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Revision as of 13:51, 3 August 2006
Chris Wakim is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 3rd District, which represents the western portion of Ohio County. He is the ranking Republican on the Veterans Affairs/Homeland Security committee. The grandson of Lebanese immigrants he graduated from West Point in 1980.
During his 11-year Army career, Wakin said he attained the rank of Captain, along the way suffering a broken back, crushed elbow, and reconstructed knee while an infantry officer. He now has disabled veteran status. Wakim has not provided specific details about how the accidents occurred. Futhermore, records show he was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts from 1988 to 1991, the period encompassing the Gulf War he claimed to serve in.
2006 Congressional election
Chris Wakim is challenging Alan Mollohan for the West Virginia 1st Congressional district. The NRCC sees Mollohan's seat as having vulnerability due to the Earmarking Scandal.
Wakin's campaign has been supported by top Republican leadership. Vice President Dick Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, and Representative Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) have helped. Majority Leader John Boehner was scheduled to campaign for Wakim in early August, and First Lady Laura Bush is also expected to provide help. Wakim had $318,000 as of July.
Criticism and controversy
In August 2006 Wakim's biography was questioned in terms of his education and veteran claim. Wakim’s campaign website claimed, "He earned his MA in Public Policy from Harvard University in 1991 graduating in the top 15% of his class." Yet, a copy of his transcript showed that his degree was a master’s of liberal arts, or A.L.M., in extension studies, with a concentration in government. Now, Wakim changed the section of his website referring to his degree to read: "He earned his Master’s Degree from Harvard University in 1991."
Wakim’s claim that he is a "Gulf War veteran" has come underfire. But, "To be considered a veteran of the first Gulf War, one must receive the Southwest Asia Service Medal. The absence of the medal makes one a Gulf War-era veteran," said a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Wakim said he does not have that medal. Futhermore, records show he was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts from 1988 to 1991, the period encompassing the Gulf War he claimed to serve in.
In a recent interview with Arab American Institute, Wakim appeared to blur the details of his Gulf War service, saying his background as an Arab-American and his education were valuable to the Army."My company specialized in desert warfare, and certainly that was a timely specialty because of the first Gulf War," he said. "I lent my expertise as a desert fighter to develop our fighting force. ...I can tell you from personal experience that once the first bullet is shot, the best-laid plans usually go by the wayside."
External links
- Chris Wakim for Congress website
- Step Aside, Mr. Mollohan D-WV (Free Republic)
- Democrat Leaves Ethics Panel (The Washington Post)
- "Arab American veteran wants to represent W. VA district" The Arab American News
- "Candidate’s military resume questioned" by By Rick Maze, Army Times
- Candidate 'war veteran' and 'Harvard degree' claims challenged
- "Mollohan foe defends Harvard degree, military-service record" The Hill
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