Hartzler notes that while Skelton is praising soldiers, he opposed surge

I doubt seriously that Republican Fourth Congressional District candidate Vicky Hartzler is going to get much traction criticizing incumbent Democrat Ike Skelton on defense issues, but that is exactly what takes place in the following news release issued Wednesday:

As 4th Congressional District Republican candidate Vicky Hartzler applauds the achievement of the American troop surge that has produced success in Iraq, Congressman Ike Skelton is conveniently omitting the fact that he opposed the surge every step of the way.


"Today I commend and applaud our men and women in uniform for their bravery, skill, and achievement in Iraq" said Hartzler following President Obama's Oval Office speech. "And, unlike Ike Skelton, I never doubted that our men and women could succeed and would succeed. Along with a grateful nation, I thank them and their families for their sacrifice and dedication to freedom."

In January, 2007, Skelton denounced the Bush planned troop surge as too little, too late. In fact, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that during a closed door meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Skelton asserted the war in Iraq was no longer winnable militarily. In February, Skelton introduced and secured passage of an anti-surge resolution. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll099.xml During floor debate on his resolution, Skelton argued the surge would "embroil our troops even more deeply in a sectarian conflict that everyone agrees we cannot solve."

Colonel Dick Hobbs, USMC (Retired), who served as Commander of the Marines at Fort Leonard Wood from 1999-2002, does not see Skelton as a friend of the military.

"Where was he when we needed his support for this surge plan in 2007?" asked Hobbs. "He was probably in the same place we find him today - supporting the Nancy Pelosi agenda 95 percent of the time. It is time for this career politician to step down and a true representative of our values to take the seat. Vicky Hartzler will not only support our military, she will focus on the key issues of this nation: Jobs, defeating this crazy cap-and-tax legislation that Ike supports, and turning around this socialized approach to medical care."

In his Oval Office speech, President Obama told Americans it is time to "turn the page" on Iraq. Congressman Skelton, who calls himself "the Soldiers' Congressman," turned the page and, at the same time, turned his back on our troops three-and-a-half years ago.

"The American soldier proved Congressman Skelton wrong,” said Hartzler. “And our world is better off because of it today."