Letter: Pat Murphy embarrassing himself, party

It's time for Democratic candidate for Congress Pat Murphy to stop attacking Monica Vernon for having once been a Republican. I chose Vernon to be my lieutenant governor nominee in 2014 because of her progressive ideals. We both were rewarded when the Democratic State Convention unanimously approved her.

She has a long history as an effective progressive champion and she's running a great grass roots campaign as a Democrat. When Murphy attacks her for not being a true progressive, he is attacking everyone who has endorsed her - me, Christie Vilsack, Dave Loebsack, Tom Miller, Pam Jochum, Michael Fitzgerald, Emily's List, the DCCC, Great Plains Laborer's District Council and numerous other union locals.

By attacking her on a non-issue, instead of engaging in a substantive debate on the issues that matter to working families in Iowa, Murphy is acting like a Republican. Voters in Iowa deserve to hear about real issues like creating new jobs, making college more affordable, protecting our water and soil and protecting a woman's right to choose. It's time to stop the fake attacks. Murphy is only embarrassing himself and hurting our party.

Jack Hatch

Retired state senator

2014 Democratic gubernatorial candidate

Des Moines