* Media Advisory * AIR FORCE VET: Look Me in The Eye and Tell Me Why You’re Taking My Vote Away Fitzpatrick, GOP Continue Florida-style Attack as Testimonies of Disenfranchised Voters Pour In; A woman nine-months pregnant, Iraq war veteran, retired cop, among targets of Republican’s voter witch hunt

AIR FORCE VET: Look Me in The Eye and Tell Me Why You’re Taking My Vote Away
Fitzpatrick, GOP Continue Florida-style Attack as Testimonies of Disenfranchised Voters Pour In; A woman nine-months pregnant, Iraq war veteran, retired cop, among targets of Republican’s voter witch hunt

(Bristol, PA) – Bucks County voters continued to speak out over the weekend as more learned that they had been caught up in the Fitzpatrick campaign’s witch hunt against Democratic votes that have already been cast. The votes are now being held “under lock and key,” threatening to disenfranchise hundreds – if not thousands – of ballots that have already been cast because Fitzpatrick doesn’t like how they voted.

These are their stories.

“I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I fought for the right to vote. Whoever is trying to take that away needs to look me in the eye and tell me why. They’ll have to look me in the eye and explain how they can possibly do this, because they’re wrong.”

- Stephen Capaldi, Veteran of OIF and OEF, Levittown

[VIDEO HERE]

“Six years ago, I put the Marine uniform on for my country and shipped out to fight in Iraq at the battle of Fallujah. I almost lost my life several times in IED blasts and fire fights. Mike Fitzpatrick, I’m asking you to step up, be a man, and stop playing political games. Let my mom’s vote count. I served my country. And I served for your freedom.”

- Tony Rakoczy, decorated Marine who served in Battle of Fallujah, 2004

[VIDEO HERE ]

“It’s ridiculous that in this country we cannot trust our election process. This is America, and I cannot believe they are trying to take away my vote. To make it worse, my husband was wrongly denied a ballot because they said his signature didn’t match. I saw him sign his application and it was indeed my husband’s signature.”

- April Perry, 42, Yardley

“It’s an uncomfortable feeling to think that your vote counts, when apparently it doesn’t. How can they do that? I’m outraged to think that I voted only to find out that my vote doesn’t matter. I voted in order to be a morally responsible citizen and now I don’t matter? It’s an awful feeling. I go to school at the University of Pittsburgh. I’ll be six hours away on Election Day and I find out on Saturday that my vote doesn’t count. I am so angry about this. So angry.”

- Jillyan Magerman, 20, New Hope

“My daughter Dana is away at Northeastern University pursuing a degree in pharmacology. I mailed her an absentee application at school and her ballot was sent to her in Boston. She filled out her ballot correctly and sent it back to Doylestown to ensure that her vote would count. I am furious that this legitimate voter is being intimidated by the Republican Party whose goal it is to disenfranchise the elderly, students and the infirm so that the fat cats’ vote counts twice.”

- Lynn Roccograndi, 63, Richboro

“As a registered voter, I’m outraged that my ballot is being challenged. I just want to vote.”

- Gary Bodner, 55, Bristol

“I came to the United States in 1969 and have been registered to vote ever since. I always vote, but work takes me out of town. I want to make sure my vote counts.”

- Israel Rodriguez, 69, Bristol

“I am registered to vote, and I filled out an absentee ballot the right way to exercise my right to vote. I am very upset that this right is being challenged.”

- Michael Brookins, 21, Morrisville

“I don’t understand why it would be challenged. I’m scheduled to be in Chicago for a conference and my vote is being taken away by Republicans.”

- Robert Ashmont, 57, Langhorne.

The following people have spoken out over the past week:

“My name is Amie Proctor and I live in Morrsiville. I voted absentee because I’m nine-months pregnant and am due next week. So, I might be a little preoccupied on Election Day. Just in case there was any question, I even sent the Board of Elections my doctor’s business card so they could check. Now I’m on their target list to have my vote tossed out. Who on earth do these Republicans think they are, to tell me while I’m nine-months pregnant that I can’t vote?”

- Amie Proctor, Morrisville

“I did everything I was supposed to do and sent in my vote, but Mike Fitzpatrick and the Republicans are trying to take that away. My baby fought for his country. This isn’t right.”

- Patricia Rakoczy, Tony’s Mother, Levittown
“Even though I’m at college, I was determined to have my vote count. I made sure to apply on time for my ballot. I filled out my vote, signed it, double checked it, and stuck it in the mail – just like I was supposed to do. Now Mike Fitzpatrick tells me, if he gets his way, my vote won’t count because he doesn’t like how I voted. Unfortunately, Mr. Fitzpatrick, I learned in my political science intro class that it doesn’t work like that. I’m asking you to do the right thing. Stop playing political games with my right to vote.”

- Sam Kiernan, Levittown

“Mike, how dare you try to disenfranchise my daughter – a registered eligible voter – because you will do anything to win your election. I know that I can look my kid in the eye and tell her I’m doing everything I can to protect people’s right to vote. Can you?”

- Bill Kiernan, Levittown

“I’ve voted in Bucks County for years, and when I found out last-minute that I would be out of town for business, I immediately applied for my absentee ballot, filled it out, and sent back my vote. Yesterday, I heard I’m on Mike Fitzpatrick’s target list of the votes he’s trying to toss out – and I won’t have another chance to vote. How can he get away with this? Mike Fitzpatrick, I’m asking you to do the right thing. Stand up, be a man, and stop playing political games with my right to vote.”

- Dorothy Wax, Langhorne

“It’s my ballot. I requested it. I signed it. I sent it in. No one sent me anything or asked me to do anything. I’m disenfranchised, and I’m angry about it.”

- Vincent Plebani, 57, retired cop, Langhorne

“I did fill out an absentee ballot application and I did fill it out correctly and honestly, since I am in school in Boston. I am very concerned and dismayed that Mike Fitzpatrick has discounted my vote. I wish that I were home or could get home so that my vote would count.”

- Dana Roccograndi, 20, Richboro

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For Immediate Release, November 1, 2010

Contact, Sara Schaumburg (201) 788-8159