I got a call from my son today. Billy is the son who was wounded in battle in Iraq just outside of Baghdad in 2006.

Billy has shrapnel in his neck and shoulder, still. He has had surgery on his leg and it is well again. He is suffering from, and has been diagnosed with, Traumatic Brain injury (TBI). Consequently he now has a type of Tourette Syndrome and suffers from “tics”, sort of involuntary jerks or sudden movements. I am happy I still have my son.

Anyway Billy called to tell me that he has been informed, by the Army Medical Board, that he is being retired with a 50% disability. My son understood the risks of being a career Army soldier. He had seen me serving in the Marines almost his whole live as a young man. It seemed a natural transition for him when he decided to make the Military his home. He also had the understanding that the Army too understood and accepted their responsibilities to him. That part hasn’t worked out that well.

Our President must not have factored in the cost of wounded soldiers when he let us borrow the money from China to wage war in Iraq.

In the middle of a severe recession where millions of America’s workers are losing, or are close to losing their jobs, some of which they have held for many years, the Army is dumping my son, now visibly disabled, and expecting him to gainfully join the work force as though nothing has changed in his life.

This is the same workforce who’s jobs are leaving America faster than we can calculate due to the unreliable dollar, NAFTA, CAFTA, The Columbian and Korean trade deals, our governments failure to make Mexico, our neighbor, the ally we have worked so hard at making other distant countries, our ten trillion dollar debt, and an utter failure in leadership by President Bush and the Republican Congress and Senate who helped him execute and carry out this litany of grand failures in leadership, the looting of our U.S. Treasury and the grossly failed attempt to privatize the Federal Government.

Although I am sure my son Billy will succeed with, or without additional government assistance, I am very concerned for those who may not be so fortunate to have family support structures capable of easing the difficult transition of being separated from the military for reason of disability.

Today, there are tens of thousands wounded American men and women now dealing with that very reality.

My candidacy for the Office of U.S. Congress is far more than an issue about Marshall Adame. It is a quest to right the wrongs and inequalities of the past several years of Republican control and influence in America. Their campaign of fear throughout America has yielded almost everything they had hoped for. They really did not count on America waking up as it has.

Recently Blackwater USA was shocked to learn the I was the Democratic Candidate for Congress in their very own back yard of North Carolina‘s coast. A realization which caused them to strike our at me in the press.
Blackwater, having given money to our incumbent in the past, were comfortable in their plans to expand their operations in North Carolina. This very powerful organization has every interest in defeating my bid for the U.S. Congress. They have a sense of entitlement no U.S. Company should enjoy with our government "of the people".

It is my sincere hope that a renaissance of Democracy is being born in America.

I will stand with those who support the return of our Democracy and Rule of Law in America.

I will help others, or lead the way if necessary, to remove all U.S. Forces from Iraq and to ensure no sustained, long term Military Bases remain there.

I will assist, or lead the way if necessary in the development and implementation of a National Health Care program.

I will assist, or lead the way if necessary in returning the education of our American Children to the States and either rewrite or dismantle the No Child Left Behind School program mandated by the President.

I will assist, or lead the way if necessary in ensuring that every single high school graduate in America can attend, if they choose, either a State College or vocational institution regardless of social-economic circumstances.

America is waking up again to the greatness of service, giving and selflessness. Where-ever it is America is going, it is our today’s youth who will be taking us there.

An Appeal:
I am asking for everyone who will to give 20.08 (twenty dollars and eight cents) to the http://MarshallAdame4congress2008.com campaign website.
You can also donate at ActBlue http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/17983

I have learned the hard way that running a political campaign is costly. I do have a primary opponent, although I have seen little of him. The incumbent 6 Term Republican, Walter Jones is well funded and has the likes of the well known and powerful Republican , Newt Gingrich, raising money for him. He outraises our campaign by about 200 to 1. Not good.

I have never appealed for funds in this manner, but the issue is too great for ego, or pride to create the stumbling block they often do in our lives.

Our new Democratic President is going to need all the help he, or she can get in our Congress and Senate. I want to be standing ready to lend that help.

We need to get back on the road to greatness and change direction in America.

We used to take the high ground in our government. We can again, we will again..

Marshall Adame For Congress NC-03