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Hello,

Thirty-six years in the Navy gave me a ton of memories. Most are good; some are complex; others are conflicted…

It was early 2005, a stressful time. There were no days off or dinners with family, and I was with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a four-star General.

That night, our meeting at the White House was unexpectedly canceled. There was still a bit of daylight outside, and the General turned to me and said, “How ‘bout that, Franken. We have the evening off…”

I took a quick look at my watch, and it hit me: “I may get out of here in time to see my son play in the orchestra.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d said it aloud until the Vice Chief asked, “Oh, what instrument does he play?”

I’ve always thought of myself as a person with answers. I did my homework, worked hard, and put in the effort to be prepared. But I didn’t know the answer to this simple question about being a father, a doting parent, and one of my children.

I felt guilty, embarrassed, and uttered a weak, “I am not entirely sure,” past the lump in my throat.

[[link removed]]I have long-since gotten used to people thanking me for my service – whether it was traveling through an airport in uniform or wearing my Navy hat in the grocery store. But I always thank service members’ families. Their spouse. Their parents. Their children.

It was my family who had to ‘get along’ without me. My parents aged during my long absences, then both died before I could tell them thank you. Too many long distance moves were done by Jordan, my wife, alone. And too many school events passed without me even knowing they were happening. My family sacrificed as much as I did for me to be able to serve.

I’m now running for Senate because I know what it means to live a life of service and sacrifice. Too many in Washington have long since forgotten who they work for. I know my opponent Chuck Grassley is one of those people. He’s still clinging to Senate office after more than four decades because he knows nothing else.

My question to Chuck Grassley is this: “Are you running again because that’s what Iowans want or that’s what your big corporate donors demand of you?” If you ask Iowans, they all say it is the latter.

Every poll shows we can win, and the GOP mob is already circling in response. But with your help now, I know we can defeat Chuck Grassley, turn Iowa blue, and protect our Senate majority.

We need to raise another $35,000 before our deadline at midnight tonight to fight back against all of Mitch McConnell’s Super PAC lies and win, but right now, it looks like we are about to fall short. I need your help now to fend them off and retire Grassley because control of the Senate is at stake.

If you believe as I do that there are still good people running for office, then please, will you chip in $5 or more right now – every dollar you can afford – to help me defeat Chuck Grassley, turn Iowa blue, and protect our Democratic majority in the Senate? [[link removed]]

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My children are now grown. My son no longer plays the viola or any other instrument, but at one time, he was pretty good. I just wasn't there to hear it very often, and barely made the last set that evening, in khakis, standing in the back. As always, duty had called.

Thank you for letting me share this story with you,

Mike Franken, U.S. Navy (ret.) Paid for by Michael Franken for Iowa, IncMichael Franken for Iowa, Inc
PO Box 13401
Des Moines, IA 50310
United States

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VICE ADMIRAL FRANKEN (RET) IS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE U.S. NAVY. USE OF HIS MILITARY RANK, JOB TITLES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS IN UNIFORM DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.