Congress' Only Iraq War Vet Backs Obama

Ex-paratrooper's endorsement seen as blow to Clinton
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Aug 22, 2007 11:14 AM CDT
Congress' Only Iraq War Vet Backs Obama
Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa. greets commuters at a rail station in Cornwells Heights Pa., Monday, April 23, 2007. Nearly every Monday since taking office in January, the 33-year-old Iraq war veteran has headed out to suburban Philadelphia train stations at dawn to meet voters. After that, he gets in...   (Associated Press)

The only Iraq War combat vet in Congress endorsed Barack Obama yesterday, saying, "I'm inspired by his call to action to change how business is done in Washington." Pennsylvania's Patrick Murphy, who served as a paratrooper in Baghdad in 2003 and 2004, has worked with Hillary Clinton on legislation; the move is seen as a snub, the Daily News reports.

Clinton mentioned Murphy in a speech as recently as Monday, but she also voted to authorize military action in Iraq, a policy Obama has consistently opposed. "I believe Sen. Obama believes, as I do, that we need to fight a smarter, tougher war on terror," said Murphy. A Clinton spokesman declined to comment. (More Patrick Murphy stories.)

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