Iowa's liberal-left Sen. Tom Harkin announced Saturday that he won't run for re-election in 2014, according to Fox News Channel. While the media shower Harkin with accolades for his liberal-left agenda, few if any mention one of Harkin's biggest lies regarding his military service in the killing fields of Vietnam.
Harkin told several news organizations, including the Washington Post, that its time for him "to step aside" for new blood in the U.S. Senate. In 2014, Harkin will be 81-years-old as he completes his sixth term.
The popular senator claims his departure will lead to a new crop of Democrats who will seek his senate seat.
According to FNC, Harkin's statement is a surprise move, since his campaign coffers already have close to $3 million. His campaign staff were also planning a fundraiser in February.
Harkin claims one of his proudest accomplishments was his role in pushing the Senate's vote in favor of 2010 health care bill, also known as Obamacare.
According to political strategist, Mike Baker, Harkin's resignation will ease the stress on the Republican Party, who must gain six seats to win the majority.
Despite Harkin's popularity with the mainstream news media, there have been serious lapses of honesty that deserve mentioning, according to former intelligence officer and police detective Mike Snopes.
For example, during the Bush-Kerry presidential race, on the same day that the Fraternal Order of Police made their decision to support President Bush for reelection, Senator Harkin , a fierce Kerry supporter, was all over the news shows and cable news networks calling Bush a liar about his military service in the National Guard.
However, according to Baker, Harkins allegations rang hollow and displayed on his part a hypocrisy which knew no bounds.
For it was Senator Harkin who lied about his military record. In 1992, during his own presidential bid, Harkin advanced the myth that he flew fighter missions over Vietnam.
It turned out that he never saw action in Vietnam. He was never a Vietnam veteran. Yet here was a liar calling the Commander-in-Chief a liar. "Truth be told, Harkin later switched his campaign biography description by claiming he was a Vietnam-era military member," said Baker.
During the Obama-McCain presidential race, Harkin viciously denounced McCain's war record:
"Republican presidential candidate John McCain's family background as the son and grandson of admirals has given him a worldview shaped by the military, "and he has a hard time thinking beyond that.
"I think he's trapped in that. Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous.
"It's one thing to have been drafted and served, but another thing when you come from generations of military people and that's just how you're steeped, how you've learned, how you've grown up."
Comments