Whatever it is, this isn't Treason

Observer-Reporter (SW Pennsylvania paper) ^ | 8/6/06 | Editorial staff

[Coop]

We cannot recall when, if ever, a congressional race in our corner of the world developed a national focus, but such was the case last week. Unfortunately, it was characterized by the kind of overheated rhetoric that plagues today's politics.

A group of veterans announced it would sponsor a national veterans rally in October to protest Rep. John Murtha's opposition to the Iraq war. "Vets for the Truth" is a successor to one of the organizations that worked against John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.

But the group does not simply disagree with Murtha that the United States should pull out of Iraq; it claims that things he has said were "treasonous." His position actually is that the U.S. and its coalition troops have done all they can do and that the war can not be won militarily, which is not only a far cry from treason, it's probably a realistic assessment of the situation in Iraq.

Murtha, of course, is a big boy and an old political pro. (When he came out against the war last November, he coupled it with a personal attack on Vice President Dick Cheney.) He also has deep connections to the military establishment and to veterans groups. Last week, the Murtha camp countered the veterans group by producing former U.S. Sen. Max Clelland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, to counter what he called "the right wing smears against a good man." A news conference held by his opponents in downtown Johnstown Thursday was dwarfed by a pro-Murtha rally at which Cleland was featured, although Murtha wasn't there; he was busy campaigning for a Democrat congressional candidate in Eastern Pennsylvania.)

There were complaints that Murtha, who was also wounded in Vietnam, was being "Swift-boated," a reference to the Navy veterans who hounded Kerry two years ago. The Swift boat controversy was about things that happened better than 30 years before and was a response to Kerry's foolishly making Vietnam the centerpiece of his campaign. The Murtha dispute is at least about what's going on today.

Murtha's Republican challenger, Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey, appeared to be making the most of the situation without joining the protesters. She earlier charged, correctly, that Murtha had unfairly declared that a Marine squad had killed two dozen civilians "in cold blood" in Haditha, even though the accusation was still being investigated.

Also, last week, a Marine Corps sergeant under investigation in connection with Haditha, filed a defamation suit accusing Murtha of spreading "false and malicious lies." There was a curious footnote to Murtha's response to the suit.

A news release from Murtha's office received in our newsroom Wednesday called the plaintiff "a Marine Corps staff sergeant charged in the incident at Haditha." The fact is that, while the initial Pentagon investigation reportedly supports the general accusation, nobody has been charged in the case.

When we double-checked Murtha's Web site on Thursday, the first sentence of the news release had been re-written to remove the word "charged." The original claim had been dropped down the memory hole without explanation.

While all this makes good political theater, its effect in November is questionable. Murtha's party has a huge voter registration majority in the district, he is a master at dispensing pork, and few people in his home area of Johnstown speak ill of him, including the Republican leadership. Even if the insurgency in Iraq were to suddenly collapse, it probably wouldn't hurt him at all.

[usmcobra]

Cleland is nothing but a prop for the anti war crowd.

[Mrs. Ranger]

"ROTFLMAO!! Okay, so then why all the media interest? And all the Murtha attacks?"

LOL!!!!!!!!!!! By Jove, you've *got* it! :)

Translation for others: Irey's making "the boys" plenty nervous. ;)

[Coop]

I'm only anonymous to people who don't frequent here. And you don't count very well.

I don't like treasonous, slimeball politicians (read: EX-Marine Murtha, POS Kerry) who sell out the very troops they authorized to wage combat.

Max Cleland earned a Silver Star at Khe Sahn. It had nothing to do with his grenade accident. I respect his service, and feel horrible he was so close to going home when that occurred. And you don't see me making fun of it. But I don't like it when Murtha and other anti-military Dems trot him out as a "heroic" piece of meat and allow/encourage him to slander other equally heroic veterans who earned and deserve respect.

[smoothsailing]

Just back up you claim that Cleland blew himself up during a training exercise, or retract it until you can.

Changing the subject doesn't cut it.

[Joan Kerrey]

U.S. Sen. Max Clelland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam,

In a non-combat related accident

[Joan Kerrey]

.but heroes don't go around acting like they got their wounds in combat when they were self-inflicted. Heroes don't self-righteously pimp themselves like Cleland does. Kerry did and he was a hero wasn't he? You do realise ofcourse that Kerry served in Viet Nam?

[smoothsailing]

You do realise of course that Kerry served in Vietnam?

Who Knew? ;-)

[digger48]

Now, you've got to admit that that was a puff-piece about Cleland. Not dismissing the possiblility, but I missed he part where he "volunteered". If an oversight, my apologies to him and you.

I also know men (one who works for me), who volunteered for 'Nam.
A semi-worthless drunk, who uses his Purple Heart status as victimhood at every opportunity. (couple of stitches from frags)

Now, I admire the men who fought, but I refuse to grant "Hero Status" to all. It diminishes those who actually are.

Kinda like Max.

[digger48]

Ok, saw where he volunteered. My apologies to him and you.

[muawiyah]

What Murtha has been saying is, of course, quite treasonous since it's designed to demoralize the troops in the field.

The writer of the referenced piece is clearly one of Murtha's fellow conspirators.

If "W" ever gets around to hanging traitors, both these people are gong to be in a long line.

[Coop]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!! By Jove, you've *got* it! :) Translation for others: Irey's making "the boys" plenty nervous. ;)

But we'unz is too stupid to figger it out. :-)

[highlander_UW]

Last week, the Murtha camp countered the veterans group by producing former U.S. Sen. Max Clelland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, to counter what he called "the right wing smears against a good man."

What smear?! Murtha DID call for the US to cut and run.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Cleland has long ago blown his credibility away.

[Coop]

That's what would crack me up if it weren't so pathetic. By screaming about smears, these supposed heroic veterans are smearing veterans that have just as much, or more, right to speak out as those hypocrites do.

John Kerry - heroic Vietnam vet, but Bud Day is a partisan smear artist

Jack Murtha - heroic Vietnam vet, but John O'Neill is a right-wing (even though he's a Dem) attack dog

Max Cleland - heroic Vietnam vet, but Larry Bailey is some wuss* who bought his uniform at a second-hand store

*He heh, just kidding CAPT Bailey. I would never seriously insult a retired SEAL who lives within driving distance! ;-)

[Albion Wilde]

bttt

[F.J. Mitchell]

LOL! Maybe You should have written that last line in larger letters, Coop.

[Coop]

Coop's not here. He went into hiding.

[PA Engineer]

How convenient. They forgot ABSCAM. Trading illegally with the Arabs. Kind of a reflection of what he is doing today.

[driftdiver]

"every one who posts here is a keyboard jockey behind a computer....including you.....that is my opinion....live with it....."

naw some of us have a real life as well.

[usmcobra]

The Murtha camp countered the veterans group by producing former U.S. Sen. Max Clelland.

I wonder where they keep him in storage.