Congresswoman apologizes for Iraq comments (growing reputation as a passionate conservative)

Associated Press ^ | Dec. 04, 2005 | DAVID HAMMER

[Former Military Chick]

WASHINGTON - Rep. Jean Schmidt, the lowest-ranking member of the House, can't escape the firestorm she caused by calling 30-year congressman and Vietnam veteran John Murtha a coward for wanting U.S. soldiers out of Iraq.

So Schmidt, R-Ohio, is trying to laugh at the ridicule.

Her staff obtained a DVD copy of Rachel Dratch's spoof of Schmidt on NBC's Saturday Night Live. And Schmidt pores over positive notes from constituents, some of which say ''You go girl!'' and at least one of which requested her hand in marriage.

Schmidt said her biting Nov. 18 remark about Murtha -- ''Cowards cut and run, Marines never do'' -- was a mistake. She said she didn't know Murtha, D-Pa., was a decorated Marine veteran, and that she got the message from another Marine, Ohio state Rep. Danny Bubp, who later denied mentioning Murtha.

''Would I have changed the words? Yes. Would I change the message? No,'' Schmidt said. ``I am sorry to have caused any consternation to Congressman Murtha.''

Schmidt's Washington office fields angry calls daily from around the country -- mostly blue states. The Democratic National Committee held her up as an example of Republican callousness, and is raising money to erect a billboard near Schmidt's Portsmouth district office that reads, ``Shame on You, Jean Schmidt: Stop Attacking Veterans. Keep Your Eye on the Ball -- We Need a Real Plan for Iraq.''

Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., a Vietnam veteran who demanded that Schmidt be admonished under House rules, accepted her request to withdraw her comments and doesn't think his party will hold a grudge.

''Everyone makes mistakes and she made a doozy, but I think she realized it and apologized for it and learned from it,'' Snyder said.

Schmidt's chief of staff, Barry Bennett, says while it isn't all positive, Schmidt's growing reputation as a passionate conservative isn't all bad either.

''You're not important in this town unless they're talking about you, and they're definitely doing that now,'' said Bennett, who's been on congressional staffs for two decades.

Before she criticized Murtha, Schmidt was struggling to know her more senior colleagues.

She promised in her first floor speech Sept. 6 that she would not engage in name-calling from the House floor. Republican rivals say she went back on her word, lied about who was responsible for what she said, then avoided the media for four days.

Schmidt bested a crowded GOP primary field and went on to defeat Iraq veteran Paul Hackett in this year's special election to replace Rob Portman, who left Congress to become U.S. trade representative. Two rivals in the primary, former Rep. Bob McEwen and current state Rep. Tom Brinkman, say Schmidt has become the poster child for rising anti-Republican sentiment, which might embolden Democrats to try to unseat her next year.

Schmidt says she's unconcerned about the Democrats, and calls her GOP opponents ''a fringe group'' who are plotting a future challenge.

But among war critics there is still hope that Schmidt's few words will be her undoing. Jeff Szabo of Amelia, an independent whose son served in Afghanistan with the Air Force, predicted in a letter to The Cincinnati Enquirer that military families might turn against her.

''She's embarrassed the Republican Party, no doubt about it,'' Szabo said.

[daybreakcoming]

I read somewhere that his injuries that he received the Purle Hearts for were minor enough that he returned to the field almost immediately. Other than that - I have no clue as to what his actual scope was during the VN war and don't really care. His actions since have negated anything.

[sit-rep]

kuddos

[daybreakcoming]

Here's some cherry-picked (by me) voting records of Murtha. You are aware that he was leading activist in getting Dean the DNC chairmanship?

Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance?
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism? Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests?
Voted NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat on Human Rights Commission restored?
Voted NO on restricting frivolous lawsuits?
Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment?
Voted YES on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would extend by four months a law allowing some immigrants to remain in the country while pursuing legal residency?
Voted NO on the following tax bills: Voted NO on providing tax relief and simplification. Voted NO on permanently eliminating the so-called marriage penalty
Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
Voted NO on Tax Cut Package of $958B over 10 years.
Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax.
Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty".
Voted NO on repealing the estate tax ("death tax").
Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business.
Voted NO on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted NO on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo
Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients.

[AIC]

Here's the whole problem as I see it. I hope I can get my thoughts across.
Veterans from Korea, Vietnam and there after mostly wanted to win THE WARS THAT THE U.S. FIGHTS. However, after World War 2, the U.N. was created. Having the U.N. in place prevents any war that is not TOTAL WAR from ever being able to win. That's one reason why the MSM and others refuse to acknowledge that any action the U.S. is involved in is not WAR and why they keep using the word 'Regime Change' and other words instead of saying the U.S. is at war with so and so and that is why I think the MSM and others keep saying that the U.S. can't win any war even with all of our might.
If one would look at the past from Korea on a person would see all of the same thinking, comments, MSM language, and all of the leftist activist haven't changed a bit.
Not until the U.N. is dissolved or the U.S. removes itself from the U.N. will the U.S. START and I mean start to get back to being the U.S. of old.
As long as the U.N. is in place and the U.S. belongs to it, then the people should realize that the U.S. will be look at as the policemen of the world and will be engaging in conflicts as long as the U.S. is the U.S. and will not be going to any all out war.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

This is why I will no longer vote for Republicans without fail. They now have to earn my vote one candidate at a time.

With attitudes like yours I would just as soon scratch your vote and not worry about it. No need to attempt reason with someone so faint of heart. Another slight breeze might come up.

[PISANO]

Cowards cut and run, Marines never do

What in heck has this country come to when the above statement MUST be followed by an apology?!

The GOP doesn't have an ounce of character left. Makes me want to .................

[freema]

I'm with you on this! No apology should have ever been issued.