Decorated, cigar-smoking Marine Nick Popaditch runs for Congress
This April 9, 2003 file photo shows Staff Sgt. Nick Popaditch of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment, smoking a cigar while standing on top of his tank, in downtown Baghdad in front of a statue of Saddam Hussein just before his unit helped tear it down. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
A decorated Marine veteran famously photographed smoking a cigar after the fall of Baghdad is running for Congress in California’s most southern district.
Nick Popaditch announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination to unseat Democrat Bob Filner.
Known as “Gunny Pop,” the 42-year-old Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star for combat actions in Fallujah, where he was blinded in one eye by a rocket-propelled grenade.
That April 2004 attack came nearly a year after an Associated Press photographer captured a smiling Popaditch smoking a cigar, with the just-fallen statue of Saddam Hussein in the background. The photograph landed on newspaper front pages, garnering Popaditch worldwide attention.
California’s heavily Democratic 51st Congressional District stretches along the Mexican border from San Diego’s suburbs to the Arizona state line.
Filner, first elected in 1992, was re-elected last year with 73 percent of the vote.
Tags: Fallujah, Gunny Pop, Nick Popaditch, SDNN
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Comment by: Joe Posted: November 12, 2009, 4:10 pm
I think politics are going to become even more interesting as these veterans of the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan run for office. They will change a lot of things, no doubt. And right now, we need to clean house.
Comment by: Aaron Posted: November 13, 2009, 9:11 am
I agree with Joe. Duncan D. Hunter of the 52nd district is a veteran also. These are the type of people we need in office, not Obama who doesn’t know squat about how to run a country.
Troops are dying and he can’t even do so much as pull the troops out sense he doesn’t agree with Bidens plan, only because it’s not “HIS” idea.
Comment by: Jim Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:42 pm
Clean house we have to start over, our existing folks in DC have all become disconnected to reality. Who cares whether they are Replubican or Democrate, new folks and new ideas can’t be any worse. Looks like Nick would be a good one.
Comment by: Vic Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:27 am
I’m all in with the “clean house” idea. They ALL need to go, starting with my congressman of 20 years!
Comment by: Robert Taylor Posted: November 21, 2009, 2:11 pm
I recently met Gunny Popaditch, and I am confident that this man is the Real Deal. In every way, shape, and form, He is what we strive to be as citizens of this free society, what we hope to be as Human Beings. If elected, he will not disappoint his constituency. This man has paid his dues just short of the ultimate sacrifice. This is an individual of intelligence, conviction, and with a Steelclad moral core. Vote for him!
Comment by: militaryhistory Posted: December 22, 2009, 11:45 am
What kind of candidate is Gunny Pop? An honest, conservative, old-fashioned, pro-American, non-apologizing, combat-decorated US Marine. He believes in a strong military, strong borders, low taxes, and smaller government. If you liked President Reagan, you will love this guy. I know him well. He is the real deal.
Jump to http://www.popaditchforcongress.com and throw him a few bucks. He can win, and Filner has never had a real opponent – now he has one in Nick.
Here is Gunny on Red Eye:
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/27462286/popping-off.htm#1=popaditch
If you want to learn more about Nick, read his book “Once a Marine” (www.onceamarine.com). It is all about his values and character. It will tell you all you need to know. When you finish, you will want to climb into a tank with him as your commander, or pull the lever for him in November 2010.
Comment by: Missy Taylor Lansaw Posted: January 1, 2010, 4:10 am
What a great guy, I went to highschool with Nick Popaditch in Terre haute, In. I lived in So-Cal for five years and only wish I was still there to vote for him!!!