MILITARY TO INVESTIGATE LEAVE GRANTED TO MISSOURI LAWMAKER WHO CAST DECIDING VOTE ON GUNS

AP Breaking News ^ | 12 September 2003 | Paul Sloca & Robert Burns

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The U.S. military will investigate whether regulations were violated when a Missouri state senator was granted leave from duty in Cuba so he could return home to cast the deciding vote to override a veto of concealed guns legislation. State Sen. Jon Dolan, a Republican and a major in the Army National Guard, had been serving at Guantanamo Bay for only two weeks, and military regulations say a newly deployed soldier must be on duty at least two months before getting a leave.

Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Burfeind, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said Friday that the matter will be investigated by the U.S. Southern Command in Florida, which oversees Guantanamo Bay, where Dolan is stationed as a public affairs officer. U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., sent a letter Friday to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld seeking an investigation into why Dolan was granted a six-day leave to cast his vote Thursday. The override of Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's veto gave most Missourians the right to carry concealed guns.

"I am most concerned about whether Senator Dolan's case establishes a precedent that allows members of the National Guard who have certain political affiliations to be permitted privileges that other members of the National Guard are routinely denied," Clay wrote. Dolan said Friday the push for the investigation was politically motivated. "I did my duty and I would do it again," Dolan said. "If my career ends, that's fine. This is simply political retribution."

Dolan received approval for leave from his boss, Lt. Col. Pamela Hart. Burfeind said his leave was granted on a special exception, which is not uncommon. Burfeind referred other questions about Dolan to Southern Command, which said the issue was being handled by public affairs officials in Guantanamo Bay, who did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press. Also at issue is whether Dolan violated federal law and military regulations by performing duties of his political office while on active military duty. The rules apply to a reserve officer serving on active duty under a call to active duty of more than 270 days. Dolan said military lawyers told him before he left Cuba that because he hadn't served 270 days of his tour, the rule didn't apply to him. "My position in that issue remains clear," Dolan said. "I knew about the directive before hand and did not feel it applied in my case."

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

The voters of Missouri should permanently end the career of William Lacy Clay. What he has done here is unforgiveable and will not change the outcome. He is trying to ruin the carry of a man who merely did his job as a representative of the people. Wake up Missouri!

[FairWitness]

Lacy Clay is a U.S. representative; why is he meddling in state government affairs? Isn't that what the "Texas 11"/Texas Democrats say about (alleged) influence by Tom Delay on the Texas redistricting question? That he has no business trying to influence state government?

[ChemistCat]

It IS NOT unusual for military members (however long they're deployed) to be granted leave to take care of things back home, whether it's to be present at the birth of a child, or for other medical reasons, or for an emergency (in the case of reserve personnel) duty on one's regular job. If we're going to depend on reservists, we have to make allowances for things that come up. I'd say that if he was a Dem who went back to defeat a CCW measure. We HAVE to stand behind our reservists, and the commanders who make the calls with respect to granting emergency leaves.

[Slip18]

Bump.

Hopefully, some Missouri FReepers will read this. What Clay is trying to do is beyond the pale.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

He is trying to ruin the carry

Correction: Ruin the career ....

Typing in a hurry and angry. Bad combination.

[FairOpinion]

This is an absolute disgrace.

He has a duty to vote, he was elected to represent the people. The US military exercised common sense and they had the right to give him leave to exercise his duty. It isn't as if he went awol to get back to vote.

U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo should definitely NOT get reelected, and should be slapped down hard.

[steplock]

I see NOTHING wrong with special leave to a senator to go back for a crucial vote. I DO see plenty wrong intentionally keeping a senator away from a vote.

Since this senator was in a non-combat area in a supportive role, there was no critical need of him to stay in GTMO at the time.

punto - final ... as they would say in Cuba

[ambrose]

William Lacy Clay, Democrat

[ambrose]

[Shooter 2.5]

Before anyone asks, Senator Dolan repeatedly stated that he used his own funds to travel back to Missouri.

[Djarum]

Posted 45 mins ago: Military to Investigate Leave Granted to Missouri Lawmaker Who Cast Deciding Vote on Guns

[Shooter 2.5]

I have no idea why I'm getting so upset with this. It should have been expected because the dems are evil.

[SLB]

2nd Amendment Bump.

[gorush]

"I am most concerned about whether Senator Dolan's case establishes a precedent that allows members of the National Guard who have certain political affiliations to be permitted privileges that other members of the National Guard are routinely denied,"

No, he's a state senator and you're trying to gain advantage by the fact that he is serving his country....beneath contempt. (not you, but the author obviously.)

[Paleo Conservative]

Lacy Clay is a U.S. representative; why is he meddling in state government affairs? Isn't that what the "Texas 11"/Texas Democrats say about (alleged) influence by Tom Delay on the Texas redistricting question? That he has no business trying to influence state government?

Did Tom Deleay ever write a letter or make any public statement about redistricting? I think not.

[Godebert]

Sounds like Dolan takes his oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United states of America" seriously. The Lacy guy is just a scum sucking marxist.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

There the Democrats go again, trying to disenfranchise the military - and while we're at war. They have finally reached 'low as you can go.'

[F.J. Mitchell]

If ol' Lacy had his head and eyebrows shaved, he would look exactly like a young James Carville.

[DoughtyOne]

While I share your sentiment on this, granting official government documents to illegals, such as California driver's licenses, which can be abused by potential terrorists, is much much lower than this. The democrats are parceling away any benefit whatsoever of being a US Citizen, so much so that they will even facilitate terrorists in their efforts against us.

[Just another Joe]

Oh, they'll see it.
Breaking out the Missouri Bump List.

Hey folks, take a look at this and let Lacy know what you think.

Phone:(202) 225-2406
Fax:(202) 225-1725
E-Mail: email available via WEBSITE.

D.C. Address:
415 CHOB, U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

District Offices:
625 North Euclid Street, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 367-1970 (V), (314) 367-1341 (F)

8525 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63114
(314) 890-0349 (V), (314) 427-6320 (F)