Support Our Troops? Meek Would Rather Campaign

RPOF Press Release - July 28, 2010
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Meek and Grayson Skip Vote to Provide Support for Our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher today commented on Florida Congressmen Kendrick Meek, who is seeking the Democrat nomination for United States Senate, and Alan Grayson, who is seeking re-election for a second term, missing a critical vote to provide supplemental funding that will support our troops and the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It is appalling that during a time when Kendrick Meek is asking Florida voters for a promotion, he chose to campaign in South Florida rather than voting for critical funding to support our troops and their mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Every day soldiers from across the state of Florida fight to defend our freedom and Iraq and Afghanistan. Kendrick Meek and Alan Grayson shouldn’t let politics get in the way of providing essential support for these Floridians who are risking their lives on our behalf. The soldiers, sailors and marines this bill will support can’t miss missions or pick and choose which operations to complete, so why should their representatives in congress pick and choose what bills to vote for and which votes they can just sit out.

“Floridians are counting on our congressional delegation to be our voice in Washington. If Kendrick Meek and Alan Grayson won’t speak on our behalf, we need to find replacements who will and who understand the tremendous responsibility with which members of the Unites States Congress are entrusted.”

Chairman Thrasher is a former Army officer and decorated Vietnam veteran. He served first in Germany, where he received the Army Commendation Medal, and later in Vietnam, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars for meritorious duty.

Background:
Hastings votes against Afghanistan-Iraq war funding bill; Meek misses vote: With Democrats increasingly divided on the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 308-to-114 late today for a supplemental spending bill that includes $37 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

President Obama’s request got more support from Republicans (160 votes) than Democrats (148 votes). …U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, did not vote. Meek, who’s running for U.S. Senate, was campaigning in South Florida earlier in the day. (Palm Beach Post, 7/27/10)

Meek and Grayson Miss the Vote to Support Our Troops, Three Florida Democrats Oppose the Measure: The U.S House on Tuesday approved $33 billion in war funding but many Democrats -- including three from Florida – opposed the spending in a sign of deepening worries about the effort in Afghanistan. Florida Reps. Kathy Castor, Alcee Hastings and Corrine Brown voted against the measure. Three members from the state did not vote: Kendrick Meek, Alan Grayson and C.W. Bill Young, who is undergoing back surgery. (“Florida's Mixed Vote On War Funding,” St. Petersburg Times, 7/28/10)


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