Veterans Group Praises Hawaii Congressional Candidates Who Pledge Against Unconstitutional Wars
BringOurTroopsHome.US Chairman Calls on Hawaii Congressional Candidates to uphold the Constitution when it comes to war powers
(Boise, Idaho)– Sgt. Dan McKnight, chairman of BringOurTroopsHome.US, a conservative group of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, today praised candidates running for U.S. Congress in Hawaii for pledging their allegiance to prevent unconstitutional wars. BringOurTroops.US sent out a pledge to every congressional candidate in Hawaii simply asking that if elected, they will uphold the constitution when it comes to war powers and insist that Congress exercise the Constitutional authority granted solely to the legislative branch to declare war.
The group went on to say that “while Presidents may respond to sudden attacks against United States territories or military forces, offensive deployments or extended commitments of US military forces must be debated and approved or rejected by Congress.” This comes after the organization has called on Congress to repeal the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs.
“Three presidents have turned what was supposedly a limited and targeted authorization for military action into a blank check for aggressive military action across the entire world, “said McKnight. “The executive branch and the deep state have taken the position that one vote by Congress eighteen years ago is proper authorization for an entire series of wars. It is, as referred by many observers, a One Congress, One Vote, One Time power.
“This is wrong and clearly unconstitutional, and has become a near total abandonment by Congress of their Constitution mandated responsibility. The commitment of our sons and daughters to war and the expenditure of trillions of tax dollars have no legitimacy unless supported by the people though their elected representatives in Congress,” said McKnight.
On January 30, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted an amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) to repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq of 2002. The amendment was passed by a vote of 236 to 166, with 27 members of the House not voting.
“The veterans and their families who comprise the bulk of our membership of BringOurTroopsHome.US call on Congressional candidates in Hawaii to support a return to Constitutional principles,” concluded McKnight.
“We recognize the leadership that Representative Tulsi Gabbard has historically shown on this issue and her service in the military is to be commended,” McKnight noted. “With Gabbard not seaking reelection, we call on whomever replaces her in Washington DC to continue honoring the Constitutional principles that Representative Gabbard bravely stood for in matters of war.”
McKnight praised the following candidates who returned the pledge:
Ron Barrus (I)- HI-02
Brian Evans (D)- HI-02
Noelle Famera (D)- HI-02
Karla “Bart” Gottschalk (R)- HI-02
David R Hamman (R)- HI-02
Jonathan Hoomanawanui (AA)- HI-02
Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro (R)- HI-02
Brenda L Machado Lee (D)- HI-02
Raymond S Quel (R)- HI-02
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For more information: BringOurTroopsHome.US
