Legislator goes to Afghanistan to fight and he's a Dem.

[beauregardez]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061604dntexnoriega.75a1.html

Rick Noriega met his cousin to say goodbye Tuesday before heading off to Afghanistan with the National Guard, leaving his job and family just as many other Americans have done.

These two did it differently, though, because Mr. Noriega is a state representative, his cousin Michael Solar is a powerful lawyer and legislators headed off to war have special needs. So, the goodbye was a fund-raising luncheon to operate Mr. Noriega's legislative office while he's gone.

The good wishes expressed by supporters were heartfelt, and the event was an essentially American one: Mr. Noriega, descendant of sharecroppers, Hispanic success story, reporting for military duty today. He's the first Texas legislator sent into Afghanistan or Iraq.

Mr. Noriega, 46, three-term Democrat from Houston's House District 145, clearly found all the attention a bit embarrassing.

"What I've tried to do is shine some light on what every soldier and their family have had to go through," Mr. Noriega told the gathering. "I just hope that when all of our soldiers come home, we can celebrate them equally."

[Democat]

1. Brave Democrat, unlike so many of the Republican chickenhawks

He should write a book about why he's a Democrat and put those right wing cowards in their place.