Posted on 11/23/2005 8:53:13 AM PST by MikeA
CINCINNATI (Nov. 23) - Ohio Republican Jean Schmidt said Tuesday she should have rephrased her sharp critique of a fellow congressman's call to immediately pull troops from Iraq.
Schmidt was booed off the floor of the U.S. House on Friday after she criticized Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., saying that "cowards cut and run, Marines never do."
When Schmidt made the comment, Democrats rose in protest at the suggestion that Murtha, a decorated Vietnam veteran and the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, was a coward.
Schmidt said the comment was prompted by a conversation she had with state Rep. Danny Bubp, though he denies discussing Murtha with Schmidt.
Schmidt, who sent Murtha a note of apology on Friday moments after her speech, said in a statement Tuesday that she never intended to attack Murtha personally.
"While I strongly disagree with his policy, neither Representative Bubp nor I ever wished to attack Congressman Murtha," she said. "I only take exception to his policy position."
Bubp said in a statement of his own Tuesday that his conversation with Schmidt "was based strictly on the proposal to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq and the consequences of such a proposal."
"This is not a war of words, this is a war." -John Murtha, D-Pa.
Schmidt declined during an interview on Cincinnati radio station WLW to discuss her fellow Republican's denial: "I was repeating words. I am not going to get into that debate."
Neither Schmidt nor Bubp returned calls left at their offices Tuesday.
Murtha has called Schmidt's comment ridiculous.
"You can't spin this. You've got to have a real solution," Murtha said Monday when asked about her remarks at a news conference in Pennsylvania. "This is not a war of words, this is a war."
Other Republicans also criticized Murtha for calling for the withdrawal of troops. President Bush and other administration officials have since said that while they don't agree with Murtha, they do not question his patriotism.
11-23-05 03:23 EST
And when do Democrats apologize for the most vile of slander in accusing the president of lying to start a war?? Why is that acceptable but pointing out that COWARDS DON'T CUT AND RUN, and quoting a Marine in doing so, is so unforgiveable??
When does Murtha apologize for sending the wrong message to the terrorist, our allies in Iraq and our troops? At a time the Iraqis are feeling confident they can get an army up and running within a year to take over Iraq's security, crumbs like Murtha are out there sending the message to Iraqis friendly to the cause of democracy "Don't get too close to the US! We'll be looking for the exit at the first opportunity!" What will that do to set back military recruitment and to find candidates willing to run for office, to say nothing about Iraqis giving information to coalition forces that helps us fight the terrorist?? When does Murtha apologize for his short-sighted comments that did our nation's cause harm?? What Schmidt said sure didn't hurt the security situation in Iraq. But when Murtha said what he said, suddenly we had a massive upsurge in bombings over the weekend. Any apology coming for the blood Murtha has on his hands?
I really don't get this Alice in Wonderland nation we're living in right now where good is labelled evil and evil labelled good. Seems to me a guy named Isaiah spoke on that in the Old Testament.
You are correct and when I heard this "apology" this morning I was ill...
Instead of apologizing, she should have repeated that she was quoting a constituent. And she should have said that she was not calling Murtha a coward, but making a general statement--namely, that cowards cut and run.
She might even add that since Murtha voted against the bill that demanded an immediate pullout, evidently he is not a coward.
You can count on AP to spin this until it's backwards, but there's no need to help them do it. Showing that you are afraid of their lying criticism doesn't help; it only encourages them to do more of it.
I agree. I don't see why she apologized. After all, she didn't even specifically call him a coward; it was a sort of a "if the shoe fits, wear it" moment, and all the Dems immediately recognized themselves in her words. That's why they were so infuriated!
But I really don't see why they are allowed to get away with appalling things - like calling the CIC a liar, etc. - while her remark, not even specifically addressed to any of them, required her to grovel to them and retract it.
It would be nice if this marine stepped forward. The fact that he actually requested the statement be made is being glossed over quite effectively by the Democrats and the MSM. OK, do I have to now apologize for pointing that fact out? /sarc
What Senator Turban said comparing US troops to the SS was so much more outrageous and he got a pass with a very qualified 'apology'.
I'm sick of apologies. Let's face it, the GOP is full of wimps.
"She might even add that since Murtha voted against the bill that demanded an immediate pullout, evidently he is not a coward."
Good point. Though obviously he doesn't have the courage of his own convictions in voting for something he claims to support.
The point is, what Schmidt said is far, far less outrageous than the swill being directed against the nation's top office holder, President Bush, especially some of the utterly vile things members of the black caucus regularly direct against him about lying us into war and stealing the election in Ohio. Why are those kinds of remarks considered acceptable?
Anyway, seems to me she must have cut Murtha to the quick for all the protesting he's doing about what was said.
Looks like cowards don't cut and run, Republicans do.
I do. I mind PC very much. Besides, it's not being played as a non-apology, it's being played as a groveling, sniveling apology -- that's how it will be portrayed by the MSM, and that's how it will be perceived by those whose only contact with the current events is their local evening news. I'm SICK of Republicans either not stepping up and speaking the truth or taking the truth back once they've said it. It MATTERS.
Not all of them are wimps. For example, here's what the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, said about situations like this: "Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged." He backed it up, too, with an Ohio Congressman named Vallandigham.
I feel another T-Shirt Design ATTACK Coming On!!!
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Black Lettering on Red. Where Can I order it?
Cowards cut and run, Marines never do.
What a great line.
Although its true Cowards cut and run, I think Murtha's motive for his call to surrender was not fear...but other more insidious and disgusting reasons...like wanting to destroy Bush and have the dems get back in power.
If it was only fear that made Murtha call for retreat...well...that's not good but it is far more forgiveable than treachery against this country.
The dems should have been happy Schmidt cited the less evil reason for Murtha's actions.
A question:
Why is it perfectly okay and acceptable for members of the House and Senate to criticize, excoriate and inviscerate our President, but they scream bloody murder and demand apology after apology when one of their own is criticized???? Makes me sick!
This morning on CNN, the apology was being discussed and one of the anchors said - indignantly - something to the effect that 'the guy she supposedly talked to has denied it.'
Interesting. The comment gave the clear impression that the Marine she talked to denied it. This quote says someone she discussed it with denied they were talking about Murtha. Which is what Schmidt is saying anyway.
Ahhhh, what you can do with misdirection and a little spin.
Murtha obviously saw himself in this statement. Why did he associate himself with the 'coward' part rather than the 'Marine' part given the fact he was a Marine? I would have taken it as a compliment.
Jean schmidt shouldn't apologize for a thing. She wasn't calling Murtha himself a coward (press just twisting it)---she was saying that to just pull out of Iraq immy would be a cowardly thing to do.
This is really too bad. Im sorry she is sorry and Im sorry to lose great respect for her. Im most sorry Murtha is amongst the breathing!
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