Murtha P.I. on Trail of Challenger Irey

Observer/Reporter (Pittsburgh suburbs) ^ | 7/20/06 | Barbara S. Miller

[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.

[Siouxz]

Local observation today in Johnstown, PA:

Every Sunday across the street from our Wal-Mart, there has been a rag-tag group of local *ssholes from the college (no more than 10) with signs about stopping the war in Iraq, "Murtha is Right," etc.

Today, my husband and I were delightfully surprised to see a group on the other corner (3X the number of protesters) waving American flags and holding signs like "We Support Our Troops, " etc.

I was one of the naysayers regaring Irey's chances at being elected. To me, this bodes well for her. I hope she really sticks it to that gasbag.

[girlangler]

Does her district have a high number of young men and women serving in the military?

Remember these soldiers have extended family and friends. They need to be recruited to help elect Irey, to get the vote out.

[IslandJeff]

Dayum, I figured you'd just forgotten to change it.

They're obviously scared spitless, for want of a better turn of phrase.

[Coop]

Glad to hear that. but she can't do it without your help. I hope you've been in touch with her campaign. If not, please consider it.

[Coop]

Nope. :-)

[W04Man]

Siouxz (Q?), Is there any way to get in touch with the Pro Troops folks from Johnstown who where counter demonstrating? I'd like to send them some signs and encourage them in other ways. Maybe even join them some time in the future? Who are they? Can you contact them next Sunday for me? I'll give you my direct email in a FReepMail.
Bump and Elect Diana Irey

http://Vets4Irey.com

[Coop]

Good thinking!

[Coop]

BTTT

[investigateworld]

We need to work harder. Irey need not "hire" a PI. She has FR on her side. Let's roll.

We do have some talent in the area ;-)

[Coop]

Hey! How about dropping in for a visit? :-)

[mnehring]

Coop,
Remember a few months ago someone was posting on Irey threads that 'they hope she has no skeletons in her closet' and then starting up conversations to 'see what people knew' about Irey's past? They were acting like they wanted to make sure she was 'clean', but looking back, it may have been someone digging.

[smoothsailing]

Always a pleasure Marine! What's up?

[Sisku Hanne]

There's plenty of dems who are disgusted at the unions...particularly the steel workers. Fat cat leaders squander everything they can get their hands on and the little guy gets bupkiss.

A typical example is secluded historic Linden Hall outside of Perryopolis. Sweet little golf course, extraordinary historic mansion and great restaurant, hotel/conference center that could have been used to draw a nice tourist business into the area. Instead the steel union uses it like their private playground and runs it into the ground. Boots out people who have wedding receptions scheduled in the mansion. Takes people's reserved rooms, etc.
Yet they don't put the money into the place to keep up the greens and the facilities properly. In fact they took 3 enormous and stunning Tiffany windows out of the mansion's grand stairway and sold them to a private party for millions of dollars. These windows were constructed of handmade Youghigheny glass from nearby Connelsville. A real draw to history buffs, artists and glass aficianados, and now they're gone forever.

This kind of behavior has really cheesed off a lot of locals who live in the one of the most economically depressed counties in the state. The union has done jack for them, and they know it.

[Sisku Hanne]

ahahahaha!

[4yearlurker]

I have not heard of Linden Hall. The union tactics you describe does not surprise me a bit. I know Perryopolis and Connelsville well. Here in Monessen where I live is Union,Union,Union!! The steel mills are piles of twisted rusted metal. (I think "Robocop" was filmed inside the old mill buildings.) The coke plant on the Mon River is still burning the flame. Actor/makeup man Tom Savini is investing money in Monessen for his school. I see him and his Humvee every other week.

[Sisku Hanne]

Just the kind of FReepertunity I've been looking for. Can you pm me with more details like time and an approximate address?

[RedRover]

And no sign of her yet! (Probably lurking.)

[Sisku Hanne]

See what I mean? There's no reason why you shouldn't have heard about Linden Hall....half the people who live nearby don't even know it's there! If you click the link you can see the front entrance of the mansion where the 3 Tiffany windows used to be. They could have turned it into a goldmine and a real attraction generating lots of revenue from events, conferences, tourists and golfers. You can't touch a course like theirs for such cheap greens fees, it's just a shame it's not in tip-top condition. Still worth a road trip, though.

[4yearlurker]

Thanks for the link. I think we'll check it out one day this summer. Do you think they pay union scale to keep up the landscaping and lawn maintenance?

[Coop]

Remember a few months ago someone was posting on Irey threads that 'they hope she has no skeletons in her closet' and then starting up conversations to 'see what people knew' about Irey's past? They were acting like they wanted to make sure she was 'clean', but looking back, it may have been someone digging.

Yeah, I remember. That was nothing but an amateur troll. :-)