A congressman from Massachusetts spent part of this weekend campaigning for a would-be congressman from Northeast Ohio. The link is that they鈥檙e both Democrats, both Ivy League grads and both vets of America鈥檚 most-recent wars. We talked with the two about the increasingly visible role of veterans in this year鈥檚 elections.
served four tours in Iraq where he earned a Bronze Star before running for Congress with the endorsement of people like . His bio 鈥� which also includes three degrees from 鈥� is part of why his name comes up when talk turns to 2020 presidential candidates.
But on this scorching Saturday, he was campaigning from one end of Ohio鈥檚 7th Congressional District to the other with . Harbaugh鈥檚 a Navy pilot who founded a nonprofit that employs vets to deploy aid to disasters around the world.
Moulton acknowledges Harbaugh is the kind of candidate he has recruited. But he says he鈥檚 had help.
鈥淭he No. 1 recruiter we have is our commander-in-chief, Donald Trump," said Moulton. "He鈥檚 inspiring so many Democratic veterans to stand up and say we鈥檙e going to take this country back.鈥�
Same words, different meaning?
Among them is Harbaugh, who says he recalls the oath he took as a 22-year-old joining the U.S. Navy.
鈥淚 swore to support and defend -- not a party, certainly not an individual -- but the Constitution of the United States.鈥� Harbaugh acknowledges it鈥檚 the same oath members of Congress take, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 different when you鈥檝e put your life on the line for it, when honestly you鈥檝e lost buddies... You bring to the job a seriousness, a love for the Constitution and the separation of powers鈥� And I think this generation of vets running for Congress is going to bring that to Washington with them.鈥�
Moulton notes the military recruits people from widely different backgrounds.
鈥淲e were able to set aside those differences to do what was right for the country. And fundamentally, I think that鈥檚 what Americans should expect of members of Congress as well.鈥�
The audience at the stop Moulton and Harbaugh made in Stark County included a conservative, life-long Republican -- an Air Force vet who鈥檚 been coming to Harbaugh events for a few weeks now. Harbaugh says there鈥檚 something that transcends issues.
鈥淭he main thing people want is accountability. They want people who are going to鈥� be honest with them. We鈥檙e not going to agree on everything and we shouldn鈥檛. I hope we don鈥檛鈥� That wouldn鈥檛 be democracy. But at least we鈥檙e showing up, and we鈥檙e being truthful and we鈥檙e representing who we are.鈥�
Moulton says boot camp in the Marines drummed that into him.
鈥淵ou can drop out of a run and they鈥檒l give you another shot. You can fail a test, and you can retake it tomorrow. But if you lie about anything, you鈥檙e gone that afternoon.鈥�
GOP territory
The 7th Congressional District stretches from Lorain County southwest through rural sections of central Ohio before veering back northeast through Tuscarawas and Stark counties. It is a heavily Republican district now represented by four-term incumbent Bob Gibbs. Moulton acknowleges Harbaugh faces tough odds. But he notes he did, too, when he took on a Democratic incumbent in Massachusetts鈥檚 2014 primary.
鈥淧eople look at Ken and don鈥檛 just see a Democrat. They see someone they can trust as a leader."
The Trump factor
Moulton admits President Trump has had an impact on this year鈥檚 congressional election beyond galvanizing Democrats.
鈥淚n all honesty, a lot of people voted for Trump because they鈥檙e frustrated. They鈥檙e frustrated with Washington and I get that鈥� I have a lot of friends who voted for Trump. But we have a commander-in- chief that we can鈥檛 trust and we have a commander-in-chief who鈥檚 unchecked in Washington. And that鈥檚 why we need to restore some balance in Washington.鈥�
Harbaugh says Congress is failing in its 鈥渕ost fundamental responsibility to serve as a separate branch of government. That was ordained by the Founders as one of the key features of our democracy.鈥�
Harbaugh is one of dozens of vets of the Iraqi and Afghan wars running for state and congressional seats this year. In 2017, vets made up just 20 percent of the U.S. senators and 19 percent of Congress. The Center says they made up 81 percent of the Senate 45 years ago, and 75 percent of the House.
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