Posted on 11/02/2008 5:50:38 PM PST by randita
Murtha surprised by unhappy voters in 12th Congressional District
'Racist' comment, anti-war stand, new district boundaries open door for challenger
Sunday, November 02, 2008 By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette VWH Campbell Jr./Post-Gazette
There are two 12th Congressional Districts, and at the moment each is a bit cross with John P. Murtha.
One is the old 12th, centered in Cambria and stretching into bituminous reaches of Somerset, Armstrong and Indiana counties. It's the place that sent Mr. Murtha, D-Johnstown, to Congress by a pencil-thin margin in a special election almost 35 years ago.
Enchanted by his youth, vigor and capacity to steer grants, plants and gifts to his hometown, they returned him to office in 17 subsequent elections.
The other is the new 12th -- an inheritance of reapportionment, stretching through a swatch of Westmoreland, a sliver of Allegheny, chunks of Washington and Fayette and all of Greene counties.
The farther west you go, the deeper the puzzlement at the congressman who called Western Pennsylvania "racist" in an interview with the Post-Gazette editorial board and then apologized by substituting "redneck" in a television interview.
Mr Murtha already had irked veterans and social conservatives in the area by calling for a U.S pullout from Iraq and accusing eight Marines of atrocities in the town of Haditha.
Back home, the "racist" remark is viewed as Mr. Murtha -- who is as famous for his plain speech as for his capacity for handing out federal moolah -- speaking more bluntly than clearly. Yet, in much of the new district, well to the west of Johnstown, there is puzzlement verging on anger.
In many ways, this congressional election is a referendum on Jack Murtha -- Prince of Pork or High Priest of Hubris depending on one's ideology or, more likely, familiarity.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Still cannot figure out why Murtha thinks his constituents should vote for him. He disses them every chance he gets.
I hope and pray Col. Russell defeats the traitor Murtha.
Murtha brings home the pork big time.
Murtha ping....
You’ll have to excuse John, he didn’t know he was representing Americans.
...and he didn’t know those Americans could read.... or afford radios... and TVS.
Any PA posters here? Please tell me Murtha is getting tossed.
It’s too bad that most people do not realize that 60+ percent of electricity in the United States comes from coal-fired plants. If we take 60 percent of the electricity off the grid, we look a lot like North Korea from space at night. Oh, but I forgot, Obama is our “Dear Leader”.
Well, even if McCain doesn’t make it nationally, at least we are going to claim Murtha’s scalp! (But...I am hopeful that we will add Obama’s scalp to the mix as well).
Murtha brings home the pork big time.
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I believe Americans are tired of Democrats living high off the hog!
I don’t need no stikin bridge to no where!
Murtha could use some free time, for quiet reflection.
Brings a whole new meaning to GERRYMANDER...worst than the people’s republic of CA
Have to get all the relatives and bribers in the district.
STRIKE ONE: YOU Defamed our Troops!!!
STRIKE TWO: YOU called us, your constituents, names!!
STRIKE THREE: YOU support ZEROBAMA and the DINGBAT PELOSI!!!
YOU'RE OUT!!!!
It's for being a MARXIST and SOCIALIST, STUPID!!!
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