Posted on 09/22/2007 6:38:44 PM PDT by RedRover
Fox News: Hannity & Colmes
Transcript: September 20, 2007
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: There was no IED that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood. And that’s what the report is going to tell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN COLMES: That was Congressman John Murtha, voicing his views about the Haditha Marines. It was alleged that they participated in retribution killings of innocent civilians after losing a colleague to a roadside bomb.
Now the number of Haditha participants being accused of all charges is growing and some want Murtha to apologize. Next guest confronted the congressman about just that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON MATTERA, YOUNG AMERICAN FOUNDATION: A number of the charges have been dropped on the Haditha incident; they’re being dropped. Would you like to issue an apology for saying that they killed innocent civilians in cold blood?
MURTHA: Is the trial still going on?
MATTERA: The charges are being dismissed.
MURTHA: Are they still going on? Out, out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLMES: With us, Young American Foundation spokesperson Jason Mattera, and the executive director of Young Voter PAC, Jane Fleming Kleeb.
Let me just point out, Jason, that the clip we just made of Murtha making those charges, what he actually said was that sources in the military have told him that an internal investigation would show that there was no fire fight and all the other things he said.
And furthermore, there are still three soldiers, you know, up on charges. As he pointed out to you, this is not over yet, as you well know.
MATTERA: Yes, I know. He’s — he’s posturing and banking on that these charges will stick and that these Marines will be convicted of murder, because — or else he will be found out to be a liar.
But let’s stick to the facts here. Three out of the — out of the Haditha Marines, three of them have been cleared or are in the process of being cleared. And a fourth is expected to be cleared.
So he should issue an apology the same for — let me finish, he should issue an apology for saying they killed innocent civilians in cold blood, which is just not true.
COLMES: Well, first of all, he was quoting a military source. And by the way, the person who...
MATTERA: Quoting military. Why are you carrying water for this man, Alan?
COLMES: Let me point out something to you, Jason.
MATTERA: Go ahead.
COLMES: The person clearing these people is Lieutenant General James Mattis. Let me put up on the screen what Mattis is quoting as having said.
He said it’s a lot of fun to fight. It’s fun to shoot people. I’ll be right up front with you. I like brawling. He said that in San Diego. You go to Afghanistan, you get guys who slap women around for five years because they don’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that don’t got no manhood left anyway. It’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."
Do you agree with those sentiments? This is the guy clearing these people.
MATTERA: OK. That’s besides the point.
COLMES: No, it is the point.
MATTERA: That’s not — that’s not the point. He has cleared them. If you have personal objections with what you just showed on the screen, then that’s your prerogative.
HANNITY: Hey...
MATTERA: ... but these men have been cleared, and Murtha should be called out.
SEAN HANNITY: Hang on a second.
MATTERA: Murtha should be called out. He’s a liar. He should resign.
HANNITY: Let me go to Jane Fleming. This is too important. Jason, by the way, great work. You did the job...
MATTERA: Thank you, Sean.
HANNITY: You did you tell job that our mainstream media should have done here.
Now, here are the facts, Jane Fleming. He went out there. I don’t care where he thinks he got his information. He went out there and definitively accused these brave Marines of killing innocent civilians in cold blood. They’re now exonerated. These cases aren’t going to be dropped...
JANE FLEMING KLEEB, YOUNG VOTER PAC: They’re not exonerated yet, Sean.
HANNITY: Excuse me, excuse me. These cases are going to be dropped against four of these guys. My question is why doesn’t he have the decency to apologize? That’s all that Jason was asking.
KLEEB: OK. My question to you and Jason is when did you become part of the legal team of the Marines?
HANNITY: I’m not asking you that.
KLEEB: Neither one of you know if those charges are going to be dropped. Neither one of you.
HANNITY: You are so intellectually dishonest. You are so intellectually dishonest. You know something? I make mistakes, and I apologize...
KLEEB: Sean, neither one of you guys are part of the legal team. And so I’m sorry that you guys are making assumptions.
MATTERA: If you read the paper, Jane.
HANNITY: Excuse me. The charges have been dropped on for three of these guys. He accused them of killing civilians in cold blood. I would sue him, myself. Why shouldn’t we have the decency to apologize?
KLEEB: One of the soldiers whose charges have been dropped have been dropped because he made a plea agreement...
HANNITY: Excuse me.
