Is Jack Murtha a Coward and a Traitor?

The American Thinker ^ | 11/20/05 | J. Peter Mulhern

[Kitten Festival]

The prize for the most dramatic oratory in the United States Congress in the new millennium goes to fledgling Representative Jean Schmidt. In the midst of debate over whether the House of Representatives should vote on a resolution endorsing immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq she conveyed a message she had received from an active duty Marine colonel, to Representative Jack Murtha. Murtha, a decorated Marine veteran, inspired the debate earlier this week by calling for withdrawal from Iraq.

Representative Smith’s message quoting the colonel was simple: “Cowards cut and run, Marines never do.” [snip] When people engage in debate within the boundaries of legitimate disagreement they should be respectful. But we need to maintain those boundaries.

Jack Murtha’s call for immediate disengagement took him far outside the boundaries of legitimate disagreement. He has never been able to articulate any plausible basis for his position on Iraq. There is a simple reason for that. There isn’t one.

Reasonable people cannot differ about whether or not the United States should press forward with our war against the terror masters. For the time being Iraq is inevitably the principal front in that war. A congressman who tries to duck his share of the responsibility for prosecuting that war is displaying moral cowardice. Any American who recommends retreat is injuring his own country and calling his own patriotism into question.

[Shortstop7]

I don't think he's a coward or a traitor either.

I think he's just a man who has been manipulated by the Pelosi and Kerry crowd.

It's a shame that the Dims are doing this to this poor old man.

They have nothing to offer..........

[cmotormac44]

What is the meaning of a "PX hero?"---while I agree he is bordering on treasonous speech (especially as a rep of the Congress), I understood he has 2 purple hearts---the bronze star bit doesn't impress me as many have been handed out for next to nothing--(depends on where you were and who the c. o. was at the time)

[Shortstop7]

You come across as nothing but a Dim blowhard, over and over.

Why don't you give it up?

[Shortstop7]

lol, I agree..........his speech was pitiful.

I felt sorry for him, the way the Dim crowd was using him.

The Dims have truly sunk to a new low.

The booing and hissing they did on the floor was just disgusting...........

They have truly lost it.

[FreeReign]

The knee-jerk campaign to slander and discredit Jack Murtha should cause all Americans to more closely scrutinize how this war is being conducted. It is shameful that the GOP would resort to such despicable tactics.

Up yours.

[LZ_Bayonet]

I also watched him try to express a coherent thought in defense of his statement.

I thought Billy S. might have had some words for him:

Pray, do not mock me:
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more or less;
And, to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
- "King Lear"

[Bender2]

Re: "Is Jack Murtha a Coward and a Traitor?"

Yeah, he's a DemocRAT... Just connect the dots, eh?

[zoddent]

He his neither coward nor traitor. He could be wrong? Sure! but these attacks on his honor as a Marine? I have lurked here for a long time just enjoying being on the side-lines but I can not handle personal attacks on a fellow Marine like this.

This guy has spent the majority of his life serving his country. How can some of you call him such names? Call him wrong on policy, call him out of touch, but dishonor his service? Dishonor a marine like that? Its so safe for most of you to post like armchair players who never served in the Corps, never been in combat except in this verbal internet sparring. So brave you are!

I am disgusted and for the first time in a long time I am hating people in my Republican party

[Shortstop7]

It's not a pointless adventure.......as you describe it. It's pitiful that you describe this war as such. You are clueless.... God help us all with people in this country with this type of mindset.

[hinckley buzzard]

Never blame on malice what you can explain with stupidity.

That cliche may be useful in one's private life, but I have no doubt that in the ranks of the 'rat party there is far more malice than stupidity.

[cmotormac44]

if he has been "manipulated" by anyone, he has become a "coward" to allow it to happen--he has become "traitorous" by insulting the Corp of Marines and blaming our troops for the problems in Iraq---he is furthermore a "RAT of the 1st order" for taking shots at the President when he is out of the country on our Nations business---he is a disgrace to the comradeship of veterans---where a vet serves is a 'crap shoot' and all do not go to the firing line but all are just as liable to wind up in some kind of "harms way"---I honor all combat veterans (I am one) but it doesn't give anyone of us (especially those we elect to high office) a pass to run our mouths in a public forum and denigrate this nation and the troops we send to do our 'dirty work'

[FreeReign]

He could be wrong?

11/17/05 | WP | Murtha: Let's talk about terrorism. What the State Department said? There's more terrorism now than there ever was, and it's because of what? Is it because of our policy? I would say it's a big part. We have become the enemy there. We have united them against us.

Link

[Shortstop7]

Point well taken.........I was just trying to give the guy a break.

But, you are exactly right, if he allows himself to be manipulated.....that is his own fault.

[hinckley buzzard]

There comes a point in time when the Iraqi government has a better shot without us there

And I suppose we should trust Jack Murtha and the rest of the democrats, or maybe just you, to instruct us on when that time is reached. Thanks but no thanks. I'll just go with the people who are in charge and who's exit strategy you just copied in your first sentence. Too bad you didn't know enough about it to recognize the Bush plan when you endorsed it.

[Petronski]

I don't know if he is a coward or a traitor, but his recent behavior has been cowardly and traitorous.

[hinckley buzzard]

Grow up and learn to debate beyond insults

Fine piece of advice from the mildmannered fellow who is calling adults "chicken hawks" and "Bushbots." You better go, I think its past your bedtime.

[hinckley buzzard]

His heroism in combat is unquestioned.

Tell us about his "heroism in combat." I don't believe I've actually heard about anything he did in Nam, other than get wounded somehow.

[Mike Darancette]

What you say would have some merit were it not for 9-11. Iraq is not a war but a battle in a larger war. Were it not for 9-11 we would not be having this discussion, as Bush would have probably continued Clinton's (failing) policy of containment.

It was ridiculous to think we would be fighting anyone in Hawaii then, but we have fought these people in our largest city and our capitol.

[LZ_Bayonet]

Your statement may have some facts right, and some comments are worthy of contribution to a serious argument. But you made this statement: "The Iraq war, like the VN war, ..., is totally inconsequential if won or lost (whatever losing means)." You also wrote: "During the Vietnam War Lyndon Johnson told us we have to fight them there or in Hawaii and the West Coast. The absurdity of that was almost comical considering a small country with a 90% peasant population, no industrial base and 10,000 miles from our shores as being a danger to the US.". Beyond the fact that Johnson was referring to Communism in general (I lived during the Vietnam War too), your analysis resulted in labeling Johnson's comment as "absurd", yet the statement:"The Iraq war, like the VN war, ..., is totally inconsequential if won or lost." is so absurd as to test the limits of the meaning of the word.