Posted on 01/18/2006 7:25:19 AM PST by pissant
Is Jack Murtha being unfairly Swift-boated?
The left side of the commentariat is up in arms about my piece on a conservative Web site raising questions about the congressman's two Purple Hearts.
Here's the report by the Cybercast News Service: Check it out and reach your own conclusions.
Look, anyone can dig into a congressman's record, and Cybercast (which is part of Brent Bozell's conservative media criticism group) quoted people on the record, dug up a bunch of clips and gave the Pennsylvania Democrat a chance to respond. Editor in Chief David Thibault told me that Murtha had placed himself in the crossfire by becoming a leading voice for a U.S. pullout in Iraq.
What, exactly, does whatever Murtha did near Danang in 1967 have to do with the soundness of his stance on Iraq? In the case of John Kerry, you could argue that the Swift Boat Vets -- even though the media poked significant holes in their account -- was challenging the biography of a presidential candidate who had put his Vietnam heroism at the center of his campaign. But what is Jack Murtha running for, other than reelection in his district?
Of course, politics ain't beanbag, and Murtha, as a 37-year Marine vet, must be accustomed to hostile fire. The Purple issue, in fact, has come up in some of his past campaigns. But now it's getting national play -- and sparking a liberal backlash.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Damn straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just have a simple question. Real simple. Easy for Murtha to clear up.
"On Friday, Jan. 13, Murtha's congressional communications director provided Cybercast News Service with a copy of a letter from the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, citing Murtha's request of Sept. 26, 1967, seeking Purple Hearts." ( The letter provided by Murtha was not be authenticated by CNS and lists no rank or title for the letter's author A, Gardoni.)
"The records of this Headquarters show that you are entitled to the Purple Heart and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart for wounds received in action against insurgent Communist Guerrilla forces on 22 March and 7 May 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam,"
Now here's the question- why does your official biography, on your own House website http://www.house.gov/murtha/awards.shtml#military list your Purple Hearts as being awarded in 1966 ?
Bronze Star with Combat V, 1966.
Purple Heart, 1966.
Purple Heart, second award, 1966.
Vietnamese Cross of Galantry, 1966.
If the Washington Post is coming to his defense then I am certain he is guilty.
I contributed to the SBVFT three times so that they could get their message out. Their ads were very effective and had a major impact on the campaign. Kerry went into virtual hiding for almost a month refusing to answer the SBVFT charges. The cable news programs gave the SBVFT some substantial airtime, mostly to try to discredit them. The major newspapers like the NYT and WP also ran major stories on the SBVFT charges.
The SBVFT was a 527 like Moveon.org. President Bush and McCain were not supportive. The WH called for an end to all 527s and refused to criticize Kerry for his war record or his anti-war activities. In fact, McCain was downright hostile to the SBVFT calling them dishonest and dishonarable. The SBVFT was like David going against Goliath (Moveon.org) in terms of funding. Yet, they were effective because of their well-constructed ads and the people who participated. Essentially, Kerry's entire chain of command and his fellow officers (save a few) made a compelling case that Kerry was Unfit for Command.
Despite all his baggage, Kerry barely lost. He received more votes than any Presidential candidate in history except for Bush. Kerry received 8 million votes more than Gore. The SBVFT were the difference.
Dents maybe but no holes. Kerry has yet to explain or provide documents for his first PH. He never explained his alleged Cambodia trip over Xmas. Why did Lehman approve the reissuance of his medal certificates in 1986? The list goes on and on.
Good question. His bio says,"He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for Vietnam in 1966-67, receiving the Bronze Star with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry."
...after what happen with kerry...you have to figure ANYTIME the democrats praise anyone doing anything with the military..somethings not right. Given the track record of the new liberal left Right now the American people are behind the military...the left has no choice, thus we see Hildabeast support, let those numbers change a bit...and you'll see the true military hating Hildabeast
One thing you have to remember is that about 75% of Democrats would vote for a "Welcome" mat if it was listed as Democrat.
As a veteran he should be well aware of the ramifications of his statements and their effect on enemy morale.
The medal issue is a red herring. His current actions are excrable, but if the medals were fully and undeniably deserved (or no one ca prove otherwise), the MSM will spin that into justification for all his other actions, too.
Forget the medals, attack the statements.
Sorry dude, but everytimne I heard him mocked, it was for being a flip-flopper not a phoney war hero! Bush's service was made more of a campaign issue then the swift boat vets. Sorry their commercials, though compelling and effective were limited in scope. The problem with John Kerry, other than hes a lying scumbag was, he had no record in the Congress after serving 20 years! He had no appeal to moron soccar moms! He had no message! He was dull and boring and scene as a Gigalo! And he was endourced on the eve of teh election by Bin Laudin! Sorry but with the exception of the true patriots of this country, Vietnam service made no difference. If it would have any impact at all, Clinton would have never been elected!
"I always thaought the Swift Boat vets were unfairly "Swiftboated", Together they had thousands of years of service, CMOH's, Retired Admirals, the works. The media smeared them."
Agreed. Now they smear people who question Murtha's record.
"JfK signed the 180, but only for his pals at the Boston
Globe, not so that the general public could examine the
key records."
Interesting. Thanks for that.
"Murtha, like Kerry, could make all this go away (or
get very much worse) by signing the 180.
Kerry didn't, and Murtha won't either."
Good, valid point. But it will be tough to make that point heard over the shrill media din.
" Please! The media blacked out the SB Vets!"
You're wrong. The SB Vet ad was aired on many stations throughout the country---without pay as a news story. It made the difference in a close election.
"Which is why they want control of the Internet."
Got that right! Hillary was focused on the Internet threat in 1995! Before any Conservatives were using it!
"Something I missed during the campaign."
You must learn to "re-remember" what happened. The MSM provides us with the "currently operative" version of the past.
"Sorry dude, but everytimne I heard him mocked, it was for being a flip-flopper not a phoney war hero!"
You must have missed the Swift Boat ads.
You better check your sources.....your statement is false and was proven so many times...Media hasn't poked holes in any of the Swifties accounts...They can't because their statments were all true....
" I contributed to the SBVFT three times so that they could get their message out."
I contributed twice. Good points.
You may like to know that a person very involved with the Free Republic (I think a board member) played a role with the SB Vets. He is Scott Swett. The SB Vets were very inexperienced in the political game when they started out and he gave them some early tutoring. Though Scott seeks no publicity on this, he is not averse to it either, so I am comfortable mentioning his name. He started a website, I believe it was named Winter Soldier, about 6 mos. before the SB Vet campaign.
You better check your sources.....your statement is false and was proven so many times...Media hasn't poked holes in any of the Swifties accounts...They can't because their statments were all true....
I'm sorry. I was trying to be funny. After the whole Swiftie thing, Kerry admitted to delivering weapons to the Khmer Rouge (they were the enemy of the U.S.A. in Vietnam.) As far as I know the Swifties never commented on his claim. My comment is that I would not be surprised about Kerry giving weapons to our enemies.
O'reilley was whining tonight about the "far-right websites" daring to question murtha's self-proclaimed heroism. Apparently bill isn't looking out for the truth.
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