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Rep. Matsui Misleads Voters, Charges Veterans Group

Rep. Doris Matsui is misleading constituents when she claims "I reach out to people" as she did in news reports today regarding her failure to hold an in-person health care town hall, charged a veterans group Thursday.

In fact, Rep. Matsui - after five years - only agreed Wednesday to meet with a national veterans organization about the healthcare of current and past U.S. troops, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And, it took a threat of a major protest to get that.

"Doris only meets with people she agrees with. She has not been open to the thoughts and suggestions who are not part of her inner circle. She's even had combat veterans arrested who stayed in her office awaiting a meeting," said Cres Vellucci, an officer of Veterans for Peace, and a Vietnam veteran.

Rep. Matsui refused to meet with Veterans for Peace for about five years and agreed - finally - to set aside October 12 for an office visit with Veterans for Peace, a national veterans group with a chapter in Sacramento.

The agreement was made late Wednesday morning but it took a contingent of vets - backed by phone calls from veterans all across the country - prepared to walk into Rep. Matsui's office without an appointment.

"We are pleased Rep. Matsui through her staff has reserved a time to finally meet with us and hear our concerns about the escalating violence in Afghanistan and the health of U.S. troops and veterans," said John Reiger, the president of VFP in Sacramento who negotiated the agreement with Nathan Dietrich, district director for the congressperson.

Citing reports this week that August set a record for U.S. deaths (295) in Afghanistan, Reiger said: "We are deeply concerned about the rising level of U.S. deaths in Afghanistan, and the increasing number of suicides of troops. We are just sinking deeper into quicksand."