Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Murtha's Anti-War Role Could Imperil Him at Home
Human events Online ^ | Jun 28, 2006 | Robert Novak

Posted on 06/28/2006 7:55:00 PM PDT by Patriot814

Rep. John Murtha (D.-Pa.) appears to be suffering "Daschle-itis," a figurative disease which makes entrenched incumbents become national celebrities and, in the process, risk alienating the voters that put them in office.

Since seizing his party's anti-war mantle, Murtha has become a great draw for Democratic fundraisers, helping his party boost its prospects for a congressional takeover. Naturally, this helps his party-leadership bid as well.

But at the same time, his outspokenness made him a huge target for the Internet right. His district went for John Kerry with only 51% in 2004. What originally seemed like a long-shot bid by Diana Irey (R.) to unseat Murtha has taken on new credibility as she raises money from the Internet and as Murtha makes more and more outrageous statements.

Murtha's opposition to the war has never been the real issue. His assertion that the U.S. is the greatest danger to world peace is only the most recent and perhaps most striking example of his potentially dangerous venture into the great left. Even more offensive were his statements condemning Marines who allegedly participated in a massacre in Iraq, which gave no regard to the presumption of innocence or the existence of evidence (the Marines involved maintain their innocence).

In fact, by stating that he had high-level confirmation that a massacre occurred, Murtha may have set a trap for himself. As the court martial begins, he is likely to be subpoenaed in the pre-trial hearings to testify to allegations of inappropriate command influence on the trial. He risks having his high-level sources of information exposed, or exposed as flimsy -- or even non-existent.

Irey, who looks quite young, is a bit green, but her handlers see her as great raw material. She has scored a series of unopposed television appearances on Fox News that have helped her raise money, and her message could resonate in what has always been a conservative Democratic district. Murtha was previously known as a pro-life, pro-gun Democrat. He received biennial votes for speaker from Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who, until this year, had refused to support any candidate for the position who was pro-choice on abortion. Leaning Democratic Retention.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006; dianairey; irey; jackmurtha; murtha; pelosi; pennsylvania
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

1 posted on 06/28/2006 7:55:03 PM PDT by Patriot814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Patriot814
It would take a fat infusion of cash and a nice top of ticket pull from Lynn Swan and a rebound by Santorum to give her the boost she needs.

Anyone know anything about Diana Irey or who can comment on the competency of her campaign operation?

2 posted on 06/28/2006 7:56:17 PM PDT by mbraynard (I don't even HAVE a mustache!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814

GO MURTHA GO!!!

You sick b@st@rd.


3 posted on 06/28/2006 7:57:07 PM PDT by 43north (7 of 11 living things are insects. This explains liberals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814

I admit to not knowing a heck of a lot about Irey, but I've seen her speak on a couple of occasional and she was terrific! (Not to mention highly attractive).


4 posted on 06/28/2006 8:01:02 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sageb1

occasional = occasions


5 posted on 06/28/2006 8:01:29 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814
But at the same time, his outspokenness made him a huge target for the Internet right.

Ya think they're talking about us?

6 posted on 06/28/2006 8:02:41 PM PDT by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sageb1
(Not to mention highly attractive).

You wouldn't happen to have a picture of her on a horse, would ya?

7 posted on 06/28/2006 8:02:58 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (Freerepublic - The website where "Freepers" is not in the spell checker dictionary...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sageb1

Ooh, nice.

8 posted on 06/28/2006 8:03:58 PM PDT by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814

Time to throw out the trash.....


9 posted on 06/28/2006 8:04:24 PM PDT by clintonh8r (Jack Murtha? Not in my Marine Corps!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Onelifetogive

Ping to 8! Shwing!


10 posted on 06/28/2006 8:04:24 PM PDT by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard; Coop

pinging you to Irey question


11 posted on 06/28/2006 8:06:12 PM PDT by daybreakcoming (If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. A. Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814
In fact, by stating that he had high-level confirmation that a massacre occurred, Murtha may have set a trap for himself.

In my best Forrest Gump voice....."He is NOT a smart man."

12 posted on 06/28/2006 8:06:26 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (Freerepublic - The website where "Freepers" is not in the spell checker dictionary...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mbraynard; daybreakcoming

Never heard of her


13 posted on 06/28/2006 8:08:34 PM PDT by Coop (No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gordongekko909

Oh yes, but you forgot this. Support Diana Irey.

http://www.irey.com/



14 posted on 06/28/2006 8:10:52 PM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814

I don't think it is his anti-war stance that will hurt him so much as his seemingly gleeful accusations he levels at Marines. Being anti-war is fine but condemning a soldier without his even had a trial is....f**ked up.


15 posted on 06/28/2006 8:12:48 PM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814
Murtha was previously known as a pro-life, pro-gun Democrat. He received biennial votes for speaker from Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who, until this year, had refused to support any candidate for the position who was pro-choice on abortion.

I remember many a folk around here singing the praises of Gene Taylor during the Clinton impeachment. It 's interesting to see the so-called "Democratic conservative" turned out to be as phony as his liberal counterparts.

As for Murtha, he's just another in a long line of pennywise, pound-foolish idiots on the Democratic side that fall in love with the media spotlight and forget who put them in Congress in the first place. Good riddance. This fool is just an older version of Howard Dean: Open mouth, insert foot and then piss and moan when somebody notices.

16 posted on 06/28/2006 8:13:26 PM PDT by blake6900 (YOUR AD HERE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
Indeed I did.

3,6,9 damn she fine, hopin she can sock it to me one mo time

17 posted on 06/28/2006 8:13:27 PM PDT by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814; smoothsailing

18 posted on 06/28/2006 8:14:35 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blake6900
Does Murtha have any children?
19 posted on 06/28/2006 8:15:09 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (There are only a few absolute truths in life, the rest are just opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Patriot814
I've said it before and I'll say it here.

Murtha is the Max Cleland of '06! If the RNC uses its resources in that district, Murtha can be brought down.
20 posted on 06/28/2006 8:16:34 PM PDT by KoRn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson