Archive for the ‘Security’ Category

Calls on Administration to Provide Clarity

Mar 25, 2011 Issues: Defense and National Security, Foreign Affairs

LANGHORNE, Pa. – Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick today released the following statement on the ongoing United States military operations in Libya which commenced on March 19, 2011.

“There are important questions that need to be answered by President Obama regarding the current military action taking place in Libya. I have enormous confidence in the ability of our military’s brave fighting men and women and they need and deserve clarity in their mission, means, and chain of command.

“The President must define what political and military victory in Libya will look like. The language of the United Nations resolution under which allied forces are ostensibly operating has been the source of division and confusion within the coalition as to the scope of its mandate and the military means to be employed.

“Both the Congress and the American people deserve a clear explanation of what our goals are, how we intend to achieve these goals and how long United States forces will be involved in military operations in Libya. I look forward to the briefing by Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and General Clapper and hope they are able to provide answers to these vital questions as the conflict enters its second week.”

The contrast is stunning! Across the Delaware River in Trenton, the fresh face and straight talk of Governor Chris Christie leaves no doubt in the minds of New Jersey citizens about where he stands on any issue of substance. As a result, he is on the verge of closing a budget gap of $11 BILLION (yes with a B).

Meanwhile, on our side of the Delaware, freshman-faced congressman Cong. Patrick Murphy, D-PA08 continues to ignore important issues on a daily basis. His non-verbal response to the Gulf oil disaster, followed by an ill-conceived, job-killing, drilling moratorium? — a “Job Fair” at a local mall.

Well, silence means consent: Therefore Murphy must support the drilling moratorium by the Obama administration.

In 2009, over 42,000 metric tons of petroleum crude came into Delaware River ports.

It is far and away the largest commodity brought into our region.

That crude is refined here to heat our homes, fuel our transportation among a myriad other uses.

That commodity supports thousands of jobs here in our region.

Decisions on energy production by Interior Secretary Ken Salaszar, while making salacious soundbites for the Sierra Club, will not help in the dead of winter when shortages drive the cost of heating oil through the roof for thousands of Bucks County families.

Yet, Patrick Murphy has NO COMMENT on President Obama’s decision to place a moratorium on drilling. No one likes what is happening in the gulf, but quality of life depends on a job as much as a clean environment.

Murphy thinks silence is a safe harbor from answering hard questions about these balancing acts. So far he has been right: To twist one his favorite issue – If he “Don’t Tell”, the Bucks County media “Don’t Ask”!!

Silence means consent, so why isn’t the Bucks County media helping their readers understand whether and how much consideration Murphy has given to supporting this decision.

Politically, Murphy may believe silence is golden, but that’s what a free press is supposed to override!

Mike Fitzpatrick Commits to the Race for PA 8th Congressional Seat

Langhorne PA – Mike Fitzpatrick, the former Congressman from The Eighth Pennsylvania Congressional District and Former Bucks County Commissioner announced his candidacy to reclaim his Congressional seat from Patrick Murphy at an impromptu meeting yesterday.

Standing before a group of several hundred well wishers and supporters, Mr. Fitzpatrick said he had been lucky to win a second chance at life while battling cancer two years earlier and it has changed his perspective significantly. He announced he was here to fight for his friends and neighbors and help bring some fiscal sanity to the Congress again.

One of the previously announced candidates for the Republican primary was in the crowd and heard speaking to a local reporter saying he was dropping out of the race and was joining Mike’s team to help bring him back to the job he deserves. Read the rest of this entry »