Posted on 07/10/2006 11:00:43 AM PDT by xpertskir
IREY TO MURTHA: HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, SIR?
Congressman’s latest instance of reckless disregard for truth slurs American civilians trying to help establish democracy in Iraq
(MONONGAHELA, July 10) – Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey – responding to a statement by U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, in which Murtha suggested that Irey is running for Congress because she and her husband are “benefiting from this war” – today released the following statement:
“Today I have a simple question to ask Jack Murtha: Have you no decency, sir?
“Jack Murtha’s comments in yesterday morning’s Tribune-Democrat – wherein he said, essentially, that my husband and I are ‘war profiteers,’ and impugned the motives of American civilian contractors involved in trying to help Iraq defend its new democracy – are shameful.
“For those who may not have seen Jack Murtha’s comments, here is what he is reported to have said in yesterday’s newspaper:
“Murtha said he is concerned about Irey’s motivation for running against him, considering her husband, Robert, is CEO of a Canonsburg-based firm that secured a $300 million contract with the Iraqi government two years ago.
“‘I worry about that,’ he said. ‘If they’re benefiting from this war, and if this is the reason she’s in this, it really bothers me. I don’t like that.’”
“Note that he said ‘It really bothers me. I don’t like that.’ This is not the appropriate response after raising a question; this is a response to a conclusive act. That is, he did not say, ‘It WOULD really bother me,’ nor did he say ‘I WOULD not like that.’ This was an accusation, pure and simple, no matter how poorly he failed in trying to dress it up as a question. He’s about as subtle as the candidate who, wanting to attack his opponent without being accused of dirty campaigning, says ‘Oh, please don’t ask me about my opponent’s well-known penchant for driving drunk after spending an evening gambling with prostitutes at the illegal casino down the street – I wouldn’t want to be accused of negative campaigning.’
“To imply, suggest, hint, whisper, or even wink and nod that I am running for Congress because my husband is a partner in a firm that had a contract with the Iraqi Government and that, therefore, we stand to ‘benefit’ from the war, is despicable.
“For the record: My husband, Robert Irey, is a partner in a firm that once had a subcontract with the Iraqi Government, jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Defense, to help the new democratic Government of Iraq take over the burden of defending itself by refurbishing equipment and material destroyed or damaged by the war. Had that contract been fulfilled, it would have allowed the Iraqi Government to take over more of the burden of defending itself sooner – which would have had the result of making possible a withdrawal of U.S. troops sooner than they would otherwise have been able to come home.
“But that contract was terminated more than a year and a half ago, when one of Bob’s partners and one of their employees were murdered in Iraq- a fact reported at the time by both the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press, and , therefore, presumably known to Jack Murtha”
“To continue, for the record: other than one $10,000 down payment, their firm never collected a dime from that contract. In fact, the Iraqi Government still owes that firm $1.6 million for work completed but for which they have yet to receive payment.
“Further, neither my husband nor I have any financial stake in any ongoing enterprise related to the war – as one can tell just by looking at the Financial Disclosure Form I filed when I became a candidate. That form is on record in the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, just a few hundred yards from Jack Murtha’s office in the Rayburn Building.
“Surely Mr. Murtha, with his vaunted connections to and influence over the Defense Department, knew all this before he recklessly suggested that I am running for Congress because I am ‘benefiting from this war.’
“Having seen the way Jack Murtha deals with his political opponents, ‘despicable,’ sadly, is what we’ve come to expect.
“But even Jack Murtha should be held to the standard of truth and honesty – and in this case, not only was he wrong to ‘raise the question,’ he KNEW he was wrong to ‘raise the question.’
“I have already made clear why I am running for Congress: I am running because Jack Murtha is out of touch, and no longer represents the residents of the 12th District. It is time for a change, and I am fighting to lead that change – to secure our borders, to safeguard our retirements, to promote economic growth throughout the 12th District, just as I have done in Washington County.
“There are 120 days left in this campaign. The good news is, that’s plenty of time to make sure the voters of the 12th District know just who Jack Murtha really is.”
-- 30 --
"A blast from fat boy's past. murtha, the unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscan Scandal. He testified for the prosecution to save his own fat ass."
"Would there be any benefit in reviving this issue? If so, I think Mrs. Irey should do so. What say ye?
Her response to Mutha's attack indicates that she is no dummy; she sounds very intelligent."
The beauty of this is she and her campaign don't have to say a word about this. They can stay above the fray. It's up to us, conservatives, to pound this issue, to remind as many voters in the 12th district as we can of murthas brush with Abscam. Rush Limbaugh has brought this up several times.
Dang! Any pics of her taking target practice wearing a short black leather skirt? ;-)
This never made it to the news locally in Cambria and surrounding areas, Ms. Irey is getting *Zero* coverture here. I have no idea how she looks like (I haven't been to her website yet) even less what she stands for.
Better fix that.
-Theo
That's good news. I wish I knew someone who lives in PA; I'd do my part.
"That's good news. I wish I knew someone who lives in PA; I'd do my part."
I wouldn't worry about it. I have a friend in Erie, but I don't think that helps either. But Rush has many listeners in PA and probably more than a few in the 12th district. And we may have had a few lurkers or posters from that area that may have read our posts.
Winky! Very pretty!
I wonder how she got that wink?
It's a secret!
OK! Now, if we could just see more of her in my neck of the woods... ;-)
-Theo
Anne and Cindy together is too much to bear, lol.
It's like the flowers up top and on the sides
The contrast is startling
The "Fly" got loose
Oh ya, I saw the fly, lol. Want me to put Vincent Price's head on him - or whoever it was??
Okay, that does it. I am DEFINITELY going to be at the function discussed in the post below:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1663958/posts
Every time I read a statement by Diana Irey I respect her more.
And I have ZERO respect for that clown Murtha.
I have never taken my boys to the state capital.
I CAN'T WAIT to hear all about it.
(Pssssssssssssst. Have you seen this? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1664554/posts )
Hadn't seen that one freema, thanks for putting me on it.
Irey sure is impressive huh?
I'll keep you informed. I posted it on the state page and got a few bites. We might just pull off a good freep of this idiot Murtha -- a good Tennessee Volunteer freep. I also sent Phil Valentine an email.
They don't call us Tennessee Volunteers for nothing. Hang in there Pennsylvania -- we're on the way.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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