Toomey for Senate

June 29, 2010

Senatorial Candidate Pat Toomey spoke at The First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary Officer Quarters. This is the home of the oldest continous unit of the U.S. Army. They were originally commanded by George Washington.

Unlike our first president, however, Pat Toomey was not here to command the troops but was flanked on each end by veterans and veterans advocacy groups to speak about military and veteran issues.

Toomey began by saying, “I would hope that every American would have a profound sense of appreciation for our troops.” Toomey used that as the basis of his argument that we as Americans owe something to our troops, things like greater access to ballots for elections.

He said that sacrifice extends to foreign policy where America “must stand with its allies and stand up to its adversaries.” This is where he turned to talking about his opponent Joe Sestak. Toomey said that he honored the military service of Sestak but he said that on keeping America secure the two have fundamental differences.

Toomey believes that America should not pressure Israel to make security decisions, that Israel should make security decisions in their own self-interest.

On the issue of trying enemy combatants in military tribunals, Toomey said, “I have every confidence that the men and woman of the military can try terrorists in military court.” He also said the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be tried in a military tribunal. He attacked Sestak for saying that he supported KSM being tried in criminal court even if it was in the middle of PA. Toomey says that would bring unnecessary security risks to the state.

In response to a Sestak Press release that stipulates that Toomey is disconnected from veterans and that he chooses Wall Street over veterans, Toomey said, “that is a creative and redicoulous reading of my record.” He also said press releases like that would not be possible if “military and veterans appropriations were voted on as stand alone bills.”

He further attacked Sestak by saying, “one of us voted for these huge bailouts [Sestak] and the other did not.” He continued, “TARP was a mistake, the money did not go to troubled assets, it went to the nine largest firms whether they wanted the capital or not.”