Three star Admiral Michael Franken
More than 200 national security leaders including former high-ranking military officers, cabinet and service secretaries, and high-ranking diplomats endorse Admiral Mike Franken over Senator Grassley.
DES MOINES – Retired Admiral and candidate for U.S. Senate Mike Franken is honored to receive the endorsement of National Security Leaders for America, a bipartisan group of former and retired senior public servants who have dedicated and risked their lives in defense of this great nation.
The group of national security leaders includes:
88 Retired General Officers/Flag Officers, including 3 Four-Stars
11 Retired Senior Enlisted
6 Former Cabinet or Service Secretaries
33 Former Ambassadors
141 Democrats
47 Independents
6 Republicans
In the letter, they wrote:
“After years of service to this nation, we know moral courage when we see it. Mike Franken has the moral courage necessary to take on the most pressing threats to our essential yet fragile democracy. He is a patriot who understands that America is more than Red and Blue. He understands his job is to serve his country, not his party.
“A native Iowan, Mike Franken has committed his life to public service, with more than 36 years of uniformed service in the U.S. Navy. He retired as a vice admiral, the Navy’s second-highest rank, with distinguished service at sea and in assignments in the U.S. and abroad. He served as a ship and destroyer squadron commander and commanded the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. It’s no exaggeration to say that he has more combat experience than all the Republican Senators combined.
“As former national security leaders, we all took oaths. Those oaths were not to an individual or a party. They were to the Constitution and the nation of laws it embodies. To this day, our oaths dictate our actions. As a retired senior military officer, Mike Franken clearly understands and respects our Constitution and nation’s laws.
“Our oaths and our values dictate we support Mike Franken to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate. We hope your patriotism and your values guide you to vote for him as well.
Read the endorsement letter below:
To our fellow citizens in Iowa:
National Security Leaders For America (NSL4A) is a bipartisan group of former and retired senior public servants who have dedicated and risked our lives in defense of this great nation.
We are veterans, diplomats, and national security officials and above all, we are committed to the American idea that the people, free from the threat of violence and guided by the facts and their conscience, should choose their leaders. We have served this nation, and our Constitution, faithfully against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
That is why we, the undersigned, endorse Mike Franken in his bid to serve as the next senator from Iowa. He is the leader Iowa and the country need today.
Mike Franken is prepared to stand up against all that threatens our democracy. He will stand up to those who use violence to achieve political ends. As Iowa’s Senator he will stand up to people who lie about elections, and he will stand up to those who prefer the rule of authoritarianism over our own democracy and inalienable rights.
After years of service to this nation, we know moral courage when we see it. Mike Franken has the moral courage necessary to take on the most pressing threats to our essential yet fragile democracy. He is a patriot who understands that America is more than Red and Blue.
He understands his job is to serve his country, not his party.
Many of us have served in dangerous assignments overseas. We know what happens when party loyalties replace patriotism. We know what happens when people decide violence is acceptable. We support Mike Franken because he understands that we cannot allow that to happen here, to our fellow citizens.
A native Iowan, Mike Franken has committed his life to public service, with more than 36 years of uniformed service in the U.S. Navy. He retired as a vice admiral, the Navy’s second-highest rank, with distinguished service at sea and in assignments in the U.S. and abroad. He served as a ship and destroyer squadron commander and commanded the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. It’s no exaggeration to say that he has more combat experience than all the Republican Senators combined.
Franken’s opponent, Chuck Grassley, has served in the U.S. Senate for four decades. He opposed the Affordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it. Grassley also supported the overturn of the Roe v. Wade decision, taking away from women their rights to make health care decisions.
As former national security leaders, we all took oaths. Those oaths were not to an individual or a party. They were to the Constitution and the nation of laws it embodies. To this day, our oaths dictate our actions. As a retired senior military officer, Mike Franken clearly understands and respects our Constitution and nation’s laws.
Our oaths and our values dictate we support Mike Franken to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate. We hope your patriotism and your values guide you to vote for him as well.
Respectfully,
Blog For Iowa 