'Rednecks' cracks may cost Murtha

POLITICO ^ | 10-26-08 | Josh Kraushaar - Commentary

[smoothsailing]

	'Rednecks' cracks may cost Murtha By: Josh Kraushaar October 26, 2008 09:40 PM EST
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), is in an unexpectedly tight race for an 18th term after effectively calling the constituents of his Southwestern Pennsylvania district racists and rednecks. Earlier this month, he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s editorial board that “There’s no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area” in response to a question about Barack Obama’s prospects in his district. A week after apologizing, he told a local Pittsburgh TV station that “this whole area, years ago, was really redneck.” Both comments were captured on videotape, and replayed constantly on local and cable news. Even Saturday Night Live got in the act, airing a parody of Murtha at an Obama rally making offensive comments. Though Murtha, the influential chairman of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, has brought back $160 million in earmarks to his economically-struggling district in the southwest of the state so far this year, he's slipped in the polls since making the comments. Republican William Russell is the unlikely beneficiary of the congressman’s missteps. A retired lieutenant colonel who served in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he wasn’t even allowed to begin campaigning for the general election until August since he was still on active duty in the military. He is something of an accidental candidate: After failing to get enough signatures to qualify for the primary ballot, he won 3,165 write-in votes to become the GOP nominee. Given Murtha’s stature in the region and the poisonous national environment for Republicans, pundits gave Russell no chance of winning. But a newly-released poll from GOP firm Susquehanna Polling and Research, shows Murtha leading Russell by five points, 46 to 41 percent. Fifty-four percent of the respondents said that it was time for someone else to represent them in Congress, and only 35 percent said Murtha deserves to be re-elected. “Even before he made those remarks, this has been the sleeper campaign of the season. Murtha has been out of touch with the district,” said Russell campaign manager Peg Luksik. “Everyone says the same thing—I have voted for Jack before, but not anymore.” Leading Pennsylvania pollster Terry Madonna said that Murtha has been “erratic lately” and can’t count on coattails from Barack Obama at the top of the ticket in his fairly conservative, rural district. Even so, Madonna said he “would be shocked” if Murtha loses given his record of bringing home the bacon. Murtha’s earmarking, though, has come under fire from Russell. In a campaign ad, Russell derisively describes Murtha as the “king of pork,” accusing him of only divvying out earmarks to companies that contribute to his campaigns. Russell’s campaign also went up with a new, hard-hitting advertisement arguing that Murtha has lost touch with his constituents. It also targets Murtha’s support of the $700 billion bailout package, which has been viewed skeptically back home. “Dear Mr. Murtha. I’ve always voted for you, but not this time,” a woman says in the ad. “You went on TV and accused those Marines of murder but refused to apologize when they were cleared. Then you voted for that $700 billion Wall Street bailout twice. It’s not how I want to be represented in Washington.” The conservative-leaning political advocacy group Veterans for Freedom will also be jumping on the anti-Murtha bandwagon. After endorsing Russell last week, the group will be airing an ad throughout the state condemning Murtha’s comments beginning Wednesday. Russell decided to enter the race because of what he viewed as Murtha’s increasingly anti-war posture. A decorated Vietnam veteran, Murtha made headlines when he called for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq in 2005. He also drew criticism in 2006 for accusing the military of covering up an investigation into whether Marines killed Iraqi civilians in cold blood. All but one of the Marines charged in the killings were later exonerated, and Murtha was sued by one for slander. That didn’t play well in a district with the largest percentage of military veterans in the Keystone State. Murtha only won re-election in 2006 with 61 percent of the vote, less than his usual overwhelming margin of victory. Compared to other members in competitive races, Murtha’s campaign has been downright quiet. He hasn’t been up with any advertising yet, only sending out mailers touting his legislative record. As of October 15, he reported just $502,000 in his campaign account. Murtha’s campaign said the congressman is taking his re-election seriously. He attended a veterans rally earlier this month, and spoke at all the county Democratic banquets. Another sign of it: the campaign is now attacking Russell as a wealthy carpetbagger who illegally campaigned while on active duty in the military. “Jack Murtha has a distinguished career of serving his country in the military and in public service, a record of creating jobs and working for Western Pennsylvania,” said Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey. “Our opponent is someone who doesn’t live in Pennsylvania, wrote himself a paycheck of $185,000 for the last three months, and is under investigation for illegal campaign work while on active-duty.” A Russell spokesman called the allegations false, and that Murtha is “looking for anything to divert attention from his recent record and outlandish statements.” Luksik argued that Murtha had been vulnerable even before his racially-provocative comments. She said Russell’s internal polling has shown him hovering around the 50 percent mark. But until Murtha made his controversial comments, Russell was unable to fund a sustained advertising campaign on local television. Now with Murtha’s remarks getting national attention, Luksik said that fundraising is beginning to pick up. “This was a grassroots campaign, and we wanted to build the base underneath. We didn’t want to excite the opposition on the other side. We wanted to keep the sleeping giant asleep.” said Luksik. “We chose to build a campaign plan that was designed to peak right before the election.”
© 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC

