August 26, 2006...
Operation Street Corner Action Report!
Boots on the Ground for the soldiers in the field
OSC goes to the Great Patriot PA Biker Event!
– A hot day outside of Monaca, PA –
Aug. 26, 2006, Monaca, PA... Vets for the Truth / Boot Murtha took its traveling OSC displays to the Rolling Thunder (PA Chapter 4) Great Patriot Biker Event. The event was held just outside Monaca on a great strip of land right along Route 18 at the Midway Bar & Grill.
We were able to meet multitudes of great people and American patriots and discussed issues one-on-one with our many visitors. Lots of information and flyers were handed out – about Murtha and about our upcoming Oct. 1st Boot Murtha Rally in Johnstown. We also gave visitors Boot Murtha stickers and t-shirts – which were quickly donned and seen throughout the event.
That was then, this is now...
The consensus of the vast majority of people visiting with us was this: Murtha must go! Regardless of opinions on Murtha's past words and deeds, it is what Murtha is saying and doing now that have folks no longer supporting him.
His is playing politics now with our soldiers' lives was a common reason cited for no longer supporting him. His insensitivity to soldiers' families now – who need to know that the family member's life and sacrifice had good purpose – was another reason for no longer supporting him.
The backlash is coming this November. Message to John Murtha: the past is the past. We don't like what you are saying and doing NOW!
Some details...
A couple of veterans I spoke with expressed loyalty to Murtha because he had helped them somehow along the way in the past; or they believed "he was a highly decorated honorable man." I was impressed with their willingness to hear my reasons for no longer supporting Murtha. They listened as I assured them I was from Murtha's district 12 – a real constituent! I explained that I have family members on the ground now in Iraq, and how deeply concerned I am about Murtha's politicizing of the military for personal gain. Such talk puts our soldiers in even greater danger and demoralizes our troops. As our discussion progressed it became clear that we had much more in common, than not.
Many I spoke with felt Murtha had been in politics too long now, was out of touch and needed to retire. They appreciated the fact that Boot Murtha was sticking to supporting the troops and not changing positions now like Murtha.
Again, it is what Murtha is saying and doing now that shows voters he no longer represents their views and is now using our troops to get ahead politically.
A couple of Vietnam veterans who were opposed to our position admitted they learned some things from our discussion that they did not know and said they'd have to look at things more closely.
That's all we ask.
Boot Murtha and its Operation Street Corner (OSC) displays are all about getting the facts about Congressman John Murtha to the voters of district 12. Voters can then make an informed decision how to vote on Nov. 7th.
Next week, more reports from 12th District OSC'ers to come!
Nikki A.C. Sheppick
OSC District 12 Executive Director
Manning the Boot Murtha OSC booth are (left to right): Roger Hughes, Amanda Doss, Larry Bailey and Nikki Sheppick. [INFO: Roger Hughes is chairman of Iowa Presidential Watch PAC; Amanda Doss is webmaster for Operation Street Corner (OSC); Larry Bailey is president of Vets for the Truth; Nikki Sheppick is OSC District 12 Exec. Director.]
