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Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 3:11:09 PM   
subrob1967


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quote:

Fairfax, VA – Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11) shocked constituents by suggesting that military Veterans are unqualified to serve in Congress because their deployments prevent them from putting “sweat equity” into the districts they hope to serve in Congress.

Congressman Connolly is running against Colonel Chris Perkins, a retired officer who served most of his more than 24 years in uniform as an Army Green Beret deployed overseas. Connolly has repeatedly suggested that Perkins’ lack of local involvement because of his military career makes him unqualified to hold federal office.

In an October 22nd Washington Post interview, Connolly “dismisses Perkins as unqualified” for Congress, despite Colonel Perkins’ many leadership assignments that included command of a Special Forces Battalion of over six-hundred men, and numerous combat deployments.

While speaking to a local Chamber of Commerce a few weeks earlier, Connolly asked the audience, “Where has my opponent been” while Connolly served in local government for 16 years.

Days later at a neighborhood civic association, Congressman Connolly subsequently pressed his line of attack dismissing Colonel Perkins’ extensive military experience saying, “I expect a [Congressional] candidate to have demonstrated some sweat-equity” on local issues, ignoring the 24 years Colonel Perkins served as an Army Green Beret.

Linky dinky

So I guess Washington, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Grant...etc weren't qualified to run this country according to the man with a girl's name. Somebody should call John Kerry and let him know he has to resign his office and put some sweat equity into Boston.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 3:27:52 PM   
epiphiny43


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Status: offline 		No, he is saying This veteran is less qualified due to his actual experience. How is pointing out 24 (continuous?) years of professional experience Outside the local area (Not all that much Special Forces action in VA?) isn't qualification for dealing with the specific issues within that area unreasonable? Combat is very demanding of command. In very different ways, so is the compromise and communication necessary to bring people together on issues, rather than simply 'neutralizing' opposing forces and installations. Like any campaigner, one emphasizes one's strengths and mentions the deficits of the opponent? A service member who has served at a local base and been involved in the many local issues during that time would not be vulnerable to the criticism? Washington political staffers who return after years of service to run for local office sure catch this attack, often to serious effect.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 3:38:07 PM   
Yachtie


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Status: offline 		Connolly lost the Vets vote.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 3:45:51 PM   
DomKen


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Status: offline 		Why is the only source for this a Las Vegas tradeshow newsletter? An unsigned article that includes a fundraising appeal for his opponent?

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 4:03:19 PM   
subrob1967


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quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

Why is the only source for this a Las Vegas tradeshow newsletter? An unsigned article that includes a fundraising appeal for his opponent?



Google even works in Chicago too
From the horse's ass, I mean mouth
Is three links enough for you Kenny?

6.5 days... Tick tock goes the Obama countdown clock...

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 4:03:28 PM   
epiphiny43


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Status: offline 		Who but a veteran would run for a major office when their whole professional employment history has likely been outside that area? Most officers who turn politician have had varied careers with time served in the capital and in the local area. A Special Forces regiment commander may not have done this?
Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt were not professional military officers, only Washington even served as an officer. Lincoln was in one short militia experience? Seems a stretch to equate them to a career officer serving in a quick response unit. The details of the candidates actual service history would matter in this discussion?

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 4:13:01 PM   
Lucylastic


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Status: offline 		AMazing that no "wonder warriors felt the need to stand up for Tammy Duckworth against Joe walshes tirades.
wrong side or wrong sex or yes?

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 10/31/2012 4:26:04 PM   
epiphiny43


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Status: offline 		Wrong side, wrong sex, wrong war, Yes.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 12:06:24 AM   
TheHeretic


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Status: offline 		True colors. Democrats only like veterans, when they can portray them as victims.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 12:54:10 AM   
epiphiny43


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Status: offline 		Following the links got a lot of sites quoting each other. Going TO the Washington Post got this slightly different spin? "He dismisses Perkins as unqualified, based on what he calls his failure since leaving the Army to become civically engaged in the 11th District. “What do you think it means when people say that all politics is local?” he said."
My reading of the Post article does Not see the actual 'quotes' as printed in some of the attacking sites. Why am I not surprised?
The actual Post article as printed online suggests not a dissing of veterans' qualification for congress but a dissing of This veteran for not engaging in the issues of the district AFTER leaving the Army. Still lacking is a full transcript of the interview. My reading of the Post article says someone can't use Google, or has reading comprehension issues, someone attacking others for precisely that?
Most candidates for Congress or the Senate have careers in lower levels of 'public service' to establish their credibility (or at least party loyalty?) in politics and working within the system they are seeking a higher office in. This 'public service' is within the system of local, state and Federal administration and legislatures. Connolly worked as a congress staffer and in local county administration for some decades before moving to congress. "Public Service" generally, covers a wide area. Combat or defense experience is vital to the country, how it relates to effectively representing the interests and views of a particular district isn't quite clear. If there is anything Not like modern US elective politics, that would be the Army. Particularly an independent operations fast response unconventional tactics combat unit. Moving from the DoD or whatever outside previous work to actual involvement in local issues before seeking high office would seem a normal career path for someone seeking his district's votes for a congressional seat?
I'm just as skeptical of 'business leaders' with squat experience within any government who present themself as God's gift to our country. Seems we got McNamara and the shrub that way, mistakes not to be repeated?

< Message edited by epiphiny43 -- 11/1/2012 12:58:03 AM >

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 1:02:02 AM   
joether


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
True colors. Democrats only like veterans, when they can portray them as victims.


And Republicans enjoy throwing 'em into the meatgrinders as often as possible. How many wars does the United States average now? 68? Now I'm not blaming Republicans for all of them. However, the last three wars have costed more than the last sixty-five put together and mulitplied several times over! When it came time to help veterans deal with a host of injuries, whether they be physical, emotional, and/or mental, Republicans have been against them. They could find lots of 'spare' money to give to large republican-donating corporations but not a penny for helping veterans with the wide assortment of problems they are currently experiencing? Not to mention giving the American people a $4 Trillion debt from just the last war alone.

And they want us to vote them BACK into office, so we can get into...ANOTHER...war somewhere else (cus that's the track record for the GOP). I wonder if they'll 'help' those veterans like they did in the last three conflicts? Ya, before you slam the Democrats, make sure the Republicans havent done worst in your arguement(s).

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 4:18:02 AM   
DesideriScuri


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Status: offline 		FR,

I supported this statement in '04, '08, and still do today:

Military service alone neither qualifies, nor disqualifies someone for public office. Lack of military service alone neither qualifies, nor disqualifies someone for public office.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 6:15:10 AM   
Moonhead


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

True colors. Democrats only like veterans, when they can portray them as victims.

Really?
That'll be news to Johnson, Kennedy and John Kerry, then.
Hell, even Carter spent longer in the armed services than Reagan or the Chimp managed, didn't he?

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 6:28:56 AM   
Hillwilliam


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead


quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

True colors. Democrats only like veterans, when they can portray them as victims.

Really?
That'll be news to Johnson, Kennedy and John Kerry, then.
Hell, even Carter spent longer in the armed services than Reagan or the Chimp managed, didn't he?

Even Al Gore actually served in SE Asia.

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RE: Virginia Democrat thinks Veterans unfit for Congress - 11/1/2012 9:05:48 AM   
Moonhead


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Status: offline 		I was just sticking to the most obvious names. Hell, even FDR had a much better excuse for avoiding the draft of his youth than the current crop of Republican chickenhawks, didn't he?

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