Irey Campaign rebounding...?
Posted on 07/10/2006 11:00:43 AM PDT by xpertskir
IREY TO MURTHA: HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, SIR?
Congressman’s latest instance of reckless disregard for truth slurs American civilians trying to help establish democracy in Iraq
(MONONGAHELA, July 10) – Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey – responding to a statement by U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, in which Murtha suggested that Irey is running for Congress because she and her husband are “benefiting from this war” – today released the following statement:
“Today I have a simple question to ask Jack Murtha: Have you no decency, sir?
“Jack Murtha’s comments in yesterday morning’s Tribune-Democrat – wherein he said, essentially, that my husband and I are ‘war profiteers,’ and impugned the motives of American civilian contractors involved in trying to help Iraq defend its new democracy – are shameful.
“For those who may not have seen Jack Murtha’s comments, here is what he is reported to have said in yesterday’s newspaper:
“Murtha said he is concerned about Irey’s motivation for running against him, considering her husband, Robert, is CEO of a Canonsburg-based firm that secured a $300 million contract with the Iraqi government two years ago.
“‘I worry about that,’ he said. ‘If they’re benefiting from this war, and if this is the reason she’s in this, it really bothers me. I don’t like that.’”
“Note that he said ‘It really bothers me. I don’t like that.’ This is not the appropriate response after raising a question; this is a response to a conclusive act. That is, he did not say, ‘It WOULD really bother me,’ nor did he say ‘I WOULD not like that.’ This was an accusation, pure and simple, no matter how poorly he failed in trying to dress it up as a question. He’s about as subtle as the candidate who, wanting to attack his opponent without being accused of dirty campaigning, says ‘Oh, please don’t ask me about my opponent’s well-known penchant for driving drunk after spending an evening gambling with prostitutes at the illegal casino down the street – I wouldn’t want to be accused of negative campaigning.’
“To imply, suggest, hint, whisper, or even wink and nod that I am running for Congress because my husband is a partner in a firm that had a contract with the Iraqi Government and that, therefore, we stand to ‘benefit’ from the war, is despicable.
“For the record: My husband, Robert Irey, is a partner in a firm that once had a subcontract with the Iraqi Government, jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Defense, to help the new democratic Government of Iraq take over the burden of defending itself by refurbishing equipment and material destroyed or damaged by the war. Had that contract been fulfilled, it would have allowed the Iraqi Government to take over more of the burden of defending itself sooner – which would have had the result of making possible a withdrawal of U.S. troops sooner than they would otherwise have been able to come home.
“But that contract was terminated more than a year and a half ago, when one of Bob’s partners and one of their employees were murdered in Iraq- a fact reported at the time by both the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press, and , therefore, presumably known to Jack Murtha”
“To continue, for the record: other than one $10,000 down payment, their firm never collected a dime from that contract. In fact, the Iraqi Government still owes that firm $1.6 million for work completed but for which they have yet to receive payment.
“Further, neither my husband nor I have any financial stake in any ongoing enterprise related to the war – as one can tell just by looking at the Financial Disclosure Form I filed when I became a candidate. That form is on record in the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, just a few hundred yards from Jack Murtha’s office in the Rayburn Building.
“Surely Mr. Murtha, with his vaunted connections to and influence over the Defense Department, knew all this before he recklessly suggested that I am running for Congress because I am ‘benefiting from this war.’
“Having seen the way Jack Murtha deals with his political opponents, ‘despicable,’ sadly, is what we’ve come to expect.
“But even Jack Murtha should be held to the standard of truth and honesty – and in this case, not only was he wrong to ‘raise the question,’ he KNEW he was wrong to ‘raise the question.’
“I have already made clear why I am running for Congress: I am running because Jack Murtha is out of touch, and no longer represents the residents of the 12th District. It is time for a change, and I am fighting to lead that change – to secure our borders, to safeguard our retirements, to promote economic growth throughout the 12th District, just as I have done in Washington County.
“There are 120 days left in this campaign. The good news is, that’s plenty of time to make sure the voters of the 12th District know just who Jack Murtha really is.”
-- 30 --
Hers got to go before he makes an ass of himself - Oh wait he already has, so forget it.
Hate to break it to you, Boss, but with your somewhat vague response that is what you said.
Regret?!? LOL!! Okay hero, I'm sufficiently chastised.
The more I hear from Irey the more I like her.
Murtha should resign while he can still remember his own name. This and the recent gaffe where he told Floridians that the US was more dangerous than Iran and N. Korea, thehn back-pedalled saying he was only quoting a Pew Poll, shows where his mind really is, up his rear.
I would love to see the video mentioned here; http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060707-084208-7171r.htm
"A blast from fat boy's past. murtha, the unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscan Scandal. He testified for the prosecution to save his own fat ass."
Would there be any benefit in reviving this issue? If so, I think Mrs. Irey should do so. What say ye?
Her response to Mutha's attack indicates that she is no dummy; she sounds very intelligent.
Hmmm, a thought occurred to me while at work this evening. Is this the recently referred to "skeleton in the closet"? If so, it backfired. ;)
And as I recall, this "dribble" was floated here some time back. Do you recall it?
Note to Murtha staff: Don't believe everything you read without verification. It will come back to bite you. ;)
"Exactly Mrs. R. I would be interested to see what Mr. Gleason has to say about Ms. Irey's rebuttal to Murtha's statements."
Nothing in today's paper, but it's probably too soon. ;)
I do know that an op-ed writer for the Trib posts his articles fairly regularly to FR and the last one was rather critical of Murtha. Whether or not he reads the Murtha threads is anyone's guess. ;)
What I did find amusing is that while this front page article was posted here, on the page 2 continuation of this article, the side article was "Businesses prepare for life after Murtha". Hmmmmmmmmm. ;)
I wonder how Muthra missed that since they were from his district, maybe he really doesn't care all that much about American Deaths in Iraq afterall.
That is interesting and thanks for your info.
Nice work buddy .Hopefully you at least ruined his day with that letter.
Au contraire. I think Mrs. Irey's use of the line demonstrates a very good knowledge of history -- and an even better sense of irony. She's using one of the left's most famous counter-attacks against their latest icon.
“Surely Mr. Murtha, with his vaunted connections to and influence over the Defense Department,
Gotta love Diana!!! ;*)
=:-}
LOL! No we don't. Anyway that is exactly what she did say in her own Gentle Lady Manner.
Yes, that person who briefly appeared here did bring this up as a "skeleton." I informed her that it was not news to anyone following the race, but I was surprised to the extent of how badly it backfired.
Could you post or provide a link to that article, please?
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