Murtha Claims Swiftboated By Own Party/Divided Already?
Murtha Lashes Out at Dem Leadership Opponent
WASHINGTON — The race to be the No. 2 House Democratic leader turned nasty Tuesday, with challenger Rep. John Murtha accusing opponents of "swift-boat style attacks" that hark back to his days being investigated in the FBI's 1980 Abscam sting.
Murtha won endorsement Monday from Nancy Pelosi, who is widely expected to be the House speaker. But Murtha is opposed by some liberals who say they are not happy with the Pennsylvania lawmaker's pro-gun and anti-abortion record. Others say Pelosi took a wrong turn in backing Murtha over her current deputy Rep. Steny Hoyer because Murtha's record is marred by ethics questions of the type Pelosi pledged to clean up in Congress.
"I am disconcerted that some are making headlines by resorting to unfounded allegations that occurred 26 years ago. I thought we were above this type of swift-boating attack. This is not how we restore integrity and civility to the United States Congress," Murtha said of the ample press coverage of his link to Abscam and more recent negotiations he made as ranking Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Committee.
Murtha was not indicted in the bribes-for-political-favors probe and ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the House ethics committee. But his raunchy language and open-ended option to consider a future deal with undercover FBI agents is forever captured on videotape.
The New York Times on Tuesday also reported that Murtha helped block changes in ethics policies that Democrats proposed last year and is known as "an astute backroom-deal maker known for trading votes for the pet projects known as earmarks. He has had family members who lobbied on issues under his control."
Murtha, a Vietnam veteran who last year proposed a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, tried to change the subject on Tuesday.
"Of the critical issues we are faced with today, the war in Iraq is the most crucial. The Pelosi-Murtha position on the war is the reason the Democrats are in the majority today. Congressman Hoyer's position has been to stay the course with President Bush from the very beginning and, like Senator John McCain, he advocates sending in more troops," Murtha said.
Hoyer is considered the favorite to win the majority leader race, having visited 82 congressional districts this past election cycle. He helped raise $8.2 million for the party's candidates in the months leading to the Nov. 7 election, earning him letters of support from more than half of the incoming lawmakers who won their seats last week.
After Murtha's statement, Hoyer's office shot back.
"Congressman Hoyer and Congressman Murtha have joined other Democratic leaders from both the House and Senate in signing three letters to the president that outline the consensus among Democrats regarding Iraq," said Stacey Farnen Bernards, Hoyer’s press secretary. "Any representation that Congressman Hoyer endorses a ‘stay-the-course’ strategy or advocates sending more troops to Iraq is wrong."
At a news conference Tuesday, Hoyer said he still expects to win the post, and despite Pelosi's anticipated endorsement of her friend Murtha, "Nancy Pelosi and I will work very closely together in the future. Why? Because both of us care about the objectives of our party."
Hoyer also has the backing of several members of the Progressive Caucus, who sent a letter Monday to their Democratic colleagues, urging support for Hoyer.
"As our Democratic Whip over the last four years, Steny has worked very well with Nancy and our entire leadership team, and their efforts have helped our caucus achieve greater unity than at any time in the last half century," reads the letter signed by Reps. Maxine Waters, Jerrold Nadler, Elijah Cummings, Jose Serrano, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Emanuel Cleaver.
The group pointed to Hoyer's support for hiking the federal minimum wage, enhancing human and civil rights and environmental protections, increasing education and health care funding and backing the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade.
Three-term Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said he backs Hoyer, but has not been pressured by Pelosi or others to change his mind and support Murtha instead.
"This is a Democratic Caucus that will be able to develop a consensus, and members will choose whoever they feel would be most representative of our caucus and its principles and values," Israel told FOX News.
Israel added that he doesn't think "the vast majority of the American people woke up this morning" thinking about who's going to be the Democratic leaders in the House. Instead, they are worried about Iraq and other issues, he said.
"I'm focusing my efforts and continuing to try and develop some common-sense, bipartisan solutions to the situation in Iraq, and, frankly, putting the politics and internal Democratic Caucus matters on the back burner where they belong," he said.
The infighting is not unexpected. Murtha and Pelosi have long been allies, while Pelosi and Hoyer have had a less cordial relationship, starting with her defeat of Hoyer in 2002 to become the minority leader following Dick Gephardt's departure from Congress.
Murtha announced last fall he intended to run for majority leader if Democrats won control of the House, a pre-election jab at Hoyer at a time the Marylander was pledging support for Pelosi.
Pelosi told Murtha to hold back, saying that she didn't want to divide the party while Democrats were trying to win the majority from Republicans after 12 years in the minority.
