Patrick Murphy, a
Democrat from
Pennsylvania’s 8th
Congressional District, is
up for reelection as U.S.
congressman against
Republican Tom Manion.
Born Oct. 19, 1973 in
Northeast Philadelphia,
Murphy started out his college
career at Bucks. He
then went on to King’s
College in Wilkes-Barre,
where he joined the Army
ROTC program. After
graduating with the rank of
Second Lieutenant,
Murphy attended Widener
University School of Law.
After law school, Murphy
served as a Special
Assistant U.S. Attorney in
New York, a prosecutor in
North Carolina, and an assistant professor of constitutional law at West Point
Military Academy. Murphy is the only Congressman who is a veteran of the
Iraq War. He volunteered to serve overseas following the terrorist attacks of
Sept.11, 2001. He was first sent to Bosnia in 2002, and then to Baghdad in 2003
as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Murphy earned the Bronze
Star for service and his unit earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
In the election of 2006, Murphy won his congressional seat in a surprising
victory by un-seating Republican incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick with a margin of
only .6 percent. This election has attracted national attention because of both
candidates’ ties to the war in Iraq. Murphy is a veteran of the war and a critic
of George Bush’s war strategy, while Tom Manion, whose son was killed in
Iraq last April, is a supporter of the war strategy.
In an interview on NPR in January 2007, Murphy said the Iraq War is “the
defining issue of our generation. And I believe, as someone who has served
there, as someone who has walked the streets of Baghdad as a captain in the
82nd Airborne Division, that . it’s time to turn it over to the Iraqis. It’s time to
start bringing our men and women home.”
Last August, Murphy announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for president.
In a quote on Obama’s website, Murphy said, “When I returned from
Baghdad, I saw that we needed to go in a new direction-both here at home
and in Iraq. I am inspired by Senator Obama’s call to service and believe he is
best suited to bring about the changes we need in our country.”
On Oct. 3, Murphy voted for the economic rescue package. In a press release
from his website, Murphy said, “With Bucks County families unable to pay
their bills and businesses unable to make payroll, we could not afford to play
‘Russian Roulette’ with the American economy or the future of hard-working
families in hopes that everything will be just fine.”
Locally, Murphy secured thousands of dollars for flood relief in Yardley.
Additionally, he passed an amendment that stopped waste company J.P. Rail
from building a waste transfer station in Bensalem.
According to Murphy’s campaign website, Murphy08.com, Murphy will be
facing off against Manion in two upcoming debates, Oct. 15 and Oct. 29.