Posted on 10/31/2012 12:42:02 PM PDT by Sarajevo
Virginia Congressman: Veterans “Unqualified to Serve” in Congress Because Deployments Prevent Veterans from Serving Local Communities
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.
“I am disappointed that Congressman Connolly believes that military men and women are ‘unqualified to serve in Congress’ of the country they gave their lives to protect and defend,” said Colonel Chris Perkins. “Connolly’s statements are outrageous and demonstrate an out-of-touch career politician that thinks that only those who climb the ladder of local politics can graduate to higher office.”
“By Congressman Connolly’s standard, many of our forefathers, including George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower, would have been ‘unqualified’ to hold office,” continued Colonel Perkins. “His statements are offensive to every service member, career first responder and their families who have sacrificed so much for the country we love.”
“Mr. Connolly asked where I was when he was building schools and laying sidewalks locally,” said Colonel Perkins. “I’ll tell you where I’ve been. I was in Iraq hunting down SCUD missiles that were targeting Israel. I was chasing down mass-murdering terrorists in Bosnia, Kosovo and Africa. And, I was at Arlington National Cemetery seventeen times paying last respect to the brave men and women that I had the privilege and honor to serve with.”
“Our country’s Veterans and career first responders don’t just have sweat equity in their community, they have blood equity in America” - Colonel Perkins.
Gerry Connolly is serving is his second term in Congress after previously serving in local government for sixteen years.
A career politician who needs to go. Saw him spouting off in the committee hearing on Benghazi and he was insufferable.
And Congressjerks are “unqualified” to tell the military how to fight a war but they do it every time. Nobody ever died with a veteran representing them in Congress. Thousands of military have been killed because Congress sets the rules on how a war is to be fought. Stuff it Connolly.
So basically, veterans haven’t spent enough time greasing palms and “servicing” the right financial backers?
Wow, this one is a real winner.
“Our country’s Veterans and career first responders don’t just have sweat equity in their community, they have blood equity in America” - Colonel Perkins.
Cut. Print.
Really? How long has it been since anyone has seen hide nor hair of Jesse Jackson JR.? What’s his excuse? I have no problem with a military person in Congress because I know no matter where they are they are still serving our country, uhh...unlike Jesse Jackson Jr.
Ooh man, I want to see this Connolly a##hole go down. Anybody know where this race stands? My bloods boiling at his comments...hanging up on myself before I say something to get me banned....
Thats funny, same way I feel about lawyers.
The Colonel’s reply cut the politician to shreds.
John sKerry - who by the way served in Vietnam - better not hear about this report.
Gerry, the pig-eyed-sack-of-sheep-dip, is my congressturd
I’m from VA so I paid attention to Connolly .... Jesse, Jr., not so much.
This scumbag had a close race the last couple of times but, sadly, his district has been reconfigured to make it significantly safer for him and far more difficult for any Republican challenger.
Assuming that this story gets zero play in the media, which it won’t, and assuming that the typical Connolly voter agrees with him anyway, which they do, he can probably stay in Congress as long as he wants.
This tool’s DC Office Phone: 202 225-1492. Be nice but firm when you tell his staff that he’s been around too long.
I expect to see him vigorously campaign against Senator Kerry.
Unfortunately in addition to his standard Dem parasite base he has a huge number of Good 'ol Boy supporters in NoVA that will vote for him through thick and thin. I knew a bunch of otherwise conservative guys that just love Connolly because he found money for their pet sports park or service project or whatnot.
Time to show this Donkey the door and boot him back to the sewer he came from. Of all the unmitigated gall! A citizen-soldier is TWICE a citizen, you imbecile. [I apologize to any imbeciles, other than Congressman Connolly, whom I may have offended.]
This connolly freak gives a really bad name to “public service”. He is a plague of ignorance and pettiness. Meh...
“Our country’s Veterans and career first responders don’t just have sweat equity in their community, they have blood equity in America” - Colonel Perkins.
Colonel Perkins, I salute you. Kick his a**!
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