In her letter Monday, Pelosi began by noting that Murtha had requested her support. Noting his opposition to the war, she added, "Your leadership gave so many Americans, including respected military leaders, the encouragement to voice their own disapproval at a failed policy that weakens our military and makes stability in that region even more difficult to achieve."
Story Here
Watchdog Group Frown's On Democrats "Culture Of Corruption"
Will Murtha's Past Haunt Him?
Murtha's Battle
John Murtha: ABSCAM Video
John Murtha And ABSCAM
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LMAO! Oh brother here we go and they arent even in office yet! The jokes are already starting to write themselves and we havent even gotten 100 hours in yet. I wonder what position the Dems are going to give "William $90,000 dollars in the freezer Jefferson"? They already threw Jane Harmon under the bus, who's next? This is going to be quite a show lol.
WASHINGTON — The race to be the No. 2 House Democratic leader turned nasty Tuesday, with challenger Rep. John Murtha accusing opponents of "swift-boat style attacks" that hark back to his days being investigated in the FBI's 1980 Abscam sting.
Murtha won endorsement Monday from Nancy Pelosi, who is widely expected to be the House speaker. But Murtha is opposed by some liberals who say they are not happy with the Pennsylvania lawmaker's pro-gun and anti-abortion record. Others say Pelosi took a wrong turn in backing Murtha over her current deputy Rep. Steny Hoyer because Murtha's record is marred by ethics questions of the type Pelosi pledged to clean up in Congress.
"I am disconcerted that some are making headlines by resorting to unfounded allegations that occurred 26 years ago. I thought we were above this type of swift-boating attack. This is not how we restore integrity and civility to the United States Congress," Murtha said of the ample press coverage of his link to Abscam and more recent negotiations he made as ranking Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Committee.
Murtha was not indicted in the bribes-for-political-favors probe and ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the House ethics committee. But his raunchy language and open-ended option to consider a future deal with undercover FBI agents is forever captured on videotape.
The New York Times on Tuesday also reported that Murtha helped block changes in ethics policies that Democrats proposed last year and is known as "an astute backroom-deal maker known for trading votes for the pet projects known as earmarks. He has had family members who lobbied on issues under his control."
Murtha, a Vietnam veteran who last year proposed a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, tried to change the subject on Tuesday.
"Of the critical issues we are faced with today, the war in Iraq is the most crucial. The Pelosi-Murtha position on the war is the reason the Democrats are in the majority today. Congressman Hoyer's position has been to stay the course with President Bush from the very beginning and, like Senator John McCain, he advocates sending in more troops," Murtha said.
Hoyer is considered the favorite to win the majority leader race, having visited 82 congressional districts this past election cycle. He helped raise $8.2 million for the party's candidates in the months leading to the Nov. 7 election, earning him letters of support from more than half of the incoming lawmakers who won their seats last week.
After Murtha's statement, Hoyer's office shot back.
"Congressman Hoyer and Congressman Murtha have joined other Democratic leaders from both the House and Senate in signing three letters to the president that outline the consensus among Democrats regarding Iraq," said Stacey Farnen Bernards, Hoyer’s press secretary. "Any representation that Congressman Hoyer endorses a ‘stay-the-course’ strategy or advocates sending more troops to Iraq is wrong."
At a news conference Tuesday, Hoyer said he still expects to win the post, and despite Pelosi's anticipated endorsement of her friend Murtha, "Nancy Pelosi and I will work very closely together in the future. Why? Because both of us care about the objectives of our party."
Hoyer also has the backing of several members of the Progressive Caucus, who sent a letter Monday to their Democratic colleagues, urging support for Hoyer.
"As our Democratic Whip over the last four years, Steny has worked very well with Nancy and our entire leadership team, and their efforts have helped our caucus achieve greater unity than at any time in the last half century," reads the letter signed by Reps. Maxine Waters, Jerrold Nadler, Elijah Cummings, Jose Serrano, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Emanuel Cleaver.
The group pointed to Hoyer's support for hiking the federal minimum wage, enhancing human and civil rights and environmental protections, increasing education and health care funding and backing the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade.
Three-term Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said he backs Hoyer, but has not been pressured by Pelosi or others to change his mind and support Murtha instead.
"This is a Democratic Caucus that will be able to develop a consensus, and members will choose whoever they feel would be most representative of our caucus and its principles and values," Israel told FOX News.
Israel added that he doesn't think "the vast majority of the American people woke up this morning" thinking about who's going to be the Democratic leaders in the House. Instead, they are worried about Iraq and other issues, he said.
"I'm focusing my efforts and continuing to try and develop some common-sense, bipartisan solutions to the situation in Iraq, and, frankly, putting the politics and internal Democratic Caucus matters on the back burner where they belong," he said.