[smoothsailing]

Bill Russell vs. John Murtha Ping!!!

[scooby321]

I remember Tom Foley losing.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Eagerly awaiting the jettisoning of this turd.

[My Favorite Headache]

A Murtha and Obam loss would replace Christmas and my birthday this year.

[gwilhelm56]

Any Pennsylvanian who votes for John “LARDASS” Murtha, Deserve and should receive the IRE, Laughter, and MOcking Ridicule and Scorn from those Pennsylvanians who did NOT.

Those who vote for Murtha, are basicly saying, “Yes we’re Racists and Rednecks, ... so??!!”

[rednekelmo]

I find his remarks highly offensive and hope he gets everything he deserves this election

[gwilhelm56]

**A Murtha and Obam loss would replace Christmas and my birthday this year.**

I’d even throw in New Years Eve, seeing all 3 fall in week/10days or so.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

“Rednecks” and “Racists” didn’t go over well....

What’s next....”Crackers”...???

[Tribune7]

ping

[jazusamo]

Lets hope Murtha keeps shooting his mouth off, he's the best campaign ad Russell can have and it's free.

Bill Russell for Congress
Dump Murtha, PA 12th District

RussellBrigade.com

Contact me to be added to ping list.

[Enterprise]

Racists and rednecks and crackers, oh my!

[definitelynotaliberal]

Likewise for me. And if Kerry were to miraculously lose to Jeff Beatty, even the 4th of July might be replaced.

[writer33]

Elect Bill Russell:

For Liberty's Sake

[MtnClimber]

The thought of Murtha fighting to keep his wallet from being stolen in the unemployment line is an appealing vision.

[Ugot2Bkidding]

Racists and rednecks and crackers, oh my!

Thanks for the laugh. That was pricless.

[smoothsailing]

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

A classic!!!

[HamiltonJay]

Murtha may finally have jumped the shark with his constituency... finally the folks of his district may realize he’s just too much of an embarrassment to keep around.

[OneWingedShark]

>Murtha may finally have jumped the shark with his constituency... finally the folks of his district may realize he’s just too much of an embarrassment to keep around.

How much is “enough of an embarrassment”?

[victim soul]

“Dear Mr. Murtha. I’ve always voted for you, but not this time,” a woman says in the ad. “You went on TV and accused those Marines of murder but refused to apologize when they were cleared. Then you voted for that $700 billion Wall Street bailout twice. It’s not how I want to be represented in Washington.”

[GOPJ]

Calling a white working man a redneck is the same as calling a black working man a nigger. Murtha’s a bigot.

[stubernx98]

Gee, a “Redneck” is a tenant farmer with one horse and old wood tiller, and got a red neck from holding the reins of his plow horse over his neck. These were hardworking people of the earth in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. Its the Liberals that held the slaves.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

Bwaaaahhh!

[pray4liberty]

Murtha represents Code Pink, not his constituents.

I don't think anyone in PA has seen the pictures of him holding their bouquets!!

[smoothsailing]

[Chode]

Who am I... and WHY AM I HERE???

ohh, yeah...
THE PORK!!!

[smoothsailing]

I remember when I was helping out with Diana Irey’s campaign back in ‘06 Psycmeistr sent us a huge poster of that image! We had it up on a wall for the entire campaign. It even hung on the wall in Diana’s office for a while!

[jazusamo]

I wish the people of his district would see him holding the bouquets for the Pinkos and this one too!

[smoothsailing]

Good Evening, Chode! :)

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

If fatso loses, you’re invited to come drinking with us....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2116085/posts

[smoothsailing]

Well, I don’t do much drinking anymore, but I appreciate the invite. I will be at Bill’s Victory Party; God willing.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Party on, Smooth.....party on....

