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Politics & Government

Small Tea Party Crowd Crashes Foley's Vet Announcement

In Patchogue to promote state bills giving veterans better benefits, the state Senator is picketed by the right wing.

Several Tea Party protesters came out the American Legion Post in Patchogue on Sunday to oppose state Sen. Brian X. Foley, D-Blue Point, as he announced the state Senate's passage of legislation providing social, medical and educational benefits to American veterans.

But it was Foley, who was in Patchogue to trumpet the Senate's passage of eleven bills giving vets aid with transferring property tax exemptions, access to rehabilitation services and events and free education at State University of New York and City University of New York schools, among other things, who drew the ire of the conservative protesters, not the new laws.

Protestor Grace Colucci said, "We're pro-military and we don't believe Brian Foley is; we just want to let the veterans know we support them."

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Other members of the Conservative Society for Action and the Suffolk County 9-12 Project held signs with sayings such as, "Not Wanted: Brian X. Foley and the MTA TAX," and pointed out the low turn-out for Foley's press conference, yelling, "Is that all the friends you have?"

Foley supporter Terri DeVaul, who came with her husband, veteran Paul DeVaul, to support the legislation, said, "Everyone's entitled to their opinion. That's why it's called America." Then she added, pointing toward the statue erected in front of the American Legion of a Civil War hero, "I wonder what that guy would say."

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DeVaul served in the army from 1961 to 1964 and now serves in the Northport Veterans Association and is military advisory to U.S. Reps Steve Israel and Tim Bishop.

In reaction to the protesters chanting "flip-flop Foley," DeVaul said, "They look like the same Tea Party people I've seen at various demonstrations protesting taxes."
After making his announcement, Foley called the demonstration a "one-note protest."

"If they want to protest veterans they have a real problem." he said.

Foley's only interaction with the dissenters was right before leaving when he said, "Good to see you; see you soon. Support our veterans."

For more information on the legislation, view the PDF.

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