How many know this name?  He is a Marine.   I won't say he is special.  To me all servicemen are special because they step forward at a time of need and do what the majority of us are/were unwilling to do, put their lives on the line on behalf of their country for a cause that at the time of their enlistment may not yet be determined.  

I'll leave it to men like  Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (Retired),  Medal of Honor Recipient to tell us he is special.   He is so special in fact that he has not left his service to his country end with the USMC.   Ilario G. Pantano is running for the United States Congress in North Carolina (NC-7).  Lt. Pantano's war record is honorable.   He was mired in controversy surrounding the killing of two Iraqi's in Fallujah in 2004 but  military court dropped all charges against the lieutenant.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilario_Pantano#April_15th_incident

If you have the means, please support the lieutenant's candidacy with a contribution.  If you live within NC-7, please support him with your vote.

There is a larger question here.   Support should not end with Lieutenant Pantano.   The larger question here is why more men and women from the US Military do not run for elective office?   There is a huge absence of men and women in the US Congress who have served in the military.   We obviously know of John McCain.   People also may know of Mike Coffman from Colorado's 6th Congressional District.  Congressman Coffman served as both soldier and as a marine.   He twice interrupted his political career to serve his nation abroad as a Marine.   He took an unpaid leave of absence from the Colorado State Legislature to see combat duty in Desert Storm and he left the Colorado State Treasurer's office to prepare Iraq for its first democratic elections in 2005.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Coffman

According to a count by Richard Aragon in January 2009, http://www.vietvet.org/senatevet.htm there are 25 men in a Congress of 435 men and women who can claim a status as a veteran.  Scott Brown should replace Ted Kennedy on this list as Brown served in the Army National Guard.   We can also add Congressman Coffman who is not on that list Thus 26 members of 535 or less than 5% of our men and women in the Congress have served their country in the military.

Military service should not be a prerequisite for service in the Congress.  This is not the message here.   What is being asked is why more men and women who distinguished themselves in uniform don't follow the lead of those 26 men and seek to serve us in public office?  

This percentage was once the polar opposite of what it is today.  Coming out of World War II most men were veterans and I am certain that the Congress in the 1950's and 1960's consisted largely of men who once wore the uniform.   It was once considered a prerequisite to be a veteran before running for Congress.   What has changed?

Are persons who are interested in public office too eager today to begin their political careers and they no longer see the necessity to have served in uniform to win an election?   More importantly, are men and women who end their military careers no longer interested in serving their nation by this means?  If not, why?   Is it not harder to run against a veteran?   Is it not harder to assail the honor or the integrity of someone who has served?  

Many of us who live in Colorado's 6th Congressional District believe it an honor to cast our votes for a veteran.  Others might think the same if they had the opportunity to do so.   Those in North Carolina's 7th District do have that opportunity in 2010.   They must be encouraged to do so.