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Representative Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq War vet elected to Congress, will be here in Pittsburgh on August 13, 2009. I am just sick that due to a work commitment, I will be in California and unable to attend, so can you help me out and go in my place? Not only would I like to meet Patrick Murphy and thank him for his work on repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but joining him will be Lt Dan Choi, who has recently been profiled on a number of news shows.

WHAT A Summer Reception with Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-Bucks County)

WHERE Piatt Place, 301 Fifth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh

WHEN Thursday, August 13, 6:30 p.m.

Requested Contribution:

Host $100 (raise/write) still opportunities to be on the Host Committee

Guests $25

Please make your contribution online at: www.murphy08.com/Pittsburgh

Or make your check payable to: Patrick Murphy For Congress

Find the event on Facebook:

Who is Patrick Murphy?

Congressman Murphy was born in northeast Philadelphia, the son of a Philly police officer and a legal secretary. When he went to college he decided to follow the example set by his father, uncles, grandfather, and brother by signing up for ROTC.

His military career led him to a position as a professor of Constitutional Law at West Point. He volunteered for overseas deployment at 9/11, which sent him first to Bosnia, and then later to Iraq. He served in Baghdad, Iraq as a captain in the 82nd Airborne. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

After returning from Iraq, Patrick decided to run for Congress in the hope that he would be able to change our country’s misguided foreign policy. He won in 2006 by one of the smallest margins in the country – only .6%. He is the first, and at that time the only, Iraq war veteran in Congress.

He has since made a name for himself both in the legislature and the national political scene. (One of the first bills he introduced was the Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007 with then-Senator Barack Obama in February, 2007)

His legislative priorities are focused on fiscal discipline, economic revitalization with an emphasis on Green Energy’s role in that process (he is the deputy-whip of the New Dems, and has been a leader in the fight to equip our nation with the skills and funding needed to convert to a Green Economy) and the modernization of our military (he is the chief sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”).

Politically, he drew national attention as one of the first Congressmen to endorse Senator Obama’s presidential bid. He later served as the campaign’s Co-chair in Pennsylvania. He has now focused his efforts on winning tough challenger races around the country as the Chairman of the DCCC’s Red 2 Blue program.

Patrick also is the Congressman who is introducing legislation that would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!