White House Targets 'Osama Mama' Murray

NewsMax ^ | 1/3/03 | NewsMax

[chiller]

In the two weeks since Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., praised Osama bin Laden for what she said were his humanitarian works, the Bush White House has stepped up efforts to recruit popular GOP congresswoman Jennifer Dunn for a challenge to the terrorist-friendly Democrat in 2004.

When questioned on Thursday about rumors Dunn was considering leaving Congress for a lucrative job in the private sector, her spokesman Doug Badger revealed that his boss had come under new pressure from the White House to challenge Murray. "She is seriously considering the options available to her," he told the Associated Press.

"The pressure [on Dunn] has mounted since Murray made headlines two weeks ago by praising Osama bin Laden's generosity," the AP said, noting that the GOP congresswoman has "close ties to the Bush administration" and that "the White House has pledged help if she agrees to run for the Senate."

On Dec. 18, Murray told a class of high school students in Vancouver, Wash., that the U.S. would do well to emulate the man who killed 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001.

"Osama bin Laden has been very, very effective," the Bush adminsitration critic proclaimed. "We've got to ask, why is this man so popular around the world?"

Murray answered her own question by claiming that the 9/11 mastermind had earned his popularity by "building roads, building schools, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities."

Shen then added: "And the people are extremely grateful. It made their lives better."

Though the top Senate Democrat's comments have been all but ignored by the mainstream press, they have created a firestorm of protest among Republicans in her home state. Within hours of the revelation by Rep. Dunn's spokesman that the White House was targeting Murray, Washington State Republican chairman Chris Vance challenged the bin Laden-friendly senator to debate the issue.

"Let's have her come out of hiding and debate this with George Nethercutt or whomever," Vance said.

Nethercutt, a U.S. congressman who is also eyeing a challenge to Sen. Murray, slammed her remarks 10 days ago as "shocking, bizarre and uninformed."

"You have to wonder what country Senator Murray has been living in since September 11th," he said.

Murray's office has not responded to Nethercutt's debate challenge, and declined to return the AP's call for comment late Thursday about a possible election challenge by Dunn.

[chiller]

What's the scoop on Jennifer Dunn? She's been out of sight, out of mind for a while, but I have positive impressions.

[Mr. Bird]

Wasn't Jennifer a protege of Newt's? I keep thinking she used to be way up the ladder in the House leadership...then nothing.

[SeattleTiger]

A run by Dunn would be great! She was up for a $700,000 lobbyist position, but she declined it.

Think I will look for the AP story. Nice to see NewsMax covering this, but...:-)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Go, you girl !

[chiller]

Thanks for info. Looks like a contender. It appears the 8th Cong. Dist. is partially in Seattle (burbs at least) and out into the country where she must grab some Pubbie votes.

We've been hearing how liberal Seattle dominates so much, but Dunn suggests otherwise.

[trebb]

Agreed - will keep my eyes/ears peeled for any signs of a "Dunn" deal!!!

[Wphile]

Oh, please...let it be so!

DUNN FOR SENATE!

[Psalm 73]

Great, Conservatives need to make these America-hating leftists pay for their treachery.
If they can nail Lott for "insensitive" remarks, Murray is surely fair game, and a thousand times more deserving of a take-down than Trent (No Spine) Lott.

[Wphile]

Well, she'd have a lock on Eastern Washington and if she can hold her district (should be able to easily) and pick up some in the nearby districts, she can win. She would be the best, possible candidate against Murray.

Murray is a dip and Dunn is sharp and smart. She can articulate the Republican message very well and in a debate I'm sure she would run over Murray.

God, I hope this is true.

[Wait4Truth]

Looks like Murray p*ssed off the President of the United States...hehehehehehe...go, Dunn, go!

[Steve_Seattle]

Dunn is a relatively liberal (pro-choice) Republican and is a good speaker, but I think she's getting a bit old (60ish?) to make a bid for the Senate.

[chiller]

She would have to have some moderate/liberal views to survive in Seattle, yes?

[motzman]

A run by Dunn would be great! She was up for a $700,000 lobbyist position, but she declined it.

?!?!?!

[SeattleTiger]

Here is the article. It mentions a potential run for Murray's seat as well.

"He and other Dunn advisers said the 10-year veteran congresswoman is under pressure from the White House to run for the Senate seat held by Democrat Patty Murray. He said she might also seek re-election to the House or retire from Congress at the end of her term to take a private sector job."

[Publius]

The Democratic Party in Washington has always showed the ruthlessness necessary to hold on to office. Long before Bush paved the way for Trent Lott's demotion, Democrats sat Gov. Mike Lowry down in 1996 and told him he could not be reelected because of that incident where he put his hand up a lady's skirt at a meeting. Lowry then "decided" not to run for another term, and we got Gary Locke.

If Murray (ultraliberal and dumb) is still vulnerable next year, look for the Washington State Democratic Party to have that "talk" with her and put up Deborah Senn (ultraliberal, smart and acerbic) or Christine Gregoire (ultraliberal, smart, attractive and telegenic).

A Dunn candidacy might well cause the Democrats to cut their losses and dump Murray.

[Petronski]

I thought I read here on Free Republic in the last week about how Patty "Nutjob in Sneakers" Murray had said this same thing SEVERAL TIMES in a kind of 'speaking tour' around multiple schools.

If this can be proven, someone ought to pass the proof on to NewsMax and the White House, to make it clear this wasn't some kind of 'one-time slip-up.'

[friendly]

You could throw at dart at any telephone directory in Washington State and come up with someone more qualified, more intelligent, and probably less vomitous looking than Osama Mama!