

I totally support Votevets and I think it's a wonderful idea to get a vet of the middle east wars to represent and bring a stop to all of the blockades to treating the vets with the respect and medical they need. It might not help with the rest of the republican crowd who might still block and the dems who act as if republican blood is in their veins but it is a begining.

[CeeCee]

I'm with you, Jon.
I hope Andrew Horne wins.
It won't be soon enough.

[antiparanoid]

Mitch McConnell hasn't got the sense to be embarrassed that he's Mitch McConnell.

[desmirl]

Jon,

Keep telling it like it is in your blog and on television. Mitch McConnell is a SUNSHINE PATRIOT, a man who talks a good fight but runs for cover from any real threat of violence or danger. McConnell is a Chickenhawk coward and replacing him with a REAL PATRIOT might actually start a trend....

[mommadona]

WONDERFUL news!

The sooner chickenhawks are replaced by people who REALLY understand that "fog of war", the better.

It was a BIG mistake made right after the Korean and Viet Nam war - not having true warriors return to peaceful careers in politics so that there would be NO NEED for war.

ONWARD!

[jqcitizen]

I'm not a resident of Ky. so maybe I'm out of line here. However, Mitch McConnell is a US Senator and there only 100 of them. At least one in my home state has serious flaws too.
McConnell, however just happens to be married to Elaine Chao, Sectretary of Labor. Part of her job is to oversee job safety.
Also, just happens that Bob Murray, owner of the Crandell Mine in Utah, and Mitch are old pals.

Does anyone think that the 'Powerfull' Sen. Oren Hatch, (R) Utah will say one word to Mitch or Elaine about coal miner safety?

As for GI's, and I was one, do not depend on these people to stick up for you. The have interests way beyond our paygrade.

I will support you however.