Friendly fire: VFW and Repya spar over RNC rally

Joe Repya, as I noted earlier today, is organizing a "Victory Over Terrorism" event for the first day of the Republican National Convention. The plan, according to the military veteran and GOP activist, is for people to line the streets surrounding the Xcel Energy Center holding placards that read "Victory Over Terrorism — Let Our Soldiers Win!" Repya says the intent is provide a (non-confrontational) counterpoint to the thousands of anti-war protesters expected to descend on St. Paul on September 1. "We’re telling people don’t engage in any conversation other than to say ‘Have a nice day,’" he says.

Repya believed last week that he had a commitment from the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars to pay for 250 of the signs. But on a conference call Friday afternoon, the offer of support was rescinded. According to Repya, the reason for this change was clear: The Minnesota VFW doesn’t support the Iraq war and therefore doesn’t want to be involved in the rally. "I made it very clear to them as I was getting off the phone that if I was questioned about it I would tell the media why their name had to to be taken off the sign," he says.

VFW state commander Stan Kowalski is in Florida attending the organization’s national conference and could not be reached for comment. But the VFW released a statement today that conflicts with Repya’s account. "In the utilitarian interest of all our members it is not the place of the officers of the Department of Minnesota VFW to decide whether the war in Iraq or Afghanistan is right or wrong," it reads. "The Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to totally support its troops, whether they are involved in war or hostile action. It is not our place as officers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to get involved in the political arena."

Repya says the group is simply changing its story because of angry calls as word of the dispute has filtered out after he wrote about it on his blog. "They are under such pressure that they’re spinning like crazy," he says.

Despite Repya’s GOP activism (he unsuccessfully sought to replace Ron Carey as Republican party chair last year), he insists that the "Victory Over Terrorism" rally will not be political. "This has nothing to do with Republican politics," he says. "It has everything to do with the men and women, volunteers all, who serve in our military."