John Mitty Thursday, August 9, 2012 |
Stephen Labate Calls for Congressman Israel to Stand Up for the Military
On July 17, 2012 the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit to prevent extending early voting to military members. When asked for a comment Stephen Labate said, “This is an outrage and appears to be an attempt to suppress the military vote”.
Labate, the Republican, who this November will challenge Congressman Steve Israel, pointed out “Congressman Israel is head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and his silence on this matter speaks volumes that his loyalty is to the party and not to the men and women who wear our country’s uniform”. The candidate continued, “The hypocrisy of vowing support for the military while staging photo ops, and then failing to stand up for military voting rights seems to be a pattern for Congressman Israel”.
In 2010 and 2012, the State of New York sought waivers from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, (MOVE Act), which protects the right of service members to vote in Federal elections regardless of where they are stationed. Congressman Israel was silent as the State of New York sought to disenfranchise military voters.
Labate, a 24-year Army officer who still wears our nation’s uniform, went on to say “I am keenly aware of the problems military personnel face when Election Day comes around. Many members don’t receive absentee ballots in time to be counted in the election and some never get them at all”.
Labate continued “Military personnel are on the front lines of defending our constitution so that everyone has the right to vote, and every accommodation should be made to ensure they do as well. I call on Congressman Israel to set politics aside and speak out against President Obama and his Party’s attempt to suppress the vote of our Soldiers”.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COMMITTEE TO ELECT STEPHEN A. LABATE, INC.
7:30 A.M. EST, AUGUST 09, 2012 P.O. BOX 6177
Contact: Chris Thompson NORTH BABYLON, NY 11703
chris@labateforcongress.com labate2012@labateforcongress.com
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