VIRGINIA - DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN PROVES '- 'STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES'

Submitted by: John Butler

http://www.lvtsg.com/imho/2012/10/congressman-connolly-d-va-veterans-unqualified-to-serve-in-congress/

Virginia Congressman: Veterans “Unqualified to Serve” in Congress Because Deployments Prevent Veterans from Serving Local Communities

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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.