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Web Site Attacks Critic of War (Opponents Question Murtha's Medals)
Washington Post ^ | January 14, 2006 | Howard Kurtz and Shailagh Murray

Posted on 01/14/2006 7:24:40 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), the former Marine who is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, has become the latest Democrat to have his Vietnam War decorations questioned.

In a tactic reminiscent of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth assault on Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) during the 2004 presidential campaign, a conservative Web site yesterday quoted Murtha opponents as questioning the circumstances surrounding the awarding of his two Purple Hearts.

Cybercast is part of the conservative Media Research Center, run by L. Brent Bozell III, who accused some in the media of ignoring the Swift Boat charges, but Thibault said it operates independently. He said the unit, formerly called the Conservative News Service, averages 110,000 readers, mainly conservative, and provides material for other Web sites such as GOPUSA. "We won't run anything against anybody if we don't have the goods," he said..........."

David Thibault, editor in chief of the Cybercast News Service, said the issue of Murtha's medals from 1967 is relevant now "because the congressman has really put himself in the forefront of the antiwar movement." Thibault said: "He has been placed by the Democratic Party and antiwar activists as a spokesman against the war above reproach."

Cindy Abram, a spokeswoman for Murtha, said, "We certainly believe that the questions being raised are an attempt to distract attention from what's happening in Iraq." As for how Murtha won the Purple Hearts, she said: "We think the congressman's record is clear. We have the documentation, the paperwork that proves that he earned them, and that he is entitled to wear them proudly."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; cnsnews; cutandrun; kurtz; murtha; murthamedals
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To: mumps

The SF-180 only becomes relevant, IMHO, when a politician campaigns on or boasts repeatedly about his war record. Never a day went by without Kerry mentioning his heroism in Vietnam, and the same has been true of Murtha.

They are the ones who put this out for public examination. Now let's have the facts. The media made President Bush release all his records. If Republicans do it, so can Democrats.

By the way, I think it's highly significant that the Washington ComPost feels that it has to complain about this questioning of Murtha's record. That means it must really be getting out, or else they would ignore it.


21 posted on 01/14/2006 8:02:54 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: Saberrattler

LOL! Go back home.


23 posted on 01/14/2006 8:07:50 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with political enemies who have dementia.)
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To: Saberrattler

Murtha is not deserving of respect as he is purposefully aiding the enemy and purposefully trying to demoralise our troops.
Anyone who served in uniform should know better than to purposefully spout propaganda for the enemy as Murtha has been doing.


24 posted on 01/14/2006 8:09:47 PM PST by Darksheare (Tagline subverted for nefarious plans of nefariousness.)
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To: frankjr

This is not a "tactic", this is a thoughtful inquiry into the past of a person who at times seems to protest altogether TOO much. A not uncommon psychopathology among persons who have hidden criminal pasts, yet claim respectable lives, while proclaiming their place on the high ground.

Like John F. Kerry, accept the honors bestowed, but then SHUT UP about the circumstances and how others may be undeserving. Otherwise people come scrutinizing, maybe a little too closely.

Remember the example of Admiral Jeremy Boorda. And he wasn't even bragging up his record. Neither was he undermining the country, but apparently the regime of the "Former Occupant of the Oval Office, 1993-2001" was a little nervous in his presence.


25 posted on 01/14/2006 8:11:26 PM PST by alloysteel (There is no substitute for success. None. Nobody remembers who was in second place.)
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To: Saberrattler

Heinlen Fan are we?
Have we read "Starship Troopers" a time or two?
If not you should be and you should.
I agree with the author.


26 posted on 01/14/2006 8:11:34 PM PST by cavtrooper21 (No snappy tagline ideas available at this time... Please try again later.)
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To: Bahbah
If Murtha is holding himself out as something he is not, his fraud needs to be exposed. Yes, he does.

Yes we want the truth from our politicians - and I get damn tired of hearing about the "Republican" Party of Corruption and the lily white DemonRATS. Always hear on the radio vote us back in power (the house) so we can clean up the Republican mess and commence impeachment of Bush. I want the MSM to start reporting more on the so-called "values of the DemonRATs" if this is what is to pass for news (e.g. Alito hearings and how dishonest this judge has been is all lies).

27 posted on 01/14/2006 8:13:38 PM PST by p23185 (Why isn't attempting to take down a sitting Pres & his Admin considered Sedition?)
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To: Txsleuth
That just doesn't add up!

No, it doesn't. Nor would he exploit his "connections" for military contracts and then run from the fight. Or lie about what he is hearing from those in the field. None of it adds up.

28 posted on 01/14/2006 8:13:45 PM PST by Bahbah (An admitted Snow Flake and a member of Sam's Club)
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To: frankjr
As does his alignment with the Code Pinkos:


29 posted on 01/14/2006 8:15:11 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: Bahbah

I know...I started getting really confused when he stated that Peter Pace and Gen. Casey both told him recently, that the war in Iraq is "unwinnable"...

????


30 posted on 01/14/2006 8:18:31 PM PST by Txsleuth (Thank you to all that donated on the Freepathon...next time more monthlies!!)
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To: Squantos
Yeah...I hear ya. I guess what gets in my crawl is that I knew some real war heros who would have never even wanted anybody to know that they were heros. I work with one now in fact.

For these politicians to tout their former glory in service to the nation, but then come short of nothing but sedition and treason is to insult those who served honorably and never stooped to leftist politics like these asshats.

I've been married 21 years to my lovely wife, and she's the best friend I've got in this world. But if I'm unfaithful to her tomorrow it will devalue the previous 21 years to nothing! Faithfulness to anything is only valuable as long as a person can keep it....that goes for friends, wives, allegiance to a nation through service...

