Send a “Jack Bauer Republican” to Congress

(Ilario Pantano) – Fellow American, it’s time to kick the liberals out of Washington and get America back on track.

My name is Ilario Pantano, and I’m a combat veteran of two wars that has succeeded in small business and authored a best-selling book. I’m a constitutional conservative and I’m running for Congress to retire an entrenched politician who does the bidding of Nancy Pelosi, liberal lobbyists and special interest groups in Washington. I’m confident that I can win this race if I have your support behind me. But before I tell you why, I want to share with you my story.

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 17. I fought in the first Persian Gulf War and I became a Marine Sniper and trained with militaries around the world. I left the Marines as a sergeant, and went to college and built a career. I was living the American dream. Then September 11th happened.

I immediately re-enlisted with the Marine Corps, graduated from Officer Candidate School, and deployed to Iraq. And it wasn’t long after that I experienced an event that would forever change the way I look at life. During one of the bloodiest phases of the war, I was forced to open fire and kill two insurgents. I received the praise of my commanders, and I never once doubted that I had done the right thing. But a few months later I learned that a man from my platoon, whom I had demoted, falsely reported the incident.

I was accused of the premeditated murder of two terrorists and faced a death sentence, if convicted. The national media immediately portrayed me to be a trigger-happy rogue Marine, and they never once suggested that my actions could have been justified. But I always believed the truth would prevail, and after a thorough investigation, it did. I was cleared of all charges and am proud to have served my country honorably.

Since announcing my candidacy I’ve been attacked by liberals from across the United States. The liberal blog Daily Kos even called me a “Jack Bauer Republican.” But the critics couldn’t be more wrong and I tell each of them, “I went out to do a dirty job for my country and in the process I got jammed up. I never broke with my Corps. I never broke with my country. I never said I was a victim. I took responsibility. I killed men in combat and if some don’t like it, don’t send men to war.”

As I am attacked by liberals from across the nation, I need conservatives to stand with me. I’m running for Congress because I can’t stand idle and watch Nancy Pelosi and her liberal cronies destroy the country I was willing to die for. As an infantry officer, I never took my men into a battle without a plan for victory. I’m entering this battle because I know I will win. But only if I can count on your help.

Democrats, like my opponent, are the middle-men who clear the way for the Pelosi radicals. It’s up to you and me to stop them. My opponent twice voted to make Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House and he is enabling her socialist schemes to bury Americans and their freedom under a mountain of debt. I’m challenging him because like you, I believe America is going in the wrong direction and fast.

I know how to fight and I know how to win. My opponent may have the cash advantage in this race – left-wing special interests groups like the trial lawyers and Union bosses are bankrolling his campaign – but I have the strength of my convictions that comes with serving a just cause.

And with your immediate support, we can get my strong constitutional conservative message on the airwaves and make sure every voter in the district knows who I am, what I stand for and what I will do when I get to Washington.

So please make the most generous contribution you can afford to my campaign. Whether you can give $25 or the maximum $2,400, you will play a key role in my victory strategy.

So stand with me today and help me deliver a victory for conservative principles.

Semper Fi.

(Ilario Pantano is a Republican candidate for Congress in North Carolina’s 7th District)