RUTHFULLY YOURS

LT. COL. ALLEN WEST IS RUNNING IN FLORDA’S DISTRICT 22…MORE ON HIM IN ANOTHER POST…

HERE IS A LIST OF OTHER VETS RUNNING….STAY TUNED

• Brian Rooney, a Marine who served in Iraq and a grandson of the founder of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, is running for Michigan’s 7th District seat, held by freshman Rep. Mark Schauer, a Democrat from Battle Creek.

 Navy vet Mark Steven Kirk could end up with President Obama’s old job, senator from Illinois. The five-term congressman, who has twice deployed to Afghanistan since 2008 as a reservist, leads Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in the polls and in the money chase.

• Active Marine Corps reservist Vaughn Ward has drawn a lot of attention in his bid for the 1st Congressional District in Idaho, especially after he won the backing recently of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Mr. Palin also endorsed two other veterans, Adam Kinzinger in the 11th Congressional District race in Illinois and Allen West in the 22nd in Florida.

• In Arkansas, Tim Griffin, a veteran and a former U.S. attorney, is battling Scott Wallace for the GOP nomination in the 2nd District.

• Steve Stivers, a Bronze Star medal winner for his service in Iraq, is a rising GOP star in Ohio making a bid to unseat Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy in the state’s 15th District.

George Washington, a soldier’s soldier – a leader with impeccable and unquestionable loyalty to the United States and its citizens – once said that “few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” That sums up the problem with many of our so-called leaders, from inside the Beltway to the smallest towns of California. They can be bought, swayed and led by the highest bidder or the special interest with the deepest pockets.

The American soldier has protected all of the God-given gifts the United States enjoys: freedom, safety and hope. American troops have fought in mud, dirt and sand and through the blood of their brothers on the battlefield to first create our Union, then preserve it and, finally, to guard against its enemies, foreign and domestic, who aim to crush it.

That the men and women in uniform have selflessly sacrificed for America is no secret. But what intrigues those who revere the troops are the lengths to which they reach beyond the battlefield to serve humanity. A growing number of veterans are stepping up for their country once again, this time as members of the most despised category of human beings: the politician.

Consider Chuck DeVore, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army retired Reserve. He aims to unseat liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, who carries water for the tone-deaf Obama administration. Mrs. Boxer, who has shown disdain for the military, once insisted that a decorated military leader call her “Senator” instead of “ma’am.”

Jesse Kelly led a squad of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines into battle during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now he seeks to represent the people of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

Nick “Gunny Pop” Popaditch is a Marine whose unit tore down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Previously, he fought in the Gulf War. While serving in the Iraq war, he earned the Silver Star for actions in combat during the First Battle for Fallujah. A rocket-propelled grenade hit Mr. Popaditch in the head, and he was blinded. Surgeons restored part of his sight.

Now Mr. Popaditch wants to continue protecting the Constitution by serving in Congress for California’s 51st District.

“My freedom was bought and paid for by our Founding Fathers and again by my father’s generation,” Mr. Popaditch states on his website. “The chain of custody has been handed down to me and my generation to secure our liberties for our children and for theirs.”

These are just a few of the warriors who offer themselves to further service of America. They are the inspiration for WarriorsforCongress.com, a political action committee that supports veterans who want to continue their service to our country in Congress.

What would drive a hero to subject himself to the lonely pit of politics? The short answer: They have seen the enemy, put their lives on the line for their homeland. A natural leadership resides in their souls, and they are battle-tested like no civilian. Yet they bring to the debate their determination as both soldiers and citizen leaders.

“When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen,” George Washington said.

Veterans possess a depth in their constitution that America needs now as she faces historical debt in both finances and veneration. Dedication, honesty, self-sacrifice and unmatched vigilance are the marks of those who served with honor in the U.S. armed forces. Compare that to the scandal-ridden Congress that ignores the will of the people who have given them the honor to represent us.

WarriorsforCongress.com will continue the fight to restore dignity to the Senate and House. We have stood for our troops while politicians and misguided groups attacked our military for doing its job in the war on terror.

Now we are dedicated to helping our veterans take the next step in building a stronger government that, above all, protects our Constitution. It is time to bring back the competence of George Washington’s leadership, which arose from pain and dedication as a military general that our veterans recognize and emulate.

Melanie Morgan and Catherine Moy are co-founders of WarriorsforCongress.com.