| The Record Group criticizes Kean for refusal to answer its Iraq questions Thursday, September 21, 2006 By JOSH GOHLKE TRENTON BUREAU When a group of staunchly anti-war military relatives interviewed a mildly pro-war U.S. Senate candidate last month, they did not expect to like all his answers. But they did expect answers. Instead, Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Tom Kean Jr. declined to respond to several questions that local members of the national organization Military Families Speak Out put to him on the subject of Iraq, according to representatives of the group. Kean promised to put his answers in writing later, but his campaign finally told the group he would not be replying that way either. Click here to read more. "That, I thought, was a major mistake," said group member Anna Berlinrut, a Maplewood legal assistant whose son, a Marine reservist, is in Fallujah on his third deployment. "That was definitely wrong." Other group members found Kean evasive. "I really thought he would answer our questions," said group member JoAnn Sohl, a longtime Palisades Park resident whose son returned to Iraq this week after a 14-day leave. "He should have answered them. I would have a lot more respect. Our children are the ones fighting the war." When asked about the encounter with the mostly Democratic military family members, a Kean spokeswoman responded with a reiteration of the state senator's position on the war, including his call for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation and other criticisms of the administration. "Senator Kean has been clear and consistent in his position on the war in Iraq, and he's more than willing to discuss his thoughts with anyone that asks, which is why he sat down with this group to begin with," said the spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker. Hazelbaker did not respond to questions about Kean's earlier refusal to answer the group in person or in writing. Last weekend, the Bergen and Essex chapters of Military Families Speak Out began distributing a flier listing nine questions about the war and Kean's answers (or lack thereof) alongside those of his Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. Among the questions Kean refused to answer were whether he personally would consider joining the military to help the cause in Iraq, and what he would do as a senator to ensure returning troops get needed services. Menendez answered the question about military service in Iraq by saying he was too old to serve in the military and was calling for withdrawal anyway, according to the group. While the flier does not make an endorsement, it leaves little mystery about which candidate fared better in the minds of Military Families Speak Out. The organization's support for immediate withdrawal puts it closer to Menendez, who voted against the war and has advocated withdrawal by next year. Kean has said he would have voted for the invasion and he opposes withdrawal deadlines, although he has become increasingly critical of the administration's handling of the occupation. Group members said they have differences with each candidate and have urged both to be more vocal in their criticism of the occupation. Jon Moscow of Teaneck said his only objection was that Kean promised to answer the most difficult questions later, and then never did so. "There are a lot of things I disagree with Senator Menendez on," said Moscow, whose nephew is a soldier in Baghdad. "I didn't necessarily expect to find myself in full agreement with everything either of them said. What I was looking for was serious thought." Military Families Speak Out offered to record its meetings with the candidates or take the answers in writing, and both candidates opted for the latter, said group member Paula Rogovin of Teaneck. Shortly after the Aug. 14 meeting with Kean, Rogovin said, she asked his campaign for his written answers and was asked to put the questions in writing. She did so and inquired again on Aug. 28. An aide then told her that Kean had decided not to answer the questions at all. "I would say that it's incredibly disrespectful," she said. The Menendez campaign provided the Democrat's answers in writing after the group met with him in Washington earlier that month. Rogovin and the other group members also objected to some of the answers Kean did come up with during their meeting. One was asked on behalf of John Fenton of Little Ferry, whose 24-year-old son suffered a head injury in Iraq and died several days later, in May, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Fenton wanted to know whether Kean had visited wounded troops at hospitals such as the one in Bethesda. Kean replied that he was not allowed to visit those hospitals because he is a candidate for office, according to the group members. But a spokesman for the Bethesda hospital said visits by politicians are in fact common. "We have an office that deals specifically with those types of requests," said the spokesman, Petty Officer Antuan Guerry. "To my knowledge, there's not anything prohibiting anyone from visiting.'' Kean's spokeswoman doubted that he had given the answer that the group described. "I wasn't in the meeting with this group, but I don't believe that Tom would say it's illegal or against regulation to visit a military hospital as a campaign stop," Hazelbaker said. "He may have been trying to say that he feels it is inappropriate to use a soldier's sacrifice for our country as a campaign prop." E-mail: gohlke@northjersey.com North Jersey Media Group Inc. |