Small, stupid things don't count either. We're all human and make mistakes. We all (should) regularly go through the process of realizing that we're wrong and saying sorry, and MEANING it. But these leftists amaze me. They're never wrong.

IN addition to this, they're stupid. They don't realize that they've invalidated all their former glory on account of their treasonous ways today. They get offended when we question their (former) heroism, and their left wing peanut gallery shrieks in outrage (as they did in the case of the Swift Boat Vets).

Somebody just needs to tell the Senator that his past good service applies to the PAST only, and today he's not a war hero anymore, but a TRAITOR.

I grow weary of the media giving him face time because he's got two purple hearts. He might have known true right from wrong at one time, but he's either forgotten, or he's sold his soul and has been fully integrated into the "system" and has become what he quite possibly once vowed never to become.

Either way...I'm with you. I do wish he would STFU. :-)
31 posted on 01/14/2006 8:20:35 PM PST by hiredhand (My kitty disappeared. NOT the rifle!)
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To: El Gato
Ha[s] Bozell hyped his veteran status, assuming he has it....

Well, that is the question, because people who find this type of attack of Murtha are going to either (a) call Bozell a chickenhawk, if he has not served in the military; or (b) question the character and nature of his military service and any promotions, medals, and honors if he has served. It is an era of no free media lunches, so to speak.

I'm just wondering what Bozell's military background is, just so I know what to expect in the counterattack and the counter-counterattack.

32 posted on 01/14/2006 8:24:43 PM PST by mumps
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To: Saberrattler

Welcome to Free Republic. People that say dumb sh*t like "peace" and make a "V" with their two fingers really annoy me. It's like they don't have a brain and can't think of anything intelligent to say and really don't have a clue what to do with their hands. Just my humble opinion.


33 posted on 01/14/2006 8:26:10 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (We did not lose in Vietnam. We left.)
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To: Txsleuth
I started getting really confused when he stated that Peter Pace and Gen. Casey both told him recently, that the war in Iraq is "unwinnable"...

And then we learned that was not the full quote and did not accurately reflect what they said.

34 posted on 01/14/2006 8:26:39 PM PST by Bahbah (An admitted Snow Flake and a member of Sam's Club)
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To: Bahbah

I wish someone from Pace's office would call Murtha...and kindly tell him it is time to retire NOW!


35 posted on 01/14/2006 8:29:45 PM PST by Txsleuth (Thank you to all that donated on the Freepathon...next time more monthlies!!)
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To: DTogo
Marines since 1775 have at one time or another been known for bravado and grumbling, but it seems to be a true trait that Marines stop the grumbling at the first sounds of the guns and perform as Marines are expected to perform. Or more to the point, to break things, take the ground and advance to kill the enemy.

But only rarely will a Marine be known to brag about medals; rather, they brag about their fellow Marines without mentioning their own accomplishments. I can recall on more than one occasion, while interviewing Marines that had participated in the victory at Kae Sahn, they were reluctant to speak of their medals. One in particular when asked what he had done to become a recipient of medals, looked me straight in the eyes, paused and said with a slight unintended grin: "Oh, it was for doing all the paper work.

In the case of John Murtha, what he said about the current situation in Iraq or how he displays his medals might not be as important as what his fellow Marines have not said in his defense. Their silence has been deafening, which only illuminates his position in line with the likes of Code Pink and Mr. Moran in Virginia.

When Marines fail to rally in support of another Marine it is usually an easy task to discern whether the lone Marine had been worthy of support. To the best of my knowledge, no honorable Marines have attempted to validate Murtha's remarks, nor his demand to withdraw to seek defeat from the jaws of victory, nor to discourage other potential candidates from joining the Marines or any other branch of the U.S. Military services.

Nonetheless, when Marines are expected to be grumbling or displaying their natural propensity for bravado prior to the sound of the guns and you hear nothing but dead silence, it might be safe to assume that on November 10th, 2006, John Murtha will most probably not be a guest speaker at the Marine Corps Ball to celebrate their Birthday.
36 posted on 01/14/2006 8:31:31 PM PST by Seniram US (Quote of the Day: Smile You're An American)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

37 posted on 01/14/2006 8:46:03 PM PST by Seadog Bytes (Benedict Arnold was a 'war hero' too... before he became a TRAITOR.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182
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38 posted on 01/14/2006 8:54:34 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: DTogo
Benedict Arnold was a real war hero.

"At the critical moment of the decisive battle of 7 Oct., Arnold rushed upon the field without orders, and in a series of magnificent charges broke through the British lines and put them to flight. The credit of this great victory, which secured for us the alliance with France, is due chiefly to Arnold, and in a less degree to Morgan. Gates was not on the field, and deserves no credit whatever. Just at the close of the battle Arnold was severely wounded in the leg that had been hurt at Quebec. He was carried on a litter to Albany, and remained there disabled until spring. On 20 Jan., 1778, he received from congress an antedated commission restoring him to his original seniority in the army."

However, being a hero didn't keep Arnold from selling out his country.

Murtha is nothing more than a traitor to his country.

I think the young Sargent took him and Congressman Jim Moron Moran to task yesterday.
39 posted on 01/14/2006 8:55:48 PM PST by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Or you could look at it this way.. I always ask the leftist why they are so confused they say they dont support the war then they make the V for Victory sign... heheh,,,little idiots. V is for Victory-P is for Peace.... Lets see them make a little P. :]


40 posted on 01/14/2006 8:59:20 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Embrace peace- Hug an American soldier- the real peace keepers.)
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