MS-04: Palazzo Called To Active Duty
The Steven Palazzo camp sent out a press release yesterday letting everyone know that the Republican candidate- a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard- has been called to active duty…some two months before the November election date.
From the presser:
Seldom have Congressional candidates been called to active duty so close to Election Day. But according to Palazzo, it’s just what comes with the territory: “My call to active duty comes during a challenging time, and adds to my already demanding schedule. I am still running a small business, serving the people of Mississippi House District 116, campaigning to unseat Gene Taylor, and most importantly, spending precious time with my family. Life as a citizen-soldier comes with sacrifice, and families of soldiers sacrifice the most while their loved ones serve multiple tours abroad. I am proud to be a citizen-soldier and I am grateful for the opportunity to defend our nation’s freedoms against our foreign and domestic enemies.”
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I do find the timing of this a little interesting. How this affects the campaign is too be announced, I suppose. The rest of the press release is below the fold.
Steven Palazzo, State Representative and conservative Republican candidate for Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District, has been called to active duty for Annual Training at Camp Shelby for the next two weeks.
While combat troops are exiting the Iraq theatre, the war is escalating in Afghanistan, and thousands of troops are training at Camp Shelby to be deployed. Representative Palazzo’s mission at Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center (CSJFTC) is to support base operations, which oversees the training and deployment of troops who will soon be sent to hostile areas around the world.
Representative Palazzo is a former member of the United States Marines 3rd Force Recon, and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm. As a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, he previously served on active duty at Camp Shelby in 2004 and 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It is just annual training. It is not like he is going to be gone for a deployment. Hopefully, it helps the campign though.
This is only his two weeks of active duty as part of his MS Gard obligation. He has hardly been “Called to active duty.
This is just part of his “Commitment”. That is why he has been getting those monthly checks.
Thank you for your service.
Does anyone know what rank he is?
I, too, thank Palazzo for his service to the country, just like I do every woman and man who wears an American military uniform. BUT
I have a BIG problem with people running for political office using their military service as press releases for political gain! It’s one of those oximorons…..silently speaking loudly…………bringing attention, saying “Look at me, I am in the military, aren’t you proud, vote for me !!!!”
How many other people who are going on their two week training are issuing press releases? and why should he? That’s my point.
Yes…..before some of you ask…I am going to vote for him….but I would imagine stunts like this are going to lose him a few votes, too, and in the least, give some people a negative view of his character to allow something like this to be used for his personal, political gain.
says the tegerdine supporter
Sounds like, “blame it on Bush” syndrome….this has nothing to do with Joe Tegerdine, so why even bring it up…it’s ALL about Palazzo…..my first words were that I am going to vote for Palazzo; the facts are the facts Shad, and I am surprised YOU would endorse such actions
The military service men and women don’t like voting for anyone that has not served in the Armed Forces.
…and many of them don’t like what the Palazzo campaign has done with this announcement…word is spreading down at Camp Shelby, according to someone close to me who is retired from the Guard, but still works on base on Federal contract
It is the truth, that is why Gene has always won. He has held his coast gaurd service high over several of his opponents.
Whether it’s a newspaper, on the internet, or anywhere else, I cannot remember ANYONE EVER announcing their upcoming two week national guard training to the public. Nor can I find that anyone has ever called the annual event a “call to active duty”. It’s just a political stunt, plain and simple. Why would Palazzo allow this? Can he not hear Gene Taylor laughing is a#* off all the way from Washington?