Reply #13: Meet Tammy. . . [View All]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet181.html

Wounded veteran: War 'a mistake'

December 17, 2005

BY LYNN SWEET SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Wounded Iraq war vet L. Tammy Duckworth, who launches her Democratic campaign for Congress today, said she would have not voted to authorize the war that cost her both of her legs and mangled her arm.

Though President Bush's decision was a "bad one," the Army helicopter pilot said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times she was "proud to serve."

Duckworth, 37, a political rookie, faces a three-way March Democratic primary battle for the 6th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.). Her main rival is Christine Cegelis, who won the Democratic nomination in 2004 and campaigned against Hyde with grass-roots support built on her opposition to the Iraq war. Wheaton College teacher Lindy Scott is also running.

National TV interview

The Duckworth campaign, orchestrated by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chief of the House Democratic political operation -- who nationally has been recruiting Iraq vets for House races -- will be boosted by Illinois Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama.

"I'm just solidly in Tammy Duckworth's corner," Durbin said Friday as Obama, standing at his side, nodded in agreement.

Emanuel, Durbin and Obama are national Democratic Party leaders who are expected to use their considerable fund-raising ability to assist Duckworth.

Duckworth decided to do an interview today on national television -- ABC's "This Week" -- to jump-start fund-raising for her empty campaign war chest.
-snip-