former surgeon general under President George W. Bush;
son of Puerto Rican parents, grew up poor in Harlem, where he battled hunger and homelessness;
dropped out of high school and joined the Army;
got his GED and joined the Special Forces;
won two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and a combat medical badge among a number other decorations;
returned home and earned an M.D. degree;
recruited to Arizona to start a regional trauma care system;
worked as a surgeon, professor and a decorated member of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
A number of Rethug operatives in Arizona are using descriptions like "political Greek god, and "amazing" to describe Carmona and his heroic life story. In interviews, Dr. Carmona projects honesty, intelligence and commitment, and articulates his views in a frank and open way that's refreshing in our spin-cycle political world. We hope he makes it to the Senate.
