Arizona State Rep. Jonathan Paton: A Credible National Leader for America

Operation Yellow Elephant salutes Arizona State Rep Jonathan L. Paton (R, District 30), age 35, a First Lieutenant and intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, who volunteered to serve in Iraq even though he faces a Primary Election September 12, five days after he reports to Fort Benning, GA, for training and deployment.

Money quotes from the NY Times:

Mr. Paton said he did not want his status as an elected official to excuse him from combat, something instructors in a training program he attended last year suggested would happen. He decided that his full-throated support of the war would seem contradictory if he was not willing to serve.

"I had to put my money where my mouth is," said Mr. Paton, who first asked to go last year, after a stateside active-duty deployment, and received word in late July that he would.

Operation Yellow Elephant salutes Rep. Paton as an excellent example of credible national leadership. We join his constituents in wishing him all the best for his deployment and for his safe return home.

Thanks also to Wonkette.