Bin Laden remarks give Murray grief

Tacoma News Tribune (WA) ^ | 24 December 2002 | Les Blumenthal

[Stultis]

Bin Laden remarks give Murray grief

Les Blumenthal; The News Tribune

WASHINGTON - Sen. Patty Murray says she was just trying to prompt a thoughtful discussion when she told high school students the United States might learn something from Osama bin Laden's efforts to help the poor in the Arab world.

Instead, the Washington state Democrat got her picture plastered prominently on the Web, became a hot topic of conversation on talk radio and had her patriotism questioned by the head of the state Republican Party.

Even one of her possible Republican opponents when she faces re-election in 2004, U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt (R-Spokane), challenged her to a one-on-one debate on the topic of bin Laden.

Murray, in a telephone interview, said she was shocked by the Republican response to what she considered a free-ranging discussion that represented one of the best American values - freedom of thought.

"I am astonished the Republican Party would try to spin out of control a conversation with high school students," she said. "Republicans have been trying for six months to use the war on terrorism for political purposes."

During an appearance Thursday before an honors class at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Wash., Murray (D-Shoreline) challenged students to consider why the United States is so poorly regarded by many Muslims while bin Laden is considered a hero.

"We've got to ask, why is this man (bin Laden) so popular around the world?" Murray was quoted as saying in The (Vancouver) Columbian newspaper. "Why are people so supportive of him in many countries that are riddled with poverty?"

Murray said the answer may be unpopular, but worth considering.

"He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that."

She added: "How would they look at us today if we had been there helping them with some of that, rather than just being the people who are going to bomb Iraq and go to Afghanistan?"

The response was relentless.

Murray's office was inundated with calls for her to appear on conservative television and radio talk shows.

The issue was featured prominently on the online Drudge Report.

Rush Limbaugh did a piece on Murray's comments. State GOP Chairman Chris Vance issued two news releases demanding an apology.

"It is absolutely outrageous and despicable to imply that the American government should learn a lesson from the madman who murdered thousands of American citizens," Vance said."I know Senator Murray has a habit of sticking her foot in her mouth, but this goes way beyond a simple gaffe."

Vance was particularly critical of her for saying bin Laden had helped build day-care centers, pointing out that fundamentalist Islamic women don't work, so there's no need for day-care centers.

Nethercutt, sounding like a candidate, called Murray's comments "shocking, bizarre and uninformed. You have to wonder where Senator Murray has been living since September 11th."

Murray, who in October voted against a resolution authorizing President Bush to attack Iraq, said she considered bin Laden an "evil terrorist," and said bringing him to justice and dismantling his al-Qaida terrorist network should be the U.S. government's top priority.

But Murray said while the United States tracks down bin Laden and members of his terrorist organization, U.S. leaders also should consider the longer-term issue of improving relations with the Arab world.

She noted that the White House has created a special office, headed by a Madison Avenue advertising executive, to improve America's image.

"Having a challenging and thoughtful discussion about America's future reflects the best values of a free democracy," she said.

"To sensationalize and distort in an attempt to divide is not."

Exactly how much bin Laden has done to support schools, medical facilities and infrastructure remains conjecture in the intelligence community, though there is evidence he engaged in such activities, particularly in Afghanistan and Sudan.

A Defense Department fact sheet indicated bin Laden had imported heavy equipment to build roads, tunnels, hospitals and storage facilities in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation and in connection with the establishment of paramilitary training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mark Burgess, an analyst with the Center for Defense Information, a nonpartisan group that tracks defense issues, said bin Laden spent five years in Sudan using his own money to fund a number of infrastructure projects for the government.

"He and his organization have been involved in various welfare-type projects and charitable work," Burgess said.

Michael Swetnam, a terrorism expert who co-wrote a book on bin Laden and al-Qaida, told The Associated Press that the terrorist leader has been on a mission to build schools, roads and even homes for widows of those killed in the fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan.

But Swetnam said the schools he financed taught mostly fundamentalist Islam that preaches hatred for the West.

Les Blumenthal: 1-202-383-0008
lblumenthal@mcclatchydc.com
(Published 12:30AM, December 21st, 2002)

[Cicero]

We'll just have to call her the shocked mom in tennis shoes, I guess. Shocked, shocked.

[Waco]

And chillins, if Binnie boy were to blow up your school with all you chilins in it, I'll be right there cheering him on, as usual. S. Murray

[Hodar]

Bin Laden remarks give Murray grief

grief? hardly. The Seattle Times gives her a total pass and every other major new outlet has ignored the story. no grief there....

[jdontom]

Murray, in a telephone interview, said she was shocked by the Republican response to what she considered a free-ranging discussion that represented one of the best American values - freedom of thought.

Why would she use the word Thought and not Speech, I can thank anything I want but if I actually say what I am thanking that could land me in the pokey. She is now twisting what she said into a "thoughtful discussion".

Idiot

[chiefqc]

SHE TRIED DEBATTING HERSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND LOST

[COBOL2Java]

Sen. Patty Murray says she was just trying to prompt a thoughtful discussion when she told high school students the United States might learn something from Osama bin Laden's efforts to help the poor in the Arab world.

