Dear Netroots Supporters,

It's now been over a week since you helped to send a message to Washington - a message of hope for a better America, a message of change.  Since I started this journey over a year ago, I always hoped to be a part of that change in Washington.  Not many people believed in me from the very beginning.  Not many people thought the son of a cop and a legal secretary born in a row home in Northeast Philadelphia could ever help to bring change to Washington.

(crossposted at the DailyKos)

There is nothing that I hold more pride in than my service to our country.  From the halls of West Point to the streets of Baghdad, I served honorably, and my record reflects my service. There is camaraderie among veterans - we understand that everyone who wears the uniform of the United States military has sacrificed, some much more so than others.  That is why I was so shocked that Congressman Fitzpatrick, who never wore a military uniform, would hold a press conference to question my service.

(Cross Posted at Daily Kos)

On Sunday night, I participated in a debate with my opponent on the issues of the War in Iraq and the War on Terror.  We were both asked whether we would support torture. This was my response:

Today, the campaign is proud to announce a new ad on both broadcast and cable television throughout Pennsylvania's 8th District:  "Taking a Stand."

On Sunday, Congressman Fitzpatrick and Patrick Murphy debated the biggest issue facing our country today: the War in Iraq.  Patrick Murphy supports a timeline to bring our troops home.  Congressman Fitzpatrick supports President Bush's open-ended commitment in Iraq.

The difference couldn't be any more clear.

Patrick Murphy:
"I have served in the military, I have lived in the military environment.  Where we have timelines for absolutely everything...In Iraq we had timelines to have their elections, we had timelines for them to pass their constitution.  We need a timeline to tell the Iraqis, to articulate to them, to show them, that we are not going to be there forever and that we are bringing our troops home." (Doylestown Intelligencer debate, September 24, 2006)

Congressman Fitzpatrick:
"[President Bush] has been bold, resolute and principled in that effort...He's a leader in that regard and we need to support him." (Doylestown Intelligencer debate, September 24, 2006)

If you're in Pennsylvania, check out the debate between Patrick Murphy and Mike Fitzpatrick on PCN at 8PM tonight.  It's clear: Congressman Fitzpatrick stands for the status quo, Patrick Murphy wants change.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is trying to shake his ties to corruption in Washington, but that game is over.  Introducing MIKE FITZPATRICK'S BAND OF ROGUES, a website asking Mike Fitzpatrick to return the thousands of dollars from a fundraiser with Congressman Bob Ney in November of 2005.

Sign up today to demand Congressman Fitzpatrick return funds tied to the now convicted Congressman Ney.

Details on Congressman Fitzpatrick's secret fundraiser with Congressman Bob Ney (now scrubbed from the NRCC website):
Please Join Lendell Porterfield, Pete Evich & VSAPAC for a Breakfast Honoring Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick with special guest Chairman Bob Ney
Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. 101 Constitution Avenue,
N.W. Suite 600 West Washington, D.C. 20001
Suggested Contribution: $1,000
Please RSVP to Liz Williams at 202/737-7382 or Via e
Mail at lwilliams@vsadc.com
(Source: NRCC Website, Archived 11/22/05)

Peter J. Evich: $500.00, 11/16/05
Mr. Lendell W. Porterfield: $1,000.00, 11/16/05
Mr. H. Stewart Van Scoyoc: $1,000.00, 11/16/05
Van Scoyoc Associates PAC: $964.25 In-Kind Contribution, 11/21/05
Other Money from Fundraiser: POSSIBLY THOUSANDS
(Source: Federal Elections Commission)

Congressman Fitzpatrick said that he wouldn't return money tied to corrupt congressmen until they were proven guilty.  Well, now's your chance, Congressman Fitzpatrick.  Disclose the funds you raised from your secret fundraiser with Congressman Ney, and return them today.

First of all, I have to thank all of you out there in the Netroots Community - I knew you've believed in me and my candidacy since the very beginning, but your overwhelming support over the last few days has been extraordinary.  As an Iraq war veteran, its great to know I have friends in the fight.

Over $8100 and still counting...! I'm amazed, and I'm deeply honored.

Your support is overwhelming, and its what has helped to push my race to the top tier in the country.  We were named to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" list in July.  The Rothenberg Report recently moved us to a "Toss Up" seat, saying Mike Fitzpatrick is "vulnerable." And we soared 11 spots to become the 15th Most Competitive House Race in the Country, according to the National Journal's House Race Rankings.

Yesterday was a big day for my campaign, as I joined teachers, principals, former prosecutors, law enforcement officials, librarians, and parents as they endorsed my the Murphy Plan for Online Protection.  Now, a lot of people in the Netroots are currently aware of my opponent's plan to create a new website to warn parents of the dangers of social networking sites, and to block these sites in schools and libraries.  Well, don't take it from me, but here's what the experts have to say on the issue:

Bring the Guard And Reserve Home By Summer, Redeploy Our Troops In Iraq, And Focus on Securing the Homeland

This morning, the 9/11 Public Discourse Project, made up of members of the 9/11 Commission, issued a report card on implementation of the commission's recommendations. According to Commission Member Jamie Gorelick, "we are less safe today than we were 18 months ago."  Because of the focus on Iraq, we have taken our eye off the ball in securing our own shores. First responders still can't talk to each other. There are nuclear weapons on the loose and for which we cannot account. And we are still allocating homeland security funding based on a formula based on politics, not on need.

It's time to change the direction in Iraq and bring our focus back to winning the war on terror and securing the homeland. Bringing the guard and reserve home by summer puts us back on track to accomplish both of these goals.

When Rep. John Murtha, the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress, started the debate on America's role in Iraq by saying "Our troops have done all they can do," he was right. Our troops toppled the Saddam Regime and made sure that there were no WMDs. It is time to change the direction in Iraq, and we need to start bringing our men and women home now.

More After the Jump