Reyes Campaign Responds to O'Rourke's Book Calling for Marijuana Legalization

From the beginning people said that this campaign would have the feel of a big fight and so far it hasn't disappointed. There have been several exchanges of punches and counter punches so far and today is another salvo from both campaigns.

This morning O'Rourke punched with a video on jobs and the Reyes campaign is counter-punching with this press release on O'Rourke's book release. The book calls for the legalization of marijuana.

Here is the press release:

ASK O'ROURKE WHY HE IS BACK PEDDLING ON REFORMING THE WAR ON DRUGS  

 

EL PASO, TX -  Although Mr. O'Rourke promotes his book "The Big Business of Dope in the U.S. and Mexico" on ending the prohibition of marijuana during interviews and book signings, he is now downplaying his stance on reforming the War on Drugs as a desperate attempt to gain votes and divert attention to issues Congressman Reyes has long championed: job creation, improving our local economy and ensuring veterans and seniors have the appropriate services they need. 

In a story published in the El Paso Inc. on December 21, 2009, Mr. O'Rourke said his platform for running for Congress would be the legalization of drugs: "[Congressman Reyes] was open and respectful. I told him I was considering running for Congress and I told him that front and center for me, if I were to run, would be the drug war, the violence in Juárez and the need for a better policy that better addresses what's happening in our sister city and what's happening frankly in our own country and in our own city, " said Mr. O'Rourke.   

However, in a clear divergence of principles, Mr. O'Rourke is now declaring that jobs, the economy and veterans' issues are his primary concern while shying away from his controversial pro-marijuana publication and public advocacy for drug legalization.

"For 26 1/2 years, I worked hard to ensure that drugs were kept off our streets and out of our schools as part of the U.S. Border Patrol. My work in Congress has focused on supporting legislation that promotes drug free lifestyles, higher education, and community service--values that serve as strong character pillars in our community. That has been my agenda," said Congressman Reyes. "My opponent naively believes that legalizing marijuana is going to put the cartels out of business. Now that he is facing increased backlash over his extreme legalization agenda, Mr. O'Rourke is attempting to cover up his radical positions and irresponsible rhetoric. But facts seem quite an inconvenient thing to him right now."

Congressman Reyes has had a consistent record for fighting to keep drugs out of our schools and the rest of our community. Across his tenure with the U.S. Border Patrol and through his terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Reyes has continued to lead efforts to make sure that the appropriate resources are made available to the Mexican government to respond to the violence in Juarez:

• Congressman Reyes has supported robust investment in projects by USAID to help Mexico tackle the socio-economic challenges that underpin persistent violence.

• Congressman Reyes has focused on providing aid for security equipment, judicial training, key intelligence sharing operations, infrastructure, and socio-economic development programs.

With a 92 percent lifetime voting record in Congress, Congressman Reyes works to make sure that the United States provides training, advise, and expertise to Mexico to support their fight against the War on Drugs.

  

He also endeavors to provide our younger generation with a drug-free El Paso, and he believes that we need to reduce demand for drugs by ensuring kids in El Paso stay away from using illegal substances in the first place and by providing treatment and rehabilitation to those who need help.

El Paso needs a trusted leader that believes in a drug-free philosophy and someone people can trust to represent them and their values in Congress.

Congressman Reyes continues working to keep schools drug free, to promote new jobs, to protect seniors, and to provide new opportunities to our students and veterans.

Help him continue working for you in Congress and reject Mr. O'Rourke's radical drug legalization agenda by volunteering in our next block walk on Saturday, November 26, 2011.

We will be meeting at campaign headquarters at 8:30 a.m. at 2004 Montana Ave. If you are interested in joining us this weekend, please contact Luis Torres atlatorr@gmail.com.

  

For any additional information, contact campaign manager Chuy Reyes by phone at915.222.8091 or email at reyesforcongress@gmail.com. .  

  

www.ReyesforCongress.com  

www.facebook.com/SilvestreReyesforCongress  

2004 Montana Ave.

El Paso, Texas 79903