The infighting is not unexpected. Murtha and Pelosi have long been allies, while Pelosi and Hoyer have had a less cordial relationship, starting with her defeat of Hoyer in 2002 to become the minority leader following Dick Gephardt's departure from Congress.
Murtha announced last fall he intended to run for majority leader if Democrats won control of the House, a pre-election jab at Hoyer at a time the Marylander was pledging support for Pelosi.
Pelosi told Murtha to hold back, saying that she didn't want to divide the party while Democrats were trying to win the majority from Republicans after 12 years in the minority.
In her letter Monday, Pelosi began by noting that Murtha had requested her support. Noting his opposition to the war, she added, "Your leadership gave so many Americans, including respected military leaders, the encouragement to voice their own disapproval at a failed policy that weakens our military and makes stability in that region even more difficult to achieve."
Story Here
Watchdog Group Frown's On Democrats "Culture Of Corruption"
Will Murtha's Past Haunt Him?
Murtha's Battle
John Murtha: ABSCAM Video
John Murtha And ABSCAM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LMAO! Oh brother here we go and they arent even in office yet! The jokes are already starting to write themselves and we havent even gotten 100 hours in yet. I wonder what position the Dems are going to give "William $90,000 dollars in the freezer Jefferson"? They already threw Jane Harmon under the bus, who's next? This is going to be quite a show lol.
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 10:01 PM
10 Comments:
Murtha can claim the, "swift boating, " all he wants but truth is truth and his denial of his past and his ethics questions does not change his record. Pelosi backing him only proves that her culture of corruption stance was nothing more than a political ploy since ethics obviously mean nothing to her since she is backing Murtha as Majority Leader and Waxman as Intelligence committee leader who as a judge was impeached for his ethics. An impeachment by the way that was instigated by Nancy Pelosi!
Oops - I ment Hastings not Waxman on the Intelligence Committee.
Murtha never took any money, you big sillys. He was practically conducting his own sting...
Impeachment was not instigated by Pelosi. That is flat out false. Impeachment was instigated by Conyers...you big sillys. And Conyers knew it was a symbolic gesture.
It will be quite amusing to watch the Democrat's stumble over each other to see who can be the biggest fool first.
The Kool-aide is just fine mudkitty jump on in. You don't know squat.
During the time of Abscam, Murtha was holding out for more money and he was still evaluating the FBI guys when the whole scandal broke. Murtha was subpoenaed and charges were set aside as he testified against his co-conspirators. The only reason he wasn't indicted was because of his testimony. I remember ABSCAM and all the dems they took out because the majority of them came from right here in PA and NJ. I got my start in politics because of my disgust at these corrupt politicians including Jack Murtha.
Murtha was not “Swiftboated”. This corruption thing started after he left the service and became a Congressman. If you had read any of my past comments here you would understand that I believe it is up to these honorable men to maintain that honor after they hang up the uniform. Murtha did not and that's just too bad because the marines want nothing to do with corrupt politicians either, believe that. Murtha may be one of the few the Marines consider to call ex-Marine.
Murtha has been the ideal of pork barrel spending and corruption but hey, make this guy the second most powerful person in the democratic controlled house, he's got my vote. It just shows the duplicity of the press for helping a perfectly corrupt organization get elected to Congress that makes even Denny Hastert or John Boehner blush.
You dems have been duped again. I fought to have these very people put out of power back in the 80's and 90's and guess what? Just like a bad penny, they've turned up again. Now an ignorant and naive generation is feeding into the same old corrupt crap and I can't figure out whether to laugh or get sick to my stomach because we have to go through this again.
TLLTCT,
Political Ploy indeed!
Somehow right at the moment Ethic's and Democrat's dont sound right in the same sentence!
Anon,
It will be quite amusing to watch the Democrat's stumble over each other to see who can be the biggest fool first.
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Yes it will and it's already starting!
Mudpuppy,
Murtha never took any money, you big sillys. He was practically conducting his own sting...
Impeachment was not instigated by Pelosi. That is flat out false. Impeachment was instigated by Conyers...you big sillys. And Conyers knew it was a symbolic gesture.
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You are nuts!
JG,
Dang girl LOL.
You tell Mudpuppy what is really going on :-)
Well let's add up Pelosi's picks for house leadership so far.
Speaker; Pelosi
Majority Leader; Murtha
House Whip;?
Ways and Means; Charlie Rangel
House Intelligence; Alcee Hastings this one is truly interesting; Alcee Hastings was an impeached corrupt Federal Judge and was voted to be impeached by Nancy Pelosi! Yo! Is anybody home?Nah, no good leadership here. T
That kool-aide is mighty powerful stuff. This is shameful display of corrupt to the core behavior. There are no more excuses for you democrats you are rotten to the core.
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