GOP Refuses to let Vet. Speak at Forum

May 12, 2010 - PRLog -- It's a political travesty that, in Missouri's Seventh Congressional District, home of thousands of our nation's veterans, a candidate and war veteran seeking office is being denied his right to be heard at an upcoming candidate fair in Neosho.

I am currently fulfilling a military obligation in the Middle East, based on the oath I freely made to serve the country. Based on the decisions of those in leadership in the local Republican central committee, the citizens of Newton County are being deprived of their right and opportunity to hear from all congressional candidates. So many Southwest Missouri veterans have fought to defend our right of free speech, on which running for office is based, many making the ultimate sacrifice.

I have been to numerous events throughout the district where candidates have been represented by others and granted an opportunity to speak by proxy. If the Republican leadership in Newton County continues to deny me the right to have my campaign manager speak on my behalf, have her read a statement written by me, or allow me to speak directly via phone from the Persian Gulf,

I would challenge my fellow candidates to either forgo speaking at the event or boycott this event entirely. We are all Republican friends, and, as candidates, committed to be a voice and advocate for our military and veterans. This decision is not in the best interest of anyone involved in this important election cycle. To me, it is a blatant disservice to all our veterans and discounts the sacrifices they have made. This failure to uphold basic rights and principles is not what they fought for at all.

Wardell Campaign Responds:


Wardell in solidarity with Jeff Wisdom over Newton Co. Mo. GOP's refusal to let him speak.
I am shocked and dismayed in the Newton County, Mo. Republican Committee’s refusal to allow a representative of Jeff Wisdom speak on his behalf while he serves us in the Middle East, while on active duty with the U.S. Navy.
This is a slap in the face of every man and woman who has ever put on the Uniform of an American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.
Mr. Nick Myers’, who is the Chair of the Republicans in Newton County, decision to refuse a man who is at this moment in the Middle East serving his country, the ability to share his vision with voters in Newton Co., is, to put it politely, Bovine Scatology, and should not be tolerated by Americans of either party.
As a Marine and a Brother in Arms with Jeff, I stand united with him and will boycott this event until this wrong is corrected.
I also implore my fellow candidates to join Jeff and I in denouncing this horrible decision as well as its boycott.

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Michael Wardell is a retired and disabled US Marine Vet. who is running for US Congress on the Republican Ticket.