Thanks for posting, Chet 99.
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Posted on 10/20/2008 5:08:10 PM PDT by Chet 99
CHARLEROI, Pa. -- U.S. Rep. John Murtha is calling many of the people who put him in office "rednecks."
The news comes one week after Murtha claimed the area is racist, then apologized for that comment.
In explaining his comments about racism, Murtha told WTAE it's difficult for many in the area to change. Murtha said that just five to 10 years ago the entire area was "redneck."
Now Murtha said only certain segments of the population are holding on to those racist feelings.
Just days after classifying western Pennsylvania as racist, Murtha took a step back from those comments, albeit a small one.
"What I said, that indicted everybody, that's not what I meant at all. What I mean is there's still folks that have a problem voting for someone because they are black," Murtha said.
Murtha said the history of southwestern Pennsylvania is rife with racism.
"This whole area, years ago, was really redneck," Murtha told Channel 4 Action News.
Murtha believes there is one segment of the population which is holding on to its racist beliefs and he said it's difficult for them to change. Murtha said it may be even more difficult for them to vote for Barack Obama.
"Particularly older people. They want change but they don't want to see things go too far," Murtha said.
Throughout the Mon Valley there is a mixed reaction to Murtha's claims.
"I think he made a big mistake. This valley is not racist. Not at all," said Robert Gray, of Charleroi.
Maurice Taylor, also of Charleroi, disagrees.
"I think it probably is, couple people here and there. Like not everybody, but some of them definitely. Older people mostly," Taylor said.
Murtha said he was not surprised to see Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton win the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania and he said he didn't think Obama had a chance to win the presidency after that. But since then, he claims many western Pennsylvania voters have come around and he believes many voters have left their racist beliefs behind.
"It's better than it was a few weeks ago. It's better than it was a few months ago," Murtha said.
Murtha said he has taken a new approach to dealing with voters who are factoring race into the equation. He said he asks them if they agree with John McCain's healthcare policy or with his desire to privatize social security.
"I'm saying to them 'let's not vote on whether he's black or white,' Let's vote on what the issues are," said Murtha.
What shines through is Murtha’s contempt for the public.
If they're not doing it already, the NRA should run some ads in western PA.
Bitter, racist, Pennsylvania rednecks clinging to their guns and religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.
A Redneck gets that way from working for an honest living out in the Sun. What does Murtha have against farmers, construction workers, firemen, policemen, life guards, EMTs, truck drivers, game wardens and others that make their livings out of doors. The pasty lump Murtha has no neck to redden.
If they send this CLOWN back to Congress you can add “imbeciles” to the list. Murtha is why we need term limits.
He’s most likely stealing it, which is why he is so secure in making these types of statements.
Not unlike Dennis Kucinich. His district is the only one in Ohio that isn’t counted before midnight - and it isn’t the largest.
I suspect they both really lost their seats about a decade ago.
Thanks for posting, Chet 99.
Contact me to be added to ping list.
Exactly! Like Kucinich here in OH, it’s all about the “pork”. As long as you keep bringing in the earmarks for your district, you can expect to get re-elected. ;-)
Why are the liberals lashing out so desperately?
ABC is reporting that John Kerry just insulted elderly citizens making jokes about depends.
Could it be the Obama ship has taken on too much water and is about to sink?
Libtards sure know how to alienate people.
Perhaps when I am viewed at my funeral the “man” will fill in my neck..
Details here
Murtha — the gift that keeps on giving — I sure hope that Russell knocks Murtha out of Congress.
I have more respect for that PIG than I do for the one that calls himself Congressman Murtha!
why do these people vote for murtha?
And let’s not accuse our brave Haditha Marines without a shred of evidence, Let’s lead this pig to slaughter in the election. GO RUSSELL!!!!
That's okay. No one around here really counts all his little woopsies! (Except those 'nasty' republicans...)
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