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McCain camp unloads on Obama for skipping trip to visit troops
Hot Air ^ | 7/26/08 | Lt. Colonel Joe Repya

Posted on 07/26/2008 11:55:50 AM PDT by flyfree

Today, retired Lt. Colonel Joe Repya issued the following statement on Barack Obama’s cancelled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl: “The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.” Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya served 30 years of duty and three wars, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born in 1946 in Gary, Indiana. He was the oldest son of a disabled combat wounded veteran of the European Campaign of World War II. Awarded an ROTC scholarship he attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, graduating in 1969. Upon graduation he was appointed to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His 30 years of service in the US Army (12 years Active and 18 years in the National Guard & Reserves) lasted from 1969 until 2006. He served as a Combat Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Viet Nam in 1970/71 with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers “Currahee’s”), and an Aero Rifle Platoon Leader with A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. In Desert Storm 1990/91, he served as a Combat Helicopter Pilot and Staff Officer with the 4th Brigade (Aviation), 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One). He initially retired in 1998. After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, he was one of 12,000 US Army retirees who volunteered for Retiree Recall to Active US Army duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. LTC Repya was selected as one of only 350 retirees who were returned to active duty status. At 58 years old on October 1, 2004 he returned as an Aviation Branch Officer for two more additional years of active duty service with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He served for nine months as the G-3 Air for the Division. In 2005 he served as the Senior Liaison Officer for the 101st Airborne Division with the Multi National Corps Headquarters at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. He reentered retired status at the end of September 2006 at the age of 60.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mccain; obama; obamasbigadventure; obamatruthfile

1 posted on 07/26/2008 11:56:02 AM PDT by flyfree
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To: flyfree

Better formatting:

Today, retired Lt. Colonel Joe Repya issued the following statement on Barack Obama’s cancelled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:

“The most solemn duty of a commander in chief is to fulfill his responsibility to the men and women who serve this country in uniform. Barack Obama had scheduled a visit with wounded American troops who have served with honor and distinction in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he broke that commitment, instead flitting from one European capital to the next. Several explanations were offered, none was convincing and each was at odds with the statements of American military leaders in Germany and Washington. For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”

Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya served 30 years of duty and three wars, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born in 1946 in Gary, Indiana. He was the oldest son of a disabled combat wounded veteran of the European Campaign of World War II. Awarded an ROTC scholarship he attended Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, graduating in 1969. Upon graduation he was appointed to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His 30 years of service in the US Army (12 years Active and 18 years in the National Guard & Reserves) lasted from 1969 until 2006. He served as a Combat Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Viet Nam in 1970/71 with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment (Band of Brothers “Currahee’s”), and an Aero Rifle Platoon Leader with A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. In Desert Storm 1990/91, he served as a Combat Helicopter Pilot and Staff Officer with the 4th Brigade (Aviation), 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One). He initially retired in 1998.

After the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, he was one of 12,000 US Army retirees who volunteered for Retiree Recall to Active US Army duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. LTC Repya was selected as one of only 350 retirees who were returned to active duty status. At 58 years old on October 1, 2004 he returned as an Aviation Branch Officer for two more additional years of active duty service with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He served for nine months as the G-3 Air for the Division. In 2005 he served as the Senior Liaison Officer for the 101st Airborne Division with the Multi National Corps Headquarters at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. He reentered retired status at the end of September 2006 at the age of 60.


2 posted on 07/26/2008 11:57:04 AM PDT by flyfree
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To: flyfree

“For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”


3 posted on 07/26/2008 11:59:10 AM PDT by flyfree
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To: flyfree

He had to get to the gym and pump some weights to look buff for his evening interview.

A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do...


4 posted on 07/26/2008 11:59:48 AM PDT by tips up
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To: flyfree

The Obama Iraq Documentary: Whatever the Politics Demand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHEIi4XKRmM

IN 52 SECS WHY BARACK OBAMA WON’T WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs


5 posted on 07/26/2008 12:01:11 PM PDT by flyfree
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To: flyfree
“For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”

Stick him in the neck McCain!

