Campaigning in PA:
John Murtha & Howard Dean!
As reported in a DNC press release, Howard Dean, chairman of the Democrat Party, is campaigning today with Rep. John Murtha in Greensburg, PA:
[EXCERPTS:]
Saturday, July 29, Democrats across the country will participate in "Democratic Reunion" events marking 100 days to Election Day 2006.
...Chairman Dean will canvass in Pittsburgh with the Westmoreland County Democrats and attend a Christmas in July event with Governor Rendell and Congressman Murtha in Greensburg, Pa.
Why would supposedly pro-military, anti-abortion John Murtha campaign with Howard Dean -- renown for his anti-military, pro-abortion, fanatic positions? Murtha represents PA Congressional District 12, with its conservative, Catholic base. What are they to think about this?
There is only one thing to think, District 12: Murtha doesn't care.
What is even more inconsistent is the fact that Murtha is openly disdainful of fellow politicians who have not served in the military. So why would legendary Marine Vietnam war hero John Murtha embrace draft dodging Howard Dean? ... the same Howard Dean who got a Vietnam deferment for a bad back, but spent time skiing in Aspen. [Meet The Press, June 22, 2004]
The simple reason is this: John Murtha has purposefully changed. This shows Murtha is no longer like-minded with the people of his District. He no longer shares their beliefs and concerns. He is no longer content to just be their Congressman. Murtha's eyes are on the Majority Leader prizeThe sad fact is that he's selling-out his District 12 to get it.
So how does Howard Dean fit into Murtha's plans? Let's look at Howard Dean's own rise to power.
2003... Dean declares candidacy for president, takes extreme anti-war & liberal positions
2004... Dean screams on camera in Iowa, loses bid for presidency
2005... Dean declares candidacy for chairmanship of Democrat National Committee
2005... Rep. John Murtha lobbies for Howard Dean to win DNC chair
The fact is Howard Dean is chairman of the DNC because John Murtha pushed hard for him to win. Below are some excerpts from an article in TheHill, dated Jan. 5, 2005:
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is actively lobbying Democratic National Committee (DNC) delegates to select former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean as their next chairman.
Several lawmakers said support by the hardscrabble, old-school Vietnam veteran, who endorsed former Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) in the presidential primaries, would compel the DNC to take a second look at the firebrand governor and not simply write him off as an extreme avatar of the party’s antiwar wing.
So what does this show to the folks in Murtha's District 12 – the ones who actually vote for or against Murtha's re-election this Nov. 7th? It shows that their Congressman has strayed far from their beliefs, concerns and needs. It shows that their Congressman is aligned with one of the most liberal socialist Democrats in America.
Murtha's campaigning with Howard Dean in Pennsylvania is a slap in the faces of his own constituents. His alignment with Dean – and with 'San Francisco' Nancy Pelosi – is designed to take him to higher places... Majority Leader. And none of that has anything to do with the beliefs, concerns and needs of PA's congressional District 12.
The question is whether the God fearing patriotic Democrats of Pennsylvania's 12th District will continue to support a Congressman who no longer represents their values.