 |
Posted on 01/07/2005 1:15:34 PM PST by ex-snook
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
By: KATHLEEN CANNON (Fri, Jan/07/2005)
TRENTON - Burlington County veterans are outraged that House Republicans stripped U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of the chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
At the behest of GOP leaders, Republican House members voted Wednesday to oust Smith, R-4th of Robbinsville, from the committee he chaired for four years and served on for 24. They blamed a series of budget and philosophical clashes with Smith.
"This is terrible. I've known him for 25 years. A man of higher integrity you'll never find,'' said Ed Kelley of Mount Laurel, a member of the New Jersey Veterans' Services Council.
Smith, the dean of the New Jersey delegation, sought higher levels of funding for veterans services than the Bush Administration desired. He also butted heads with conservative Republicans over labor and environmental issues.
Veterans groups came to his defense Wednesday, peppering House Speaker Dennis Hastert with letters seeking Smith's retention as committee chairman.
"This is absolutely devastating to the veteran community,'' said Sam Podietz, Burlington County veterans services officer. "To throw him out the door is just a slap in the face to all veterans.''
Smith departed last night on a trip to tsunami-devastated South Asia and could not be reached for comment yesterday to address an Internet report that unnamed New Jersey Republicans were pushing him to run for governor.
Smith's congressional demotion demonstrates an independent and ethical streak that would serve the state well, the unnamed backers told the Web site PoliticsNJ.com.
The chairmen of the Burlington County and Mercer County Republicans organizations both said they knew nothing about the report, nor could they identify Smith backers who may be behind it.
Phil Angarone Jr., Republican Party chairman for Mercer County, said Smith told him earlier yesterday that he was not interested in running for governor.
Mike Warner, chairman of the Burlington County GOP, is also a retired colonel and past post commander at Fort Dix. Speaking as a veteran, Warner called Smith "a very strong advocate for veterans. He's been the catalyst for a lot of good things in the veteran community.''
Warner said he does not believe House conservatives are singling out moderate Republican members of the New Jersey delegation. Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-3rd of Mount Holly, was denied a full chairmanship. Four years ago, former U.S. Rep. Marge Roukema, R-5th of Bergen County also was denied.
State Assemblyman Jack Conners, D-7th of Pennsauken, chairman of the Assembly veterans committee, isn't so sure.
"The vets loved him. He's just been so good to them over the years, and for some reason there is a Republican bias for this part of the country,'' he said.
Smith's colleagues in the New Jersey congressional delegation, Republican and Democrat alike, praised the ex-chairman's leadership.
Saxton put out a statement calling Smith a "tireless advocate.''
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd of Vineland, said he was disappointed in his party but pledged to work with the new committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., a Gulf War veteran.
A Democratic congressman was more strident in his criticism of the GOP.
"What this really means is that political leadership is solely focused on whipping everyone into line and is hostile to veteran concerns,'' said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-1st of Haddon Heights. "Chris does not fit that mold.''
E-mail: kcannon@phillyBurbs.com
Article's URL:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-01072005-428437.html
Politicians are going to look out for politicians--not for the people who sent them to office. An example is the Senate Judiciary dirty politicians, over the protests of the conservatives, kept the worm Specter as chairman.
That is exactly why he is there: To shortchange the veterans, to authorize less spending that Chris Smith consistently pushed for; to close facilities that Smith fought to keep open.
Kathleen Cannon has only been reporting on Burlington County for about 20 years so why should she be expected to know how to spell Ed Kelly's name, or note that he had been Burlington County Clerk for many years and the county's liaison to the military bases, Fort Dix and McGuire AFB. Or that he organized annual trips for employers who supported their employees' Guard and Reserve duties.
Why is this important? Kelly isn't just a member of an obscure advocacy group, he was a powerful GOP politician in Smith's district and continues to keep his hand in.
He's also a heck of a nice guy.
Politician on Memorial Day "Nothing is too good for veterans". Upon further review, NOTHING, is too good for veterans.
What the hell is wrong with our party???????
This is very damaging to see the GOP has no problem going overboard in spending on everything else but it seems the President and GOP Congress is ready to ask for less when it regards the veterans. This is suicide. To see the day when the GOP does this kind of garbage when they put Specter in the Judiciary chairmanship with no problem-shows they are really going to start losing support. I am disgusted with this and the probability of this National Guard story being true. Seems Bush and the Congressmen need to hear from us.
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.