6 posted on 07/26/2008 12:04:59 PM PDT by mylife (People That Blindly Follow Obama Are Barack "Suckers")
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To: flyfree

Barack’s simple problem is he’s running for President of the Earth ... and there is no such job.


7 posted on 07/26/2008 12:13:01 PM PDT by JennysCool
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To: flyfree

Barry managed to screw the pooch before he returned home... After this episode and few other gaffs, can they really call this trip a success?

The man was supposed to show the world his presidential skills, and if having your photo taken is what one would call a ‘Presidential Skill’, then he should be the next President hands down.

Fortunately, there’s more to being a US President than just having your picture taken.

What America got to see over the past week was a young inexperienced junior Senator acting like he can play with the big boys.

The Obama loving media did their best, but hard reality set in when Barry couldn’t justify his failure to make the correct decision on the most important military policy decision’s since the start of the Iraq war, the surge.

He followed that up with a speech that his loving media entourage had billed as being one of the most important speeches of all time. In reality, it turned out to be sleeper with no real substance.

Then, what John Kerry can easily verify is one of the most useless endorsements a US candidate can obtain, the French President fully endorsed Obama in a joint news conference, the only joint news conference of his trip. Now there’s a picture worth a thousand words.

And finally and with the usual air of arrogance that he and his campaign display on a regular basis, he snubs the wounded Soldiers and blames on their employer rather than acknowledge a mistake with significant repercussions.

Yeah... This trip was a great success for Barry. LOL


8 posted on 07/26/2008 12:35:27 PM PDT by jerod (They were pro-abortion, for gun control & wanted a cleaner environment at all cost - The NAZI party)
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To: flyfree
For a young man so apt at playing president, Barack Obama badly misjudged the important demands of the office he seeks. Visits with world leaders and speeches to cheering Europeans shouldn’t be a substitute for comforting injured American heroes.”

For my part, he can move himself over there and be their leader. I have no use for this slimeball, arrogant, selfcentered, military loathing, America hating, piece of ________.

Several explanations were offered,

Several excuses were offered is more like the real deal. Excuses are like A holes, everyone has one. I'd bet he was afraid some of the troops would have told him where to go, and it would not have been America.

9 posted on 07/26/2008 12:39:32 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for any Democrat from BO on down the ticket is a vote for $10 a gallon gas.)
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To: mylife
Keeping the Obama allergy to talking with the troops, boycotting the military hospitals, the success of the surge before the public’s eye is important.

However, he must not sound like a one horn band. There are other real important issues to educate the public about, issues to which thinking voters will respond once the case is made.

10 posted on 07/26/2008 1:40:41 PM PDT by elpadre (nation)
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To: flyfree

Can’t read that. Just a blur of black specs on white.


11 posted on 07/26/2008 1:51:31 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: All

Sadly, the MSM is going to ignore these comments while swooning over the rockstar wannabe egomaniac.

Obama won’t be asked a single tough question by the MSM in the next 100 days, they will all but ignore McCain, and create a folk hero out of the fraud Obama.

Hopefully, 50.01% of the people will see thru the charade, but with the MSM controlling what is said and seen, it’s not looking good.

I’m no big fan of McCain, but god help us all if this charlatan gets elected. It’ll make us miss the Clinton administration.


12 posted on 07/26/2008 2:57:54 PM PDT by Rodney Dangerfield
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To: tips up
He had to get to the gym and pump some weights to look buff for his evening interview.

And besides, the "he's a god, he doesn't even sweat" stories had already gone into print.

13 posted on 07/26/2008 3:59:05 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham ("The land of the Free...Because of the Brave")
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To: jerod
He followed that up with a speech that his loving media entourage had billed as being one of the most important speeches of all time. In reality, it turned out to be sleeper with no real substance.

....presented to an audience that was lured by the promise of a free rock concert. This scheme was pulled here in the states as well. This guy is phonier than the Clintons, Gore, and Kerry combined -- if that's possible without an earth-destoying matter-antimatter detonation.

14 posted on 07/26/2008 4:21:35 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham ("The land of the Free...Because of the Brave")
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To: jerod

bttt


15 posted on 07/26/2008 9:24:42 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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