Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Saturday 18 auguSt 2018

Next mission for women with military service: Run for office

By LAURIE KELLMAN bridge to male voters who
BILL BARROW “sort of see women as be-
Associated Press ing weaker,” she said in a
WASHINGTON (AP) — A telephone interview. “But
dragon winds around a yeah, I have to make an ef-
cherry tree in the tattoo fort to reach out to women
across MJ Hegar’s arm and and make sure that they’re
back, over the shrapnel not scared, or think that I’m
wounds she had, at one too militant.”
point, not wanted to see Out came a 30-second
with her young children spot that mentioned the 89
around. combat missions — but fo-
But nine years after being cused on McGrath taking
shot down in Afghanistan, her three children to the
then winning a lawsuit pediatrician.
against the federal govern- “I’m Amy McGrath and
ment, writing a book and I approved this ad,” she
now running for a Texas says, as her young son takes
congressional seat, Hegar off down a hallway with his
isn’t hiding much anymore. pants down. “Because I’d
“I carry my service with me like to see the other guys
wherever I go,” Hegar said running deal with this.
in a telephone interview She upset popular Lexing-
near her home in Round In this Jan. 12, 2018, file photo, Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., leaves in a T-6 World War II airplane ton Mayor Jim Gray in the
Rock, outside Austin. “We after speaking at a rally in Phoenix. Democratic primary and
don’t see my family and Associated Press will take on Republican
my childhood and my ser- with military experience — have been instrumental knocks against female Rep. Andy Barr in Novem-
vice as different chapters. is no accident, and the in recruiting veterans to run candidates is “they aren’t ber, a closely watched
It’s all a package deal.” hopefuls are expected to for office. tough enough, they aren’t race considered competi-
Hegar is part of a crop of be propelled by Demo- Moulton said female vet- strong enough, and they tive in a district Barr won by
female veterans running cratic luminaries. Former erans in his party carry a might not have the lead- 22 points in 2016. Poised for
for Congress in this year’s Vice President Joe Biden, particular authority when ership skills,” said Debbie the different calculus of the
midterm elections. Almost for example, is expected talking to voters concerned Walsh, director of the Cen- general election, Barr last
all Democrats and many to campaign for McGrath, about President Donald ter for American Women week released an ad quot-
of them mothers, they are among others, according Trump’s leadership. and Politics at Rutgers Uni- ing McGrath saying of her-
shaped by the Sept. 11 at- to officials close to them “It’s the year of the wom- versity. self, “Hell yeah, I’m a femi-
tacks and overseas wars, who spoke on condition an, but it’s also the year Not female candidates nist” and calling herself “a
including the longest war of anonymity because the of yearning for bringing who are veterans, particu- progressive.”
in American history. Many schedule is not set. integrity and honor back larly of combat. “Seriously? Is that all you
are retiring from the military Two Democrats — Massa- to politics,” Moulton said. “They kind of automatically got?” McGrath retorted in
and looking for another chusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, “We need Democrats with get that kind of respect as a video response, sharing
way to serve the country. a retired Marine Corps cap- the credibility to tell people leaders; it’s well-earned,” the screen once again with
They’re part of a record tain and Bronze Star recipi- what’s really going on.” Walsh said. “It’s such a a fighter jet. But this time,
number of women running ent, and Illinois Sen. Tammy The women are hardly logical next step for people she traded her bomber
for seats in Congress, but Duckworth, who lost her the first to use their military who are committed to this jacket for a denim one.
in certain ways, they are a legs and partial use of an service to their political country and are commit- Much of Hegar’s story was
class apart. arm when her helicopter advantage — men have ted to service.” already public by the time
The female veterans claim was shot down by a rocket- been doing it for decades. But their campaigns high- she decided to challenge
expertise in national securi- propelled grenade in Iraq One of the traditional light a set of political con- Republican Rep. John
ty and veterans issues, with cerns specific to female Carter in the Austin-area
a track record of thriving in veterans. district, so she went for the
institutions dominated by The candidates acknowl- full reveal — tattoos and all.
men. Regardless of party, edge that their extraor- Her video, “Doors,” fea-
they cast themselves as the dinary stories of trailblaz- tures the door of the he-
antidote to bitterly partisan ing military careers could licopter in which she was
politics — describing them- make it difficult for some shot down on her third tour
selves as “mission-driven” voters to relate to them. Will of Afghanistan as a com-
and trained by the military they come off as too tough bat search and rescue pi-
to work toward a common or hawkish? Is it possible for lot. Her medals, including a
goal. any candidate, male or fe- Purple Heart, play a role, as
“I flew 89 combat missions male, to overemphasize his does Hegar’s 2012 lawsuit
as a U.S. Marine. My 90th or her military background against the federal govern-
mission is running for Con- in the post-9/11 era? ment that forced it to re-
gress to take on politicians McGrath, who retired as a peal the ban on women in
who put party over coun- lieutenant colonel, opened combat.
try,” said Kentucky Demo- her campaign with an on- The spot also features an
cratic candidate Amy line video in which she intimate detail: One of
McGrath, the first female In this May 22, 2018, file photo, Amy McGrath, right, with her wears a bomber jacket, Hegar’s first memories was
Marine to fly an F/A-18 in husband, Erik Henderson, waves to supporters after being a fighter jet in the back- of her father throwing her
combat. elected as the Democratic candidate for Kentucky’s 6th ground. mother through a glass
The increase in candidates Congressional District in Richmond, Ky. McGrath sees herself as a door. ”q
Associated Press