Pennsylvania State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has a reputation in the Keystone State for making asinine comments. But this one caught me a little off guard...
Last Monday I diaried about my work with Operation FREE, a group of veterans touring the country making the national security argument for clean energy initiatives. In each state we visit, we invite elected officials to join us in talking about the importance of our energy future, and so when we made plans to visit Pennsylvania, my Operation Free colleague and fellow veteran Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx from Maine, contacted Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Pennsylvania. Rep. Metcalfe’s response was outrageous:
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
In the comments many of you expressed outrage that one veteran would accuse another of being a traitor, and so we launched a petition. As Meteor Blades wrote yesterday, Metcalfe...
made this claim in an email to every member of the House last Friday, amid references to Benedict Arnold and leftwing climate agendas. The message taints everyone from former Secretary of the Navy John Warner to retired General Anthony Zinni to Captain Jon Powers to all the sergeants and lance corporals who believe that national security is weakened if we don’t deal with climate change.
Thanks to Meteor Blades' post, which linked to our petition demanding an apology, the local press is picking up the story.
Meteor Blades is among a legion of bloggers speaking out against Metcalfe’s disrespect towards his fellow veterans. VetVoice blogger Thurman Hart also responded to swiftboater Metcalfe:
I take that oath [to the Constitution] seriously. And because I take it seriously, I take special umbrage to anyone who wraps up in the flag and begins to lodge charges of treason against someone who disagrees with them.
However - we need your help to keep the momentum going. Metcalfe is stubbornly sticking to his comments, refusing to apologize. In fact, yesterday he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Operation FREE vets "are not patriots." Here’s how you can help:
I only have a minute to spare!
Signand/or Tweet the petition. A couple of clicks and your job is done.
OK, I have an extra few seconds.
Update your Facebook status denouncing Metcalfe. Consider linking to one of the petitions.
I have a little more time to give.
Write your own blogpost or diary, and send us your links. We will post a roundup on the Op Free blog.
If you have the time to go one further, feel free to call, email, or send mail to Metcalfe.
At Operation free we are committed to a stronger, cleaner America. With your help, a cleaner, more secure America will be part of our future.
Thank you for all that you do.