Rep. Metcalfe call vets "traitors" for supporting clean energy

Representative Daryl Metcalfe is at it again. This time he has called Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans “Traitors” and “Benedict Arnolds” for disagreeing with him on energy policy.

Take action here: http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametvet

Here’s the story. A group of veterans are traveling across the country on a 21-state bus tour to talk to citizens and local community leaders about the dangers of climate change and its threat to national security. The tour will make stops in Pennsylvania on October 20^th through the 22^nd (see below for the PA schedule).

The tour is sponsored by Operation Free, a coalition of veterans and national security groups working together to raise public awareness about national security threats posed by climate change and the importance of building a clean energy economy that is not tied to fossil fuels. Operation Free and its members support a clean energy plan that cuts carbon pollution, develops clean energy incentives, and puts America in control of its energy future.

The vets in Operation Free invited local elected officials to join them at each of their stops. When Rep. Metcalfe got his invitation this is what he wrote back:

“Subject: Re: Veterans for American Power Bus Tour coming to your state

As a veteran,

I believe that any veteran lending their name, to promote the leftist propaganda of global warming and climate change, in an effort to control more of the wealth created in our economy, through cap and tax type policies, all in the name of national security, is a traitor to the oath he or she took defend the Constitution of our great nation!

Remember Benedict Arnold before giving credibility to a veteran who uses their service as a means to promote a leftist agenda.

Drill Baby Drill!!!

For Liberty,

Daryl Metcalfe

State Representative

Veteran U.S. Army

I happen to agree with the vets that a clean energy plan is in the best interest of our national security. But whether you agree or not, to call someone a “traitor” is beyond outrageous. It is against everything this nation stands for.

Join people from all over Pennsylvania in demanding that Rep. Metcalfe apologize for his insult to our veterans, the Constitution and every American. Click here to fax Metcalfe now: http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametvet It will only take a minute if you use the letter we’ve drafted, or you can write your own comments to Metcalfe.

Thank you in advance for standing up for our ability to speak out without government persecution.

In Solidarity,

Michael Morrill
Keystone Progress

Join the Vets at one of their Pennsylvania stops:

Pennsylvania Tour SchedulePittsburgh PA: Veterans will hold a press conference, take a tour of the Oakland Veterans Hospital, and have dinner in Pittsburgh.
Press ConferenceWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 4:00 PM
WHERE: Pittsburgh Jobs Corps Center, 7175 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA

Tour of Oakland Veterans HospitalWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 5:30 PM
WHERE: Oakland Vets Hospital, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA

Toast and DinnerWHEN: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 6:40 PM
WHERE: Primanti Brothers Restaurant, 3803 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

Harrisburg, PA: Veterans will host a breakfast roundtable with local veterans and a press conference with local veterans and officials. They will then take a tour of a local job training site with union members.
Breakfast Roundtable
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 10:00 AM
WHERE: Bagel Lovers coffee shop, 327 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA

Press conference
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:00 AM
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, 228 Walnut St., Harrisburg, PA
PARTICIPANTS:Paul Bachman, Central PA Building Trades President
Terry Peck, UA Local 520 Business Manager
Local veterans

Tour of Job Training Center
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:50 AM
WHERE: Plumbers & Pipefittes 520, 7193 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA

Philadelphia, PA: Veterans will host a town hall with State Rep. Brian Lentz
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 4:00 PM
WHERE: Philadelphia City Hall, Mayor's Reception Room (Room 202), Enter through NE entrance of City Hall, near intersection of Juniper and Market Streets.

Scranton, PA: Veterans will host a press conference with local citizens.
WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:15 AM
WHERE: Civil War Memorial for press conference, N. Washington Ave and Spruce Street, Scranton, PA

Rep Metcalfe: Domestic violence a family value?

A simple resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican representing Butler. Why? Because, he said, “It has a homosexual agenda.”

No, I’m not making this up. Here is the rest of the quote from his remarks on the House floor, objecting to the resolution: “I protest, this is not non-controversial, and if you read the language it has a homosexual agenda.”¹

On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding a domestic violence programs “a slap in the face to family values.”² The bill passed despite his outrageous claim.

Rep. Metcalfe clearly has a problem with preventing domestic violence in Pennsylvania. He also has a problem with LGBT people and other minorities trying to assert and protect their rights.

We say “Enough of Metcalfe’s bigotry and ignorance!” Join people from all over Pennsylvania is demanding that he allow a vote of the resolution recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month and that he should apologize for his insensitive remarks.

Click here to send him your message. http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametcalfe1

Domestic violence is a serious problem that needs our attention. According to the resolution that the House was considering³:

· One in every four women and one in every nine men will experience domestic violence in his or her lifetime.

· One in six women and one in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape.

· Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States.

· Thirty percent to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home.

· Intimate partner violence results in more than 18.5 million mental health care visits each year.

· The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.

Please take action now to tell Rep. Metcalfe what you think. Then forward this to everyone you know and ask them to write to Metcalfe. http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/speakout/pametcalfe1

Michael Morrill and the Keystone Progress Team

¹ CapitolWire, September 17, 2009

² ibid

³ Here’s the entire text of the resolution that Metcalfe killed. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=R&billNbr=0105&pn=0738