Vote American

This war is different.The enemy is not just on the other side of the hill or across the river.They're not anywhere in sight most of the time and our soldiers are nothing less than sitting ducks, waiting to be ambushed.They've knowingly volunteered to be put in an ambush situation in a country full of people who all look the same. That takes raw courage and bravery, and a strong sense of loyalty to Amercia and its people And, it takes a lot of dedication to our freedom, those things are called patriotism.

Put yourself in their shoes. On the day of their departure from their home, they awaken to the thought that today may be the last time they will see their family. Today will be their last taste of freedom to go to work, eat with their family, drive their kids to a little league game, attend Grandma's birthday party and be intimite with their companion. Freedom. That very thing that tens of thousands of other Americans died for, is what they willingly leave behind to engage sadistic terrorists, in another part of the world, and in a new age of combat against cowardly suicide bombers and snipers.

Men and women from this very city unselfishly walked away from that for nearly two years, as many before them had done. Many came home, but emotionally traumatized, and some came home missing body parts. Some, however, came home in a body bag. We saw on TV how crushed their families were at their loss, but the were equally proud beyond any words. Women with children, holding a flag and staring at their husband and father entombed in a casket. Parents crying over the loss of their daughters. They looked stunned and defeated, even confused and bitter, but still, they couldn't have been more proud of the sacrifice and the soldier who willingly made it. That scenario has played out in cemetaries in this area thousands upon thousands of times.

Over the last year, many of our brave soldiers returned home. It started in the small towns around Scranton. It seemed that every month, a small town was celebrating the safe return of their heroic sons and daughters from Iraq or Afganistan. There were numerous homecoming parades and preparations in anticipation of the big moment when that bus full of the proud and glorious military people turned the corner and headed for their families. Political leaders opened their hearts and wallets, nothing but the best for these heroes. There were choked up speeches and large crowds of appreciative citizens on hand to honor them.

Then, it was Scranton's turn to gear up for the return of 103rd "Bravo" Company, an entire battalion of heroic and brave Scrantonians. The big day of their return home was well advertised. As the buses full of anxious soldiers steamed toward the Watrous Armory, the streets were filled with proud residents applauding them. Tears were flowing before the buses were even in sight. Then, around the corner and down the street came the buses. The gathering residents cheered loudly with great adulation for their fighting people. Inside the Armory, friends and families started to cry and shake uncontrollably inside, knowing that any minute now, a dream was about to come true and thousands upon thousands of prayers were about to be answered. For most, Daddy was home, alive. For some, Mommy was home, alive. For others, a son or daughter was home, alive. As each bus emptied out, the soldiers proudly marched in formation into the Armory to the roar of approval and pride from their families and friends. Everyone impatiently and emotionally waited for the one word they waited so desperately to hear for nearly two years, and after a brief acknowledgment and compliments from the commanding officer, he gave it to them that precious word.

It was an emotional frenzy that nothing in this world could possibly compare with. Wives and husbands raced to one another and clutched each other until their hands turned white. Some husbands stared at a child he was seeing for the first time. Mothers and fathers were so overwhelmed that they couldn't even speak. Their loved ones were home, no more terrible thoughts of life without them. No more fears that the phone would ring with tragic news.

But there was one thing missing on that glorious day. The man who should have been there greeting each soldier, saluting them one by one and making a speech on behalf of every resident in Scranton wasn't there. Chris Doherty. Where was he? He was at a basketball game, of all places, a basketball game. At a time when the only real heroes we have nowadays came home to the thrill of their families, the Mayor of the City was busy watching college boys playing with a ball.

There was no parade for the brave soldiers as in every other town and borough. There was no Proclamation for the men and women who put it on the line, although Mr. Doherty's son received one from the city for being on a winning school basketball team. Ex-mayorJimmy Connors would have never let that happen, neither would any of the previous mayors. Jimmy McNulty would have had the biggest party the Watrous Armory ever saw, fireworks that would have lasted for hours and a parade like these soldiers deserved. McNulty and Connors would have shook every hand as the buses unloaded. But, not Chris Doherty. He couldn't be bothered with soldiers, after all, they'er mostly blue collar boys, and we all know how the very wealthy mayor feels about blue collar people, don't we?

One of Scranton's most decorated war heroes was a former mayor, Dave Wenzel. He was lucky to come home alive. He was extensively wounded in the Vietnam War. He spends his entire life in a wheelchair and is one of the most honorable and distinguished gentlemen in our city. How did Doherty honor highly decorated war hero Mr. Davis Wenzel? It was by taking his picture down from the corridor leading to his office, along with many other mayors who served this country. Mayor Doherty said the pictures depressed him.

County and School District employees who went to war were taken care of by the County Commissioners and the School Board. Mayor Doherty gave the military families whose breadwinner was in Iraq nothing, but the screwing of their lives. He's more interested and involved in "Gay Pride" than "Military Pride". Thank You Mayor Doherty for insulting and disrespecting our military families. You are a symbol of anti-patriorism and do not deserve to be an American, let alone an American mayor.

I don't know about you, but for me, there's something extra special about the soldiers that fill the cemetaries around here. And, how about those soldiers who never came home for an honorable burial? In their honor, every effort should be taken to honor those gutty soldiers who are living among us. When an opportunity, such as the homecoming of an entire battalion, which was scheduled and well known, Mayor Doherty should have prepared a welcome that at least equalled their effort in ducking bullets and bomb blasts in Iraq, like all other mayors did in surrounding communities. We owed these soldiers on that day of returning home, big time, for their sacrifices that are far, far too numerous to mention.

ACCORDING TO POLLS CONDUCTED FROM MARCH 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN SCRANTON IS ENRAGED WITH DOHERTY'S ARROGANCE AND INSULTING DISRESPECT. OUT OF NEARLY 8,000 PEOPLE QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS FAILURE TO HONOR THE TROOPS, ALL OF THEM SAID THEY ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR MAYOR DOHERTY, NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND NOT FOR ANY OF HIS CRONIES

Recently, at a ceremony to honor the Veterans at Keyser Valley Community Center, Doherty was conspicuously absent - even after being ABSENT from the March 2005 welcome at the Watrous Armory - even after being ABSENT from the luncheon on May 18th in honor of the Veterans - and now, as if that is not enough....

THIS IS ABOUT THE MAN, NOT JUST THE MAYOR. THIS IS ABOUT TRUE BETRAYAL TO OUR FIGHTING PEOPLE, OUTRAGEOUS DISRESPECT AND INSULT. IF A MAYOR CAN'T HONOR MILITARY PEOPLE, IT'S NO WONDER HE DISRESPECTS ALL OF US WITH THE WAY HE RECKLESSLY LAUNCHED OUR DEBT LOAD TO OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS. NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE BEEN SUCH A NEED TO REMOVE A MAYOR BASED UPON PURE ETHICS AND MORALITY ALONE. A VOTE AGAINST THIS INSENSITVE AND DISHONORABLE MAN IS A VOTE FOR DIGNITY, PRIDE AND THANKS TO THE MILITARY.