Radanovich Blasts International Organization for Migration for Hypocritical Iraqi Election Measures for Central Valley of California

Radanovich Blasts International Organization for Migration for Hypocritical Iraqi Election Measures for Central Valley of California

WASHINGTON - Rep. George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) blasted the International Organization for Migration, an independent body that works closely with the United Nations, today with the following statement:

"Earlier this month, Gen. Colin Powell told the AP that, "The people conducting these attacks don't want to see an election.'" He further said on NBC's Meet the Press that "even in the Sunni areas where people are being threatened, people are coming out to register. People know that this is their chance to decide how they will be led and they are not inclined toward this kind of violence and these insurgents."

"Isn't it ironic that we are asking our soldiers to risk their lives to enable these elections to occur and yet we are not providing sufficient numbers of voting booths for the Iraqis in this country who will be casting their ballot for the first time? There are just 5 election locations in our entire nation-only one of which is in the entire Western half of the U.S.--to handle all absentee voting Iraqis in America between January 27-30. The Central Valley's 40,000 Iraqis requested their own voting booth so they can vote closer to home.

Unfortunately, Los Angeles is the nearest voting facility and requires at least an eight hour round trip by car. Valley Iraqis are also required to travel to Los Angeles to register to vote during the week of Jan. 17-23, which calls for them to make two trips from the Valley in a very short period of time.

"My office has been working diligently to try and rectify this atrocity. We will continue to push for additional voting booths to allow these voters their rightful duty.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca19_radanovich/iraqi123.html