Sean Barney launches campaign to rep Delaware in Congress

Following an unsuccessful run for Delaware state treasurer, Democrat Sean Barney announced his bid to represent the First State as its lone Congressman.

In Tuesday’s announcement, Barney said the terror attacks in Paris and recent calls to turn away Syrian refugees prompted him to throw his hat in the ring.

French leaders blamed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria for the coordinated attacks on Nov. 13 that killed 130 innocent people.

“Times like this define the character of who we are as a nation,” Barney said. “For the sake of our security, we should embrace these families and children fleeing violence and tyranny, rather than force them to languish in refugee camps that will destabilize our allies and become recruitment grounds for ISIS.”

Barney urged the United States to step up its refugee resettlement program by accepting 200,000 refugees, 100,000 from Syria.

Recalling a similar climate of fear and retaliation after 9/11, Barney is pushing Congress for more diplomacy and to debate the country’s military strategy against ISIS and pass a Use of Force Authorization.

“I saw firsthand what happens when leaders react to the politics of the time, rather than make the prudent decisions that are in line with our national interest and our moral purpose,” Barney said. “Our political leadership in Washington owes our fighting men and women a long-term strategy before they send young Americans to fight and die in Syria.”

Barney said because the U.S. never had a long term strategy in Iraq, any military gains made there have been lost. For example, he said, the Marines took control of Fallujah during the war, but now ISIS controls the Iraqi city. Barney does not want to see a repeat. 

Barney is currently President of InfoVest, a Delaware venture capital firm. He previously served as policy director to Gov. Jack Markell.

State Representative Bryon Short and state Senator Bryan Townsend have both already announced intentions to run for the Congressional seat.