Kerry's Official E-mail -- re: Jack Murtha (full text)...

[Peter Frank]

I don't know how many of you are on Kerry's e-mail mail list. I'm not sure who I'll be supporting for the '08 Democratic nomination; so this is not a Kerry plug. I just like to stay informed.

Here's Kerry's latest mailing verbatim:

Dear Friend,

This is our moment of truth. You and I have to make it absolutely clear that we won't stand for Republican "Swift Boat" style attacks on Jack Murtha.

Yesterday, an extraordinary congressman, former Marine Drill Sergeant and decorated Vietnam veteran, spoke out on the war in Iraq. He didn't come to that moment lightly. He spoke his mind and spoke his heart out of love for his country and support for our troops. No sooner had the words left his lips than the vicious assault on his character and patriotism began.

Today, in a statement on the Senate floor, in interviews with the national media, and in this message to you, I am seeking out every opportunity to defend a brave American hero that the Republican attack machine has set their sights on.

I urge you to do the same. Whether you agree or disagree with Jack Murtha is irrelevant. These despicable attacks on Jack Murtha's patriotism and courage must be met with an enormous public outcry. Call your local talk radio show, write a letter to the editor, phone your members of Congress - join me in acting now to reject these "Swift Boat" style attacks on Jack Murtha.

It disgusts me that a bunch of guys who have never put on the uniform of their country have aimed their venom at a marine who served America heroically in Vietnam and has been serving heroically in Congress ever since. No matter what J.D. Hayworth says, there is no sterner stuff than the backbone and courage that defines Jack Murtha's character and conscience.

Dennis Hastert -- the Speaker of the House who never served -- accused Jack Murtha of being a coward. Well let me tell you, Jack Murtha wasn't a coward when he put himself in harm's way for his country in Vietnam and earned two purple hearts -- he was a patriot then, and he is a patriot today. Jack Murtha's courage in combat earned him a Bronze Star, and his voice should be heard, not silenced by those who still today cut and run from the truth.

Instead of letting his cronies run their mouths, the President for once should stop his allies from doing to Jack Murtha what he set them loose to do to John McCain in South Carolina and Max Cleland in Georgia.

The President should finally find the courage to debate the real issue instead of destroying anyone who speaks truth to power as they see it. It's time for Americans to stand up, fight back, and make it clear it's unacceptable to do this to any leader of any party anywhere in our country.

I urge you to join today in a massive public outcry that rejects the attempt to demonize and destroy anyone who dares to disagree with George W. Bush's aimless "stay for as long as it takes" policy on Iraq.

Please act now. Call and email your elected officials. Flood talk radio with calls rejecting these vicious smear tactics. Send a letter to the editor. Express your outrage about the tired old Rovian "Swift Boat" style attacks on Jack Murtha.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

To get Kerry's e-mail, go to the top-right of his HOME PAGE & sign up.

[CAG]

1. What - What did Hastert say???

I must have missed that. Please someone update me.

[Peter Frank]

2. I was surprised to hear that also...

(I'll bet there will be more than a few of us diggin' for it.)

[Peter Frank]

4. Got it...

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said Murtha's call for a pullout was "the highest insult to the brave men and women serving overseas."

Hastert said "Murtha and other Democrats want us to retreat. They want us to wave the white flag of surrender to the terrorists of the world."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/17/politics/main1051971_page2.shtml

[CAG]

14. Thanks... Pretty low of Hastert, however his swipe was a little less

direct than Schmidts swipe was... enough room for him to weasel out of with some effectiveness.

[Peter Frank]

19. Google this "hastert's military record"

See what you come up with.

[PatGund]

3. Come on.....

We saw at the 2004 GOP convention how much respect the GOP grants people with Purple Hearts.

Which is to say "none whatsoever"

It's nice to see Kerry decry the "Swift Boating" of Rep. Murtha. Pity he didn't stand up and fight when he was the one being "Swift Boated"

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. Bingo re your last remark. I couldn't even make it through...

the entire e-mail thinking the same thing.

[blm]

10. The point is to expose GOP tactics for exactly what they are. Do it NOW

and let the evil be seen by the American people. The media protected the WH all last year as if the Swiftliars were just good old boy verterans standing up for the country, when they were really a GOP financed hit squad.

PostKatrina, PostSchiavo, PostSocialSecurity, the American public is better able to see through the political spin BushInc puts on EVERYTHING.

[Peter Frank]

11. Thanks for getting this back on topic...

My point in posting Kerry's e-mail is to further expose the fact that Bush will always resort to smearing the character of anyone who represents a threat -- even a highly respected and decorated veteran like Murtha.

If Powell came out against the war yesterday, he'd be a traitor today.

edit for sp.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

12. And imagine if there actually were a big, bad librul media...

not protecting the Maladministration. Smirk's poll numbers are down to 37% and that's WITH Corporate Media. I'd say Murtha is right re Americans being way ahead of Congress, or at least an increasing majority of Americans are. Murtha definitely seems like the type to stand up to the Smear Boaters - someone needs to do it. I'm from his hometown and folks seem to be fiercely protective of him (I think he ran unopposed in the most recent election and carried 74% of the vote before that). Just like Kilgore's disgusting Hitler stunt backfired in Virginia, perhaps voters are starting to reject this bullshit. And the Dems have so much fodder for powerful 2006 campaign ads -- and it can be done in a way that doesn't reflect poorly on the Dem candidate!

[wisteria]

21. Murtha has been smeared and if he had come out last year,

he would have been dealt with in the same manor as Kerry was then. This time the tables have turned and the Dems have the public behind them on the war- Kerry didn't have that a year ago.

[wisteria]

20. Well your wrong!!!!! n/t

[emulatorloo]

9. he did fight back - media buried it

called on Bush to denounce it and stop it in several speeches.
put out a commercial featuring his swiftboat crew to counter it, even though repugs had timed the whole thing to make it hard for Kerry to spend money then.
max cleland went to crawford w a letter to deliver to bush to get bush to stop it
etc etc media buried it

[blm]

13. Some here forget the threads everyday here decrying the lies in the media

throughout the campaign, and media's failure to report simple facts.

[wisteria]

18. Oh, here we go, Kerry did fight this, the campaign thought they

had them taken care of in April. Rove's friend made sure they were keep alive with additional money and Rove through in the press. Oh sure, he stood by and let them discredit him. Yeah, right!

[Pam-Moby]

5. I have a question here.

I have a email that said his name is John Murtha. Then at the bottom of the email it said Jack Murtha. So I went to his congress website here at http://www.house.gov/murtha/ and it says John, but if you look to the left on this same page it says (about Jack Murtha). Here I have been sending emails to editors and all and I do not know for sure what his name is. LOL :crazy:

[LandOLincoln]

7. His name is John; his nickname is Jack. Remember JFK? n/t

[Peter Frank]

8. Kerry's history -- J. Murtha's now... nt

[kerrygoddess]

15. Nice - One Kerry Bashing Thread Isn't Enough for You?

WTF?

[Peter Frank]

23. I'll tell you WTF!...

...I have never bashed Kerry. I supported him before he came on the pulic scene.

Read carefully my thoughts here -- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5413766&mesg_id=5413766

Speak from which you know.

[Mass]

16. A little bit contradictory. If he is history, why did you post this? \nt

[wisteria]

17. Oh, I think I have you figured out, I doubt it will work though,

he may gain a lot of support from your post. You really are a jerk!

[wisteria]

22. BASED ON YOUR LOGIC, MCCAIN AND BOTH CLINTON'S

COULDN'T WIN AN ELECTION NOW.