Two-term Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly is under heavy fire for allegedly suggesting that time spent serving in local government better qualifies a person to serve in Congress than years of military service.
The controversy stems from comments Connolly made at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, where he touted his time serving in local government in Fairfax County, Va.
"He's reacting to a comment that I made that you can't run for federal office on your local political record, no matter how good that might be," said retired U.S. Army Col. Chris Perkins, who is the Republican challenger to Connolly in this year's campaign. "It's less convenient to talk about your votes on Obamacare and your vote on sequestration -- these big defense cuts."
Connolly's comments at the Chamber of Commerce event were designed to defend his time in local government. But the congressman also took the opportunity to suggest his opponent has been invisible in his community.
"I hope that (my) experience and that sweat equity that I've put in in elective life for the past 18 years -- and before that for 15 years as a civic activist -- will count for something," said Connolly at the event. "I hope you'll measure that against somebody who wore the uniform and honored his country and I honor him for that service. But in the 10 years since he retired, he hasn't shown up. He has no local credentials. In fact, more often than not, he hasn't voted." |