;-)

[Morgana]

Pork?

[Morgana]

Yea I know...but it still reminds me of a song we used to sing at summer camp..................................

REDNECKS, WHITE SOCKS AND BLUE RIBBON BEER
Writers Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield, Chuck Neese

There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my red necks, white socks and blue ribbon beer
The barmaid is mad ‘cause some guy made a pass
The juke box is playin’ there stands the glass
And the cigarette smoke kind-a hangs in the air
Red-necks, white socks and blue rib-bon beer
A cow-boy is cussin’ the pin-ball ma-chine
A drunk at the bar is get-tin’ noisy and mean
And, some guy on the phone says ill be home soon dear
Red-necks white socks and blue ribbon beer
CHORUS:
No we don’t fit in with that white collar crowd
We’re a little too rowdy and a little too loud
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my red-necks white socks and blue ribbon beer
The semis are passing on the highway outside
The four thirty crowd is about to arrive
The sun’s go-in’ down and we’ll all soon be here
Rednecks, white socks and blue ribbon beer
REPEAT CHORUS
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my red-necks, white socks and blue ribbon beer

[TaxRelief]

Great place to discuss Murtha:

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_300000018.html

(click “discuss”)

[Bean Counter]

yah...time to send him home to open “Jack Murtha Pontiac”...

[originalbuckeye]

I remember seeing a Pittsburgh talking head say that the ‘racist’ remark may mean that Murtha might only win 60%-40%. I hope the ‘redneck’ remark costs him the election. The people of his district must be fuming.

[jan in Colorado]

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), is in an unexpectedly tight race for an 18th term after effectively calling the constituents of his Southwestern Pennsylvania district racists and rednecks.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really glad that his constituents are starting to get fed up with Murtha, and are considering the better candidate. However, it still really bothers me that it took being called "racists and rednecks" for them to reject him. Murtha's unfounded accusations of our troops, qualified him to be FIRED long ago!

[TheThinker]

Redneck is the codeword for poor whites that don’t vote Democrat.

[jazusamo]

Murtha's unfounded accusations of our troops, qualified him to be FIRED long ago!

I couldn't agree more, Jan. The important thing for me now is to see him lose that House seat, in disgrace would be better than just losing an election but I'll take it.

He's still got two civil defamation suits against him by two of those Marines, lets pray he loses them.

[jan in Colorado]

Yes, jaz, Murtha losing IS the most important thing...I just had to vent a little!

There are some things that are unforgivable, and what Murtha said IS unforgivable!
OK, I feel better now ;o)

G'nite

[jazusamo]

I knew what you meant, Jan, I feel like venting constantly about him too, the guys despicable. Glad you feel better. ;-)

G’Night

[smoothsailing]

Good Morning Red, Quinn just announced Justin Sharratt is coming up in the next hour. I hope Rose straightens Quinn out in the next few minutes, he keeps on saying “Jason” Sharratt.

[reagan_fanatic]

PA voters - please do your state and the nation a big favor and pull the lever on this floating turd.

[smoothsailing]

Good Morning Red, Quinn just announced Justin Sharratt is coming up in the next hour. I hope Rose straightens Quinn out in the next few minutes, he keeps on saying “Jason” Sharratt.

Live Link To Quinn & Rose Broadcast

[smoothsailing]

On now, Justin, Darryl and Noah talking about the defamation suit.

[The Working Man]

Ok, now I am really confused. Here is the quote from the Article:

“But a newly-released poll from GOP firm Susquehanna Polling and Research, shows Murtha leading Russell by five points, 46 to 41 percent. Fifty-four percent of the respondents said that it was time for someone else to represent them in Congress, and only 35 percent said Murtha deserves to be re-elected.”

How can Murtha be leading by 5 points if 54% say it was time for someone else to represent them and on 35% said Murtha deserves to be re-elected.

What gives here? Are we in a land where Logic and Mathematics as applied to data doesn’t compute? I think I will go bang my head on the wall until I start to feel better.

[Fresh Wind]

Republican William Russell is the unlikely beneficiary of the congressman’s missteps.

No bias here. Nope.

[smoothsailing]

Wow, that was quick. I was wrong about Darryl, I thought I recognized his voice, but it was Noah. Glad Rose mentioned Bill Russell.