Contact:
Kyle Taylor Lucas
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kyle@garymurrell2008.com or
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2008

Anti-war Activist Cindy Sheehan—Endorses Gary Murrell for Congress

(Hoquiam, WA) Anti-war Activist Cindy Sheehan has endorsed Gary Murrell in his race to unseat Congressman Norm Dicks in the 6th District. “I am impressed with Gary Murrell and his platform,” said Sheehan. “He seeks immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, and he will work to restore the constitution and habeas corpus. Gary is committed to single-payer not-for-profit health care, and he will work to shift our current economy--based on militarism toward a green economy. Further, as a college educator and union member—he values education and cares about working people.”

Sheehan, who is herself running for Congress in California, officially qualified for the ballot on Friday, where she is challenging Nancy Pelosi. After Sheehan’s son, Casey, was killed while serving in Iraq, she became actively involved in the anti-war movement. She founded Gold Star Families for Peace, and became well known for her long-term protest at "Camp Casey," outside President Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch where she and other peace activists demonstrated against Bush and the war. Sheehan became an iconic figure of hope for the peace movement. “Cindy Sheehan has reawakened the conscience of America and I am honored to have her endorsement,” said Murrell.

A Vietnam Era veteran, Dr. Murrell says he has opposed the Iraq war and occupation since attacking Iraq was first seriously contemplated in Congress in the summer of 2002. Murrell criticizes Congressman Dicks for giving “President Bush a blank check to conduct a preventive war on Iraq, which is a war crime according treaties signed by the United States.” He went on to say, “when I am elected, I will work for an immediate withdrawal of all American forces from Iraq.”

Other key platform issues of Murrell’s campaign are affordable education, campaign finance reform, Constitutional restoration, civil liberties, transitioning from a war economy to a green economy; and single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare.

“I have been active in the Democratic Party for years;” said Murrell. “I have voted for Democrats all of my life, and served in county party leadership roles. However, in November 2006, we voted for Democrats to end the disastrous war in Iraq. They didn't. Instead, the Democrats voted to escalate the war.” He added that in a career characterized by unwavering support for the military-industrial complex, culminating in his catastrophic vote issuing a blank check for George Bush to make war on Iraq, “Dicks never met a weapon's system he did not like, an arms maker he could not fund, nor a war he could not support.”

Beyond his calamitous lack of good judgment” that has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,120 Americans, more than one million innocent Iraqis, and a $3 trillion war, Murrell points to other parts of Dicks' record as reason to retire him from Congress. “Beginning with secret appropriations to arm Osama bin Laden in the 1980s, continuing with his votes for the Patriot Act I and II, the Military Commissions Act which stripped Habeas Corpus from the Constitution, to his continued funding for the occupation of Iraq, and his votes on the Homegrown Terrorism Act and the FISA Amendment giving immunity to the telecommunications industry, Norm Dicks has betrayed our trust,” said Murrell.

“Gary Murrell is challenging Norm Dicks who ranks 10th in Congress for earmarks or ‘pork.’ Gary would end that practice and he will bring much needed integrity to Congress,” said Sheehan of her endorsement.

A long-term Hoquiam resident, Dr. Murrell has taught history and political science at Grays Harbor College for the past 15 years. He earned his Ph.D. in U.S. history from the University of Oregon, and he is a member of the American Federation of Teachers - Washington, which endorsed him. He is a committed civil libertarian who has served on the state boards of both the Oregon and WA ACLU.

Murrell hopes the public will turn out for a series of public forums in the coming week. On Thursday, August 14, he will attend his third League of Women Voters (LWV) Candidate Forum, this one to be held in Port Townsend at the Masonic Temple, 1338 Jefferson Street (NW across the street from the Post Office) at 7:00 p.m. Demonstrating contempt for the voters and the process, the incumbent, Norm Dicks, has refused to participate in either of the two previous forums and is not expected at Thursday’s forum, either. On Friday, August 15, Murrell will speak at King’s Bookstore, 218 St. Helens Ave. Tacoma, Washington 98402, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and on Saturday, he will be at the Shelton Timberland Library, 7th and Alder, Shelton, WA 98584, from 2-4:00 pm. For further information, visit his website at www.garymurrell2008.com.

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