| Menendez – Kean, Jr. speak about the war/occupation of Iraq Members of Military Families Speak Out – Bergen and Essex County Chapters, recently met with Senator Robert Menendez and State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., candidates for U.S. Senate, to ask them about their position on the war/occupation of Iraq. State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. didn’t answer many of our questions at the August 14th meeting but, agreed to submit answers to our questions in writing. To our dismay, on August 28, Senator Kean, Jr’s office called to inform us that he would not answer the remaining questions, and he would not put any answers in writing. Senator Menendez answered our questions at the meeting and put his answers in writing. We will share with you the answers of Senator Menendez and State Senator Kean, Jr. We urge you to VOTE on November 7 1. This question was asked on behalf of John Fenton of Little Ferry, NJ. His son, Sgt. Matthew Fenton, died from injuries suffered in Iraq. Have you been to Bethesda or other military hospitals to visit wounded troops or veterans? Kean, Jr.: No. I have not visited these hospitals. I am not allowed to because I am a candidate for office. Menendez: Yes. I visit Walter Reed Hospital regularly. Any elected official can visit military or Veterans Hospital, and I encourage my colleagues to visit as well, to understand the consequences of war. 2. Should US troops remain in Iraq? Kean, Jr.: Yes. The US troops should remain until there is a stable government and the borders are secure. There should not be a timetable for withdrawal. Menendez: No. The troops should not remain in Iraq. I voted for the Kerry Amendment which provides a timetable for withdrawal within the year. 3. Did you, or would you have voted in hindsight for the resolution to send troops to Iraq? Kean, Jr.: Yes Menendez: No. I voted against the resolution to send the U.S. troops to Iraq. I believe it was a war of choice, and not in the national security interest of the United States. 4. Would you consider joining the military so that the U.S. can meet the conditions you propose need to be met (stable government and secure borders)? Kean, Jr.: State Senator Kean, Jr. said he would put his answer in writing, then refused to send a written response. Menendez: I am beyond the age requirements for military service to our nation and I am calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. 5. Would you encourage your children to join the military so the U.S. can meet the conditions you propose need to be met? Kean, Jr.: I cannot tell my children what to do. Menendez: I will not vote to send other people’s sons or daughters to fight in a war if I wouldn’t be willing to send my own son or daughter. 6. What is the logic of troops staying in Iraq when our troops are targets? Kean, Jr.: State Senator Kean, Jr. said he would put his response in writing, then refused to send a written response. Menendez: This was a war of choice, not of necessity. I believe we need to bring our troops home. 7. Specifically what have you done while you have been in office to help returning troops or veterans? Kean, Jr.: I talked with a member of Congress about these issues. Menendez: I introduced the Veterans Identity Protection Act to protect veterans from personal identity theft by providing free credit monitoring and introduced the Veterans Navigator bill to help new veterans transition into the VA health system and ensure all veterans receive quality care. Additionally I co-sponsored the Salute to Veterans, the Armed Forces Act, the Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act, and the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century to improve benefits for servicemen and women, veterans, and their families. 8. If the civil war continues, will you call for the administration to set a timetable for bringing the troops home? Kean, Jr.: State Senator Kean, Jr. said he would put his definition of civil war and his response in writing, then refused to send a written response. Menendez: I voted for the Kerry Amendment which provides a timetable to bring the troops home. 9. If you are elected to the Senate, what will you do to ensure that our troops and veterans get proper transitional services, health care, mental heath treatment, education, housing, and jobs? Kean, Jr.: State Senator Kean, Jr. said he would put his response in writing, then refused to send a written response. Menendez: I have consistently fought for increased funding for the Veterans Administration. I have introduced the Veterans Navigator bill to help new veterans transition into the VA health system and ensure all veterans receive quality care. Additionally, I was an original co-sponsor of the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century to improve benefits for servicemen and women, veterans, and their families. Military Families Speak Out is an organization of over 3,000 military families who are opposed to the war, with new families joining daily. Our loved ones are, have been, or will be on the battlefront. Our loved ones are at risk, have been injured, or have died as a result of the war. Many of our loved ones are returning scarred from their experiences, and are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Our loved ones are facing repeated deployments (some have already been deployed 3 or 4 times) to combat zones. Many have bought their own armor, upgraded helmets and other equipment, including global positioning devices while the nation’s wealthiest have enjoyed tax cuts. Please contact us at: www.mfsobergencounty.org, bergencountyMFSO@hotmail.com. or MFSOEssexCounty@hotmail.com. This flyer is being distributed by Military Families Speak Out - Bergen County, the Teaneck Peace and Justice Coalition, and the South Orange-Maplewood Committee to Stop the War. Support the troops – Bring all of them home from Iraq NOW! Take care of them when they get here. Never, never send our loved ones to war based on lies. No permanent bases in Iraq. |
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