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.

[Gertie]

You have a very valid point.
As I watched and listened to him at the hearing I kept thinking he was showing signs of dementia. I've had some experience with this in a family member, and it came at the time of life when he was being "put out to pasture." He managed to do a lot of damage before people realized he was not right in the head. I seriously suspect this could be the case with Murtha.

[hinckley buzzard]

The Iraq war, like the VN war, began on a lie, is totally inconsequential if won or lost (whatever losing means).

Nice try troll. Just remember liars never win in the end. Bye.

[buckleyfan]

I was willing to give Murtha the benefit of the doubt. I disagree with him, and think him misguided, but it seemed he was speaking from his true beliefs and has our soldiers in mind.

Then.. I heard him on Tim Russert today, he opened with a crack about Bush not being able to open the door (after his press briefing in China). Gotta say, it told me that this "honorable principled man" that everyone is defending is not above taking cheap shots and perhaps isn't so classy after all.

I don't brand him a traitor, but I don't think he deserves a free pass to say anything he wants, either.

[Binghamton_native]

There are other forms of bravery beyond that called for in serving your country in the military. Yes, most of agree that he displayed courage in the past in that venue. Now, he is being asked to show courage as a Congressman. I would submit that to go against what you should know is right and not stand up to the party of Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, et al, could be defined as cowardice.

[Willie Green]

You come across as nothing but a Dim blowhard, over and over.
Why don't you give it up?

Perhaps because I believe that the future of our Great Republic depends on the political participation of a well informed citizenry, NOT the flag-waving mantra-chanting of a bunch of pissant partisan lemmings.

Oh, and please spare us the snide retort... it's too predictable.

[aculeus]

Bump

[kabar]

Murtha goes every week to Walter Reed to visit the troops, more than any other colleague except Bill Young. Murtha has let emotion overrule common sense. He is an old warrior who doesn't want to see any more Americans killed or wounded. Unfortunately, his statements put them more at risk and diminish their sacrifice.

On the other hand, Young supports our continued presence in Iraq until the mission is accomplished.

[kidd]

No. He is neither a coward nor a traitor.

Adleminded. Shortsighted. Gullible. Idiot.

But not coward or traitor.

[Ditto]

On the other hand, I have no doubt at all that at this point he has fallen deep into error. Even warriors are not exempt from senile folly and/or political pressure.

Warriors are also not exempt from extortion. Someone has something on Murtha, which isn't surprising.

[Cautor]

Murtha is a coward, traitor, liar, and corrupt politician. He should be run out of the Congress.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Sorry, he's a Traitor.

Treason in our constitution is defined thusly.

---

Section. 3.

Clause 1: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

---

Where is the case for Treason? Right here.

"or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."

If this did not give aid and comfort to our enemies, I don't know what will.

Lastly, he does in fact have more than 2 witnesses to his treasonous act, he said it on national and international television.

He's a Traitor

Semper Fi

[elbucko]

What is the meaning of a "PX hero?"

"PX" means Post Exchange, or the "General Store" of an army post. "BX" is usually "Base Exchange" and is used by the Navy and Marine Corps. Within a Post Exchange is a military "boutique " that carries an extent of military uniform personal items from boot laces to sets of collar stars for a general officer. There are also available for purchases the various ribbons and medals that a serviceman is likely to accumulate during his time in service.

One can't buy a Medal of Honor, but just about every other medal is available to be purchased by anyone. It's not a violation of regulations to possess a medal not earned, but it is a violation to wear a medal not earned. Some individuals with lackluster military records would buy medals that they did not earn, or were entitled to wear, at the PX and wear them home on leave or separation. Hence, "PX heroes". The euphemism has since been applied to those who wear medals of suspicious circumstance. John Kerry's Purple Hearts, though authorized, are considered by many to be those of a "PX Hero".

Murtha has suspicious Purple Hearts and, as you state, many other medals have been handed out for next to nothing. The Vietnam War has a particularly unseemly history of an officer corps of bemedaled mediocrities and an army of under-decorated veterans and posthumously undecorated genuine heroes.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Murtha can shut up and support the troops as far as I'm concerned. His call for immediate withdrawal is a victory for the terrorists, and if the Democrat party had any VESTIGE of love for this nation, its leaders would have publicly ripped him for suggesting surrender.

I used to be a Democrat, and I am stunned as to how low and depraved the Democrat party has become.

[Mike Darancette]

I seriously doubt that 9/11 has anything to do with the war in Iraq.

There is just no discourse possible with Klingons. Your world view is so devoid of reality as to make a conversation with you like talking to my cat.

Iraq is not a war but a battle in the war triggered by 9/11.