KARCHER CALLS LATEST NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT A MISTAKE

Blasts Beck for Failure to Oppose War in Iraq 

(FREEHOLD) – State Senator Ellen Karcher today called the announced massive New Jersey National Guard deployment in Iraq another in a long line of mistakes and missteps made by the Bush Administration that chooses the Iraq War over homeland security here in New Jersey.  Karcher blasted her opponent, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, for failing to take a stand against the war.

“The latest news that thousands of our brave members of the National Guard will be deployed overseas in the misguided War in Iraq is devastating,” said Senator Karcher, D-Marlboro.  “My thoughts and prayers are with the New Jersey families, who will face so much uncertainty and fear for their loved ones in the coming year.  The Guard and their families are heroes and deserve our complete support.  However, President Bush’s War will go down as one of the biggest boondoggles in American history, yet Assemblywoman Beck sits quietly and refuses to raise her voice in opposition to Bush’s failed approach.”

Reports indicate that 2,700 New Jersey National Guard members – out of the State’s 6,000 guardsmen and women – will be deployed to Iraq in 2008 and 2009, the single largest deployment from New Jersey since World War II.  Senator Karcher noted that, by sending nearly half of the State’s available Guard members overseas, the federal government has opened a massive hole in New Jersey’s homeland security safety net, and jeopardized the safety of our citizens.

“In State emergencies and terrorist attacks, the National Guard serves as a key component in keeping civilians safe,” said Senator Karcher.  “By depleting our National Guard reserve, the Bush Administration has taken away State homeland security resources and put our sons and daughters in the crosshairs in an endless conflict overseas.”

Senator Karcher added that her opponent, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, when given the opportunity to oppose the War in Iraq, chose partisanship over sound foreign policy.  Earlier this year, the General Assembly voted on resolutions condemning the War in Iraq, and urging Congress to begin withdrawing troops.  Assemblywoman Beck refused to vote.

“When asked to stand up with her fellow lawmakers in opposition to the War in Iraq, Assemblywoman Beck ducked,” said Senator Karcher.  “That’s not the sort of decisive leadership that the 12th District demands in the State Senate, particularly when the ongoing war has such a large impact on the Garden State, as seen through this latest Guard deployment.  Assemblywoman Beck must come clean with the voters in our district – will she stand with her constituency, or the Bush Republicans who have led us down the wrong path to protracted war?”

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