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Murtha Looks Vulnerable
Townhall.com ^ | October 29, 2008 | Amanda Carpenter

Posted on 10/30/2008 6:18:39 AM PDT by Kaslin

The anti-incumbent tide is so strong this electoral season it just might sweep out one of the most powerful bulls from the House of Representatives.

Residents in Pennsylvania's 12 District have tolerated much controversy from Rep. John Murtha (Pa.) but his recent remarks about some Pennsylvanians being "racist" could end his 34-year Washington career.

Murtha’s recent accusation that some voters in his state are “racist” has given his Republican opponent William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, some much-needed ammunition to unseat the incumbent.

“There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area,” Murtha told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Murtha fumbled again when he attempted to clarify that statement to Pennsylvania’s WTEA television station. “This whole area, years ago, was really redneck.”

Murtha, known for his gruff temper, has previously fumed there is “no g** d*** way” Russell would beat him, but a recent Pennsylvania poll conducted by Dane & Associates gives Murtha only narrow 1.8 point edge over Russell, 45.5 percent to 43.7 percent.

Sensing opportunity, the National Republican Congressional Committee is pouring $84,000 into the race to boost Russell with an ad titled “Enough.” The spot uses Murtha’s quotes about the “racist” part of his state and reminds Pennsylvania residents about his assessment that U.S. Marines murdered Iraqi civilians in “cold blood.”

One of the Marines Murtha accused of murder later sued Murtha for libel, but the Marine’s case was ultimately dismissed.

Murtha, an outspoken critic of the war, is chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense and has used his position to try to cut off funding for the war. He’s also used his committee clout to route hundreds millions of dollars in earmarks to his district.

The left-leaning Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has named Murtha one of the “20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress” over the millions of earmarks Murtha’s secured for lobbying defense firms headed by his former employees.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: billrussell; election08; haditha; hadithamarines; murtha; murthawatch; revengeofthemarines; russellbrigade; russellforcongress
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1 posted on 10/30/2008 6:18:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Murtha looks like the north end of a southbound horse.


2 posted on 10/30/2008 6:20:11 AM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (You MUST see this website: http://www.neverfindout.org/)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

“Murtha looks like the north end of a southbound horse.”

But the horse is smarter and considerably more civil ...


3 posted on 10/30/2008 6:21:37 AM PDT by mgc1122
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To: Kaslin

We have been promoting Russell for months now. Glad to see the RNC finally came to their senses as well,took long enough.


4 posted on 10/30/2008 6:23:00 AM PDT by rodguy911 (HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE--GO SARAHCUDA !!)
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To: Kaslin

He shouldn’t get more than 5% of the vote, but hey, I guess they ARE RACISTS and REDNECKS.


5 posted on 10/30/2008 6:23:20 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Kaslin
Photobucket
6 posted on 10/30/2008 6:24:30 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Kaslin

Arrogance and Ignorance are not pleasant in combination, and Murtha is an ugly package for both.


7 posted on 10/30/2008 6:26:41 AM PDT by 230FMJ (...from my cold, dead, fingers.)
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To: Kaslin
National Republican Congressional Committee is pouring $84,000 into the race.....

I heard they offered the money to Murtha as an incentive to step down. Allegedly, he said he "was not interested......at this point."

ABSCAM Excerpt

A short clip from the videotape shows Murtha stating "I'm not interested, I'm sorry. At this point..." in direct response to an offer of $50,000 in cash.

8 posted on 10/30/2008 6:27:42 AM PDT by edpc
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To: Kaslin

There is a small part of me that not only sees Murtha going down but some more of these idiots. Not a 1994 scenario but not the sweep the Socialists (formerly the Democrat Party) believe.


9 posted on 10/30/2008 6:28:47 AM PDT by sierrahome (Cuba got "Change" in 1959!)
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To: Kaslin

I didn’t know that the marine’s libel suit was dismissed.

Which case was that? And does anyone have a link to the dismissal news?


10 posted on 10/30/2008 6:29:21 AM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim
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To: Kaslin

Has he always been such a nasty person or unlike wine he has grown sour in his old age....


11 posted on 10/30/2008 6:30:00 AM PDT by Kimmers (Our country is in trouble. Whom do you want to lead, a fighter pilot or a community organizer?)
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To: smoothsailing; jazusamo; RedRover; ButThreeLeftsDo
Please have another...ping!

Residents in Pennsylvania's 12 District have tolerated much controversy from Rep. John Murtha (Pa.) but his recent remarks about some Pennsylvanians being "racist" could end his 34-year Washington career.

Yeah, they don't mind being called red necks or having our military members, including one of their very own, referred to as murderers of "innocent civilians in COLD BLOOD", but they draw the line at being called racists.

Makes no never-mind, as long as they FINALLY oust the lout!

Donate to LTC Bill Russell and rid us all of the embarrassment aka as Murtha, aka al-murthawi.

12 posted on 10/30/2008 6:31:31 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (PISSANT for President '08 - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: Kaslin
Maybe this will put an END to the continous claim by the Liberal Swill that everything is about RACISM. I am so sick and tired of that faux claim I could puke.

Pride comes before a FALL. Therefore I predict this FAUX man will lose big time and take BAMA with him.

13 posted on 10/30/2008 6:34:22 AM PDT by annieokie
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To: Kaslin

I’d love to see a 527 ad along the lines of “Frankenstein”. It would intone “30-odd years ago the voters created the Murtha creature. Now it has turned on us.” Cue Frank/Murtha, complete with bolts in neck lurching around and roaring “Arrgh! Rednecks! I’M ENTITLED!”

Pan to a crowd of villagers labeled “Voters” with pitchforks and torches coming after him, with the voice saying “It’s time to cage the monster we created. We voted you in and we will vote you out.”


14 posted on 10/30/2008 6:36:20 AM PDT by Oatka ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: eCSMaster; smoothsailing; jazusamo; RedRover
The author's incorrect. Sharratt's libel/slander case was just filed a month or so ago. Wuterich's civil case against Murtha (a different charge I believe) has been suspended pending his criminal case. He's the only Marine of the eight smeared by Murtha to not be cleared of wrongdoing... yet.

Word is LtCol Jeffrey Chessani is also seriously considering suing the bloated traitor. I wish him all the best.

15 posted on 10/30/2008 6:40:54 AM PDT by impeachedrapist (Bill Clinton, as Arkansas Attorney General did you make Juanita Broaddrick pay for her rape kit?)
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To: eCSMaster; RedRover
I didn’t know that the marine’s libel suit was dismissed.

Neither did I!

Donate to LTC Bill Russell
Photobucket
Help rid us all of the embarrassment known as Murtha, aka al-murthawi.

16 posted on 10/30/2008 6:42:38 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (PISSANT for President '08 - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: Kaslin

Murtha is toast.
Next up? Taking down that filthy liar and thief Rangel.


17 posted on 10/30/2008 6:57:09 AM PDT by mabelkitty (If Bush was an illegitimate President, Obama is the ILLEGAL candidate by Acorn and citizenship)
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To: Kaslin

It isn’t the “anti-incumbent tide” that will result in Murtha’s downfall. It is his own stupidity.


18 posted on 10/30/2008 7:02:26 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall cause you to vote against the Democrats.)
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To: eCSMaster; Kaslin; Just A Nobody

The writer of the piece got it totally wrong. The slander suits (not libel) are very much alive and well. In fact, Murtha will be served with papers this week in the Sharratt suit.


19 posted on 10/30/2008 7:12:57 AM PDT by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: impeachedrapist

Whoops. Didn’t see that you had already corrected the record.


20 posted on 10/30/2008 7:15:13 AM PDT by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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