Candidate being investigated by military
David Harris, a Democratic candidate for a North Texas congressional seat, is under investigation by the military amid allegations that he carried on a three-year affair with an enlisted soldier under his command in the Army Reserve. Harris, an Iraqi war veteran challenging 11-term Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Arlington, is accused of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for maintaining a “close and continuing relationship” with a female Army sergeant from 2003 though 2005, a military investigator said. Military regulations forbid such relationships.
It’s often far too easy to confer the moral high ground upon ourselves as Democrats, especially when confronted by the moral and ethical quagmire that today’s GOP has proven itself to be. Of course, it’s often been said (not inaccurately) that pride goeth before a fall, and falling can often be a HUGE wakeup call. Welcome to the world of the Texas Democratic Party.
Unfortunately, David Harris, one of the Texas Democratic Party’s brightest rising stars, has a zipper problem, one that he denied until so much damage was done that his candidacy appears beyond repair. When exposed (no pun intended), he softpedalled the affair, which has only served to make the ultimate revelation of the truth that much more painful and damaging. Finally, when Texas Democrats had reason to believe that we could finally rid Congress of the raging mediocirty that is former (and supremely deserving) DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener Joe Barton, David Harris is exposed as a liar who’s been cheating on his wife. And so a brave American who has served his country ably and well in Iraq succumbs to the age-old male affliction of thinking with the wrong head, which wouldn’t be a big problem, except for two little things:
- Harris is married, and
- The object of his affections is an enlisted woman, while Harris is an officer. It’s called “conduct unbecoming an officer”.
Having in a former life been a Reserve officer, I can tell you that one of the things that the US Army truly frowns on is sexual fraternization between officers and enlisted personnel. To engage in this sort of behavior is one of the surest ways for an officer to find his (or her) career circling the drain. It’s also a great way to win an all expense-paid trip to the US military prison at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. I’ve been there; my Reserve unit did their summer training at Leavenworth, and it’s not exactly a country club.
Harris’ fate largely rests with the military justice system, and it’s difficult to be optimistic about what his future holds. One thing his future almost certainly will NOT hold is a seat in Congress, and that’s a damn shame…because Joe Barton’s a DUMB@$$ who shouldn’t be running a Dairy Queen, much less holding down a seat in Congress.
