Gay, Black, Harvard-Educated Iraq War Vet Anthony Woods Brings Incredible Resume to Politics

[ecstatic]

In every election cycle, there’s one candidate whose life story stands out among the crowd. In 2004, it was Barack Obama; in 2006, it was Vietnam vet Jim Webb. This year, an underdog candidate for the U.S. Congress in California is the clear winner and it's not even close. Anthony Woods' biography—he’s a gay, black Iraq vet with a Harvard degree—reads like a West Wing script Aaron Sorkin threw into the wastebasket for being too over the top.

All that is likely to change soon, as Woods’ résumé seems perfectly tuned to attract national attention. One of his top issues is repealing the military’s “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, an issue that seems to be gathering steam as liberals try to hold President Obama to his campaign pledge. Woods has already received an endorsement from Dan Choi, a fellow West Point graduate whose recent discharge for being gay made him a rallying point for activists, and popular blogger Andrew Sullivan recently took note of his campaign as well.

For Woods, the issue is deeply personal. He was forced to leave a promising Army career after he came out in 2008. He received an honorable discharge under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell rules.

“I knew getting into it that if I took a stand, it would be a costly decision and it certainly has become one,” Woods said in an interview with The Daily Beast. “But people have to take a stand for what's right. There's a reason this policy is on the front burner now... We're a country fighting two wars, having trouble recruiting, yet we want to turn away some of our most talented, most well-trained soldiers?”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-09/best-political-resume-ever/

[xchrom]

1. ok -- ok -- i'll say it -- and very cute! nt

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Kick and rec. More pictures of future Congressman Woods on his Wikip*dia page ...

... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Woods

[ecstatic]

8. Good info. He's only 28!! nt

[ColbertWatcher]

10. Only 28 and he's done so much for this country. Great variety of pics too. n/t

[Cha]

3. Good! More great PR

for changing DADT.

[Dramarama]

4. Might need to donate money to the campaign

:)

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Link to his campaign page ...

http://www.anthonywoodsforcongress.com/

[Dramarama]

6. Thank you

[ColbertWatcher]

7. You're welcome. n/t

[jkshaw]

11. Truly a gem of a person. Up and coming,

a relief to see this, a new generation in politics.

[chill_wind]

9. Very inspiring. K & R! And bookmarked.

eom

[Number23]

12. Harvard and West Point?? Be still my heart!

Kicked and a rec too! Would love to know what other issues he's working on.

Work it out, Mr. Woods!

[ColbertWatcher]

13. Morning kick. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Afternoon kick. n/t