Posted on 07/23/2006 8:51:33 AM PDT by Coop
A private investigator working for the campaign of U.S. Rep. John Murtha has been collecting information about his opponent in the congressional race, Washington County Commissioner Diana L. Irey.
"Everybody's talking about it," Irey said Wednesday, adding that she became aware that an investigator hired by the Murtha campaign was checking up on her in a county outside Washington a couple of weeks ago.
About the same time, a woman arrived at the Washington County elections office requesting copies of Irey's campaign finance forms in her county commissioner races and information from a statewide database that would show how often she went to the polls.
The database shows Irey as a registered Republican who since at least 1986 regularly voted in both primaries and general elections, most recently in the May 16 primary.
"There's nothing sinister about checking public records on someone running for Congress, especially when that person is not well known," Murtha said through a spokeswoman.
Asked if the investigation goes beyond the public record, Irey said, "That's the rumor," and claimed that the Murtha campaign has previously looked into other opponents' pasts.
"It's been done before," said Irey, a three-term county commissioner. "I was told when I entered this race that he's done that to other candidates as well. I've been investigated before. I don't have anything to hide."
Although news releases from Irey's campaign sometimes refer to its "investigation" of Murtha, she said she uses the word in a different context, meaning an examination of Murtha's voting record in Congress.
"We have not hired a private investigator," Irey said.
The 12th Congressional District stretches from the West Virginia line to Cambria County, taking in all of Greene County and about half of Washington County. The Johnstown Democrat was first elected to Congress in 1974.
It's the new Stalinist way of the once great Democratic Party.
One wonders if Mister Murtha consulted Hillary Rodham on whom he might engage for P.I. skulduggery services.
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I don't think there has been much of a threat to the old fart until now.
The $230,000 she raised last quarter hasn't hurt her chances. :-) But she still faces an uphill battle. Murtha's got a ton of money. However, Diana Irey does have a few advantages. Some very ticked off veterans and military supporters rallying to her side, and Murtha's inability to shut his idiotic mouth.
From what I've seen of Jack Murtha, he's a lousy public speaker. A debate or two would likely favor Commissioner Irey.
I hope people upset with Murtha selling out our troops will either step up or continue to donate to Ms. Irey. She doesn't need to catch the despicable EX-Marine in fundraising. She just needs money for advertising and organizing a get-out-the-vote effort.
People like you two are really going to make this race. Talking to friends/family/neighbors in the 12th district and recruiting them to come out and vote for Irey and hopefully to support her either financially or, better yet, by volunteering their time. We out-of-staters can help raise money, and spread the word to an extent. But you locals and almost locals will really make the difference!
See my tagline... if you haven't done so already, please PLEASE DO IT!!
As much as I admire John O'Neil, I think him personally getting involved would create more negative publicity than helpful momentum. We do need tactical advice from the SwiftBoaters, and I suspect that Irey is getting some of that from some of the people who worked with the vets against Kerry.
All vets and their families, including currently serving vets, should be fairly ticked off at Murtha for his insane comentary. On another thread, I saw where Haditha report will be made public and will come out soon. To put a lie to Haditha would devastate Murtha's rush to judgment, conviction and execution of our Marines.
I doubt Ms. Irey is getting advice from those groups. They need to keep their distance from each other.
Apollo -- southern Armstrong county -- the county as a whole has tended slightly Republican but also has reliably supported Murtha. What are Apollo's trends in particular?
But yes, most people will be civil toward you if you are civil toward them....so positive feedback door-to-door can be misleading.....extreme negative feedback can be helpful as well.
Sounds to me that Jack(ass) Murtha is 'running' scared!
Or maybe he's getting some advice from Bill & Hill who like to employ PIs to intimidate those who told the truth about them.....like Juanita Broadrick, Linda Tripp, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, etc.
Maybe Murtha has gotten some recommendations for PIs from the Clinton?
"Cut & Run" must be 'running' scared if he's resorting to a PI against Irey!
That ABSCAM tape will make a wonderful campaign ad. I hope she uses it!
Then again, nobody asks me. And probably for good reason! :-D
Happy Diana Sunday!
Any polling out yet? Even internals?
See my tagline
Bump
I'd like to see his military record investigated.I suspect we have another John Kerry.
He's getting scared. He needs to be run out of D.C.
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