Main Letters Page Open letter to all candidates in the upcoming November mid term elections Letter from Gordon Smith: Why Does the Media Run From This Issue?

Thank you so much for all you are doing. You represent the true meaning of term 'hero'.

I have been trying my best to get my following letter into circulation in order to make your plight a campaign issue in hopes that it will help you prevail in your upcoming trial. I hope my efforts help in some way.

Open letter to all candidates in the upcoming November mid term elections.

This letter is written under the protection of the 1st Amendment, without prejudice! All content and information is in the public domain.

Dear Candidate,

Voters across our great nation are asking you to take a stand for the Constitutional promise of due process and a fair trial.

It has come to national attention that a highly decorated (Bronze Star recipient) 18 year career high ranking soldier who has served tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan is being denied the Constitutionally guaranteed promise of due process by being denied any defense in his courts martial hearings.

This began many months ago when he sought to ascertain the lawfulness of orders coming down the unified chain of command. When his efforts to determine such were unsuccessful through the normal military channels he openly and publicly announced his 'distasteful" intention to invite his own courts martial in order to get an answer once and for all to end the prevailing doubts that he and his fellow soldiers were experiencing. His public announcement cited lingering doubts as to the legitimacy of the Commander in Chief to issue orders through the unified chain of command. Lt. Col. Terrance Lakin who invited his courts martial by refusing a recent order to deploy to Afghanistan who faces years at hard labor has the backing and support of three Generals; Maj. General Paul Vallely (ret), Maj. General Jerry Curry (ret) and Lt. General Thomas G. McInerney (ret). Lt. General McInerney has filed an affidavit in Lakin's case attesting to the importance of confidence in the unified chain of command and voiced grave concerns about national security should this issue remain in question. He also strongly recommended that the judge grant full discovery in the case.

To date there have been two hearings in the case which goes to trial in early November. In both of these hearings Judge Denise Lind ruled that there will be no discovery and no witness testimony regarding the requested items for discovery and no testimony as to his reasons or motivations for refusing to deploy. Her reason for the ruling is summed up by her statement in the ruling that she does not want to "embarrass the President" to show his vital records to prove his Constitutional eligibility to hold office and be Commander in Chief of the nation's Armed Forces and thereby affirm the lawfulness of his order to deploy. This has the effect of shutting down any and all defense in his upcoming trial. Lakin is being denied due process and a fair trial.

Will candidates commit and take a proactive public stand on this issue, so that your voting constituency can know where they will stand with regards to the Constitutional guarantee of due process and a fair trial under their representation.

Will candidates act to end this travesty of justice, or just stand by as a highly decorated war hero is sent away for years at hard labor because the President might be "embarrassed" to prove his legitimacy?

Sincerely,

ST
A Natural Born Citizen of the United States of America