Posted on 06/24/2006 10:59:20 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Local Democrats rally around war critic Murtha
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 25, 2006
WEST PALM BEACH--
Americans don't support the war in Iraq and need a Democratic Congress to force President Bush to change his policy, a leading war critic told about 600 Palm Beach County Democrats at the local party's annual fund-raising dinner Saturday night.
"This is going to be our year.... We know America wants a change," said U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who wants the United States to begin pulling troops from Iraq immediately.
Murtha said the situation in Iraq is steadily deteriorating and "the truth is there's no plan for victory."
The congressman, who spoke for less than 20 minutes, urged the partisan crowd to help elect Democrats in November.
"We need your help. We need Democratic members of Congress. We need a Democratic majority," Murtha said.
"The Congress is an equal body, but we've been losing our power because the Congress won't stand up to this president."
Palm Beach County is home to two congressional races in which Republican incumbents are being challenged by Democrats.
Democratic state Sen. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, who is facing U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, in a nationally watched race, followed Murtha at the podium at Saturday's dinner. Klein criticized Shaw as an unquestioning "cheerleader" for the Bush administration, which Klein said is waging "a war without a plan."
While critical of the war, the senator does not support setting specific dates for the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Tim Mahoney, a Palm Beach Gardens Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fort Pierce, met with Murtha before the dinner. Mahoney has said America can "win the peace" in Iraq by firing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and building an international coalition.
Both Democratic candidates for governor, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa and state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua, attended Saturday night's event at the county convention center, although Davis arrived after Murtha's remarks.
Also attending were Democratic U.S. Reps. Robert Wexler of Delray Beach and Alcee Hastings of Miramar, along with a host of other Democratic officeholders.
Wexler, who introduced Murtha, said he expects 2006 to be a victorious year for Democrats. He said Murtha's antiwar stance would be a big factor.
"The tide turned when Jack Murtha stood up and told the nation that there was a better course in Iraq, a better way in Iraq," Wexler said.
Copyright © 2006, The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved.
Who cares what Florida thinks about ol' Cut-And-Run - what do the Pennsylvania voters think?
Does he have other Florida stops on his tour of shame or was that the only RAT stronghold he dared visit?
Come November maybe he can get a job at Disney World, he'll be out of a job and he's well qualified to play the role of Goofy.
He sounds like a broken record at every speaking appearance and his message is pathetic, the majority of the people in the 12th District are going to see through him and that message.
It doesn't matter what Florida voters think, and as a Pennsylvania voter, I'm wondering what's he doing in Florida? Doesn't he belong in Pennsylvania?
ping
BEST POST OF THE DAY! LOL!!
;-)
Let him keep campaigning outside of his district. I wouldn't complain.
It says a lot that they would rally around this unindicted co-conspirator.
Americans don't support the war in Iraq
We know America wants a change
You DO NOT speak for me Murtha! Hundreds in the liberal bastion of DC expressed support last night! It appears you DO NOT speak for them either.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who wants the United States to begin pulling troops from Iraq immediately.
We have had 3 votes on this nonsense...ALL failed! Enough already! Why does this keep getting reported as if it had legs?
Murtha said the situation in Iraq is steadily deteriorating and "the truth is there's no plan for victory."
LIAR! He apparently has not read the "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq"
Wexler.....said he expects 2006 to be a victorious year for Democrats. He said Murtha's antiwar stance would be a big factor.
ROTFLOL!
You can help defeat Murtha!
DIANA IREY for CONGRESS
600 Park Avenue
Monongahela, PA 15063
Phone: 724-258-2300
Fax: 724-258-8600
Email: Diana@Irey.com
http://www.irey.com/
http://www.vets4Irey.com
Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) was indicted but not prosecuted because he gave evidence against Murphy and Thompson. The FBI videotaped Murtha as saying, "I'm not interested. I'm sorry... at this point."
"You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't," Murtha also said on the tape.[1]
In November 1980, the Justice Department announced that Murtha would not face prosecution for his part in the scandal. In July 1981, the House ethics committee also chose not to file charges against Congressman Murtha, following a mostly party line vote, after which E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr., thet panel's special counsel abruptly resigned in protest.
In 2002, one of the panel members, Rep. Don Bailey (who lost to Murtha in a primary challenge in 1982) released a public letter stating "I was, to be honest, critical about how you misled me about Abscam where you convinced me you had voluntarily told federal agents about the offer of money to you," Bailey wrote Murtha. "I learned later, after I had successfully defeated the ethics charges against you, that you had merely manipulated the system to cooperate with federal agents to avoid prosecution," Bailey added.[2] On Jan. 9 2006, Bailey told Cybercast News Service that he now believes Murtha was "pretty damn stupid" during the Abscam sting.
"The idea that somebody is going to trot out $50,000 in cash in front of you and you don't know that is wrong is pretty damn stupid to me," Bailey said. "What bankers or investors run around with $50,000 in cash?"[3]
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That may deserve its own post...I'll leave that up to someone like you from PA, though. That part about him being "indicted" is slightly wrong as he was named an unindicted co-conspirator...which is not really any better.
Did you mean two faced, or two feced? Please clarify.
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