And Sen. Trent Lott was just trying to say nice things to a 100-year-old man who was retiring. Oh wait, Murray's a Democrat. Never mind...

[beckett]

I did some research on Swetnam some days ago when it appeared he was backing up Murray's contentions in the original reposrts about her remarks. His quote above makes it look like he softening his support somewhat. In any case, the guy is career military who did his 20 years and then went into the defense industry. After a few years as a VP at a typical mega-corporation he decided to found his own "terrorist study institute" with a couple of professors and generals on the board. His book about Bin Laden is not definitive or even written as a narrative. It's more like a compilation of lists and raw data about al-Qaida.

He is a dubious "expert."

[raisincane]

"An American value, freedom of thought." We'll seems everybody and their dim brother was translating Lott's thoughts. Get used to it, dims, dish it out, then have the guts to take it right back! Or just shut up!

[Bonaparte]

Murray should be relentlessly challenged to produce documentation in support of bin Laden's alleged "philanthropy." She should also be forcefully confronted with documentation of our good works in Middle Eastern countries, generosity that goes far beyond that of any other country or organization in the world.

[Texas Eagle]

Sen. Patty Murray says she was just trying to prompt a thoughtful discussion when she told high school students the United States might learn something from Osama bin Laden's efforts to help the poor in the Arab world.

What a lying sack of Clinton! What she was trying to do was poison the students' minds against President Bush. My proof? What did Patty Rodham Murray have to say when Demi Moore's boyfriend was wontonly shooting off cruise missiles in a disguised attempt to "get" Bin Laden?

Or is that it? Is she upset that President Bush is making a sincere effort to send Bin Laden to meet his virgin goats while disgraced ex-President Clinton was just making a show of it?

Patty Murray is a disgrace. The United States has spent billions (if not trillions) of dollars over the years on aid to countries with impoverished citizens.

The "schools" Bin Laden has built are called madrassas. In these madrassas, the little skulls full of mush are taught to hate Jews and kill Americans. One of Bin Laden's little boy scouts wouldn't think twice about blowing Patty Murray's head off and spitting down her throat.

[okie01]

She is now twisting what she said into a "thoughtful discussion".

A "thoughtful discussion" based on lies!

The very premise of her discussion was predicated on twin falsehoods:

1. That bin Laden was "building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health care facilities" when he was, in fact, building terrorist training camps and madrassas for the purpose of inflaming Islam against the West.

2. And, as she claims, "We haven't done that." When, in fact, we spend more on foreign aid every day than bin Laden has money in the bank.

Senator Murray and the rest of the Senate, by the way, vote on the foreign aid package every year. Is she so damn stupid that she isn't aware of what she's voting on? And consider how her "thoughtful discussion" is a direct slap in the face to all the Americans who work in these programs overseas -- who really are "building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health care facilities". And more...

At best, the Senator's "thoughtful discussion" betrays ignorance and insensibility. At worst, it has another, less flattering, name.

If Trent Lott is a "segregationist", Patty Murray is a "seditionist".

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Murray, in a telephone interview, said she was shocked by the Republican response to what she considered a free-ranging discussion that represented one of the best American values - freedom of thought.

Freedom of thought does not equal freedom from criticism.... Mind you, Trent Lott was engaging in a little "freedom of thought" and it got him booted from the leadership position. I wonder if Senator Murray had any objections to that.

[MeekOneGOP]

Uh...did I say something wrong?...

---

Doh !

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/811813/posts?page=13#13

Murray to Press - "Patty Tired!"
AP - December 2002 - Dateline Seattle Zoo

An irate Patty Murray swung angrily from her tire here today, denouncing her critics' negative reviews of her remarks praising Osama bin Laden.

"Patty tired!" Day signed as the hirsute congressthing shrieked in rage and flung her feces at rapidly retreating critics. Murray, through her interpreter added "Apple not love tired Patty!"

Zoo officials were at a loss of explain her behavior.

[Free the USA]

Good old Les Blumenthal the hardcore Socialist writer for the TNT; Les considers Patty and Cantvotewell too far to the right to be good representatives but for now they will do. He never makes even a slight attempt to keep his editorial opinions separate from what he and the TNT pretend is just a News Story.

[PoisedWoman]

"He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools,

Schools, as in madrassas, Senator Moron, where Muslim kids learn that they must kill the infidels.

We're going to unseat this idiot! Yes we are!

[Stultis]

I did some research on Swetnam some days ago when it appeared he was backing up Murray's contentions in the original reposrts about her remarks.

Please read and comment, if so inclined, on my message #54 in this thread:

Those "Silly Attacks on Patty Murray

See also links to other Murray threads in messages #31 and #45.

[billhilly]

One United States Senator praises another Senator, 100 year old Strom Thurmond, a gentleman by most people's reckoning. Another praises the architect of our September 11, 2001, act of terror on our country.

Which one gets the ax?

[Stultis]

The Seattle Times gives her a total pass

Link to their editorial in my previous message.