KLEEB: ... with the folks because he then is going against one of the other military guys. And so, let’s try to get our facts straight and not try to spin the details.
MATTERA: If Jane knew her facts, she would know that that...
HANNITY: That’s right.
MATTERA: That lieutenant as changed his testimony five times. And Lieutenant General James Mattis, who Alan referred to, has cleared the other two. Even the New York Times” wrote an article a few weeks ago that said the case is up in smoke.
HANNITY: Jane, here’s my last question. You know something? He was wrong about brave American heroes because he is so invested in his political agenda. Why don’t you have some integrity and say that, for moral reasons, he owes those men an apology when the charges are dropped? Why don’t you have the decency to say that and request that of this man?
KLEEB: Because I have trust and faith in our legal process.
MATTERA: They cleared him.
KLEEB: And if the soldiers are found...
HANNITY: He slandered them.
KLEEB: If they are found not guilty then we will move on from there. But you have no idea. You and Jason are not part of the legal team. You have no idea.
COLMES: We’re just out of time.
(CROSSTALK)
COLMES: We are going to get cut off by a computer in a moment. Thank you both. More after the break coming right back.
LOL!
I haven’t seen that one before!
He’s a cockroach alright. ;o)
By smearing the General, he can claim that everyone's still guilty, even as one by one the charges are dropped. Colmes is claiming more than bias, he's claiming that no matter what the evidence is, Mattis will let them off, irregardless the IO's recommendation.
He should have been taken to task for that sleazy bit of moving the goal posts, and somebody should have had the facts that not one, but four Marines have had charges dropped (so far), but neither Sean nor Jason knew, much less had their names and charges that had been dropped at the ready. Talk about missed opportunities....
It will be a joy to hear you and Justin speak.
I hope you get plenty of notice when, I'd hate to miss it.
Let us know what you can, Darryl, we'll spread the word.
No worries, darlin'!
All is well.
Besides, we've got bigger fish to fry.
Startin' with Murtha.
You know the drill, and you know where I stand.
I'm just glad you're comin' round again, girl!
You've always made a difference around here!
See # 53 above. Doug is rarin’ to go again!
Bob Hope was a true patriot and a wonderful gift for our troops. So much better than the crap our guys are entertained with today.
The timing was good last night. Will probably be gone again soon.
Thanks for the pep talk! Keep on keeping on.
Doug is the BEST! It was amazing what you guys were able to do at the midnight hour...literally!
I posted this over at Newsbusters this morning...
The Disinformation Campaign Against the Haditha Marines Continues
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/robin-boyd/2007/09/23/disinformation-campaign-against-haditha-marines-continues
And a little rant... Why can’t the media interview someone who knows the facts about the Haditha cases, like you Red? I appreciate what Mattera and Hannity did but they need to state the facts (and pronounce the Marines’ names right). Not to mention that Allahpundit over at HotAir was one of the first knee-jerkers to diss the Marines when the initial reports came out.
Okay - rant mode off (for now)
I didn’t want to nitpick Mattera but what case is he talking about when he says, “That lieutenant has changed his testimony five times”? He’s not talking about Haditha.
I figured he was talking about Dela Cruz
I thought so but (as you know) Dela Cruz isn’t a lieutenant and Dela Cruz never made a plea agreement.
Great article, CW!
Thanks 4!
It’s already started... Colmes’ latest meme has taken off. You need a strong stomach to see this...
Haditha Marines Cleared Of Murdering Civilians - Military Justice Or Injustice
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/13595-haditha-marines-cleared-of-murdering-civilians-military-justice-or-injustice
Here’s a snip from the article...
Meet the decider, Lt. General John Mattis. Mattis, known as “Mad Dog Mattis” to his troops, is currently commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Virginia.
JUST. DAMN.
I thought Michele Malkin was off the rails initially, too. She was in full support of the Hamdania Marines (the Pendleton 8) but was throwing the Haditha Marines to the wolves. “We’re talking about dead two-year-old children here” was about the extent of her analysis on Haditha.
I’m glad she’s come around but I was disappointed that she, like the MSM, judged the case by pictures in Time magazine.
I agree with your “little rant” completely.
Keep it up! ;^)
“Kleeb” is a hard-core lying RAT just like colmes. Neither of them can tell the truth, so they tell lies and change the subject.
I could only watch about a minute of that, CW. I left the little zit a response though....
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