"I underestimated the viciousness of the right wing"

[dajoki]

WP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011600913.html?referrer=email

Murtha and the Mudslingers

By E. J. Dionne Jr.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006; Page A17

I underestimated the viciousness of the right wing.

Last November, Rep. John Murtha, a Democrat and a decorated Marine combat veteran, came out for a rapid American withdrawal from Iraq. At the time, I wrote: "It will be difficult for Bush's acolytes to cast Murtha, who has regularly stood up for the military policies of Republican presidents during his 31 years in Congress, as some kind of extreme partisan or hippie protester."

No, the conservative hit squad didn't accuse Murtha of being a hippie. But a crowd that regularly defends President Bush for serving in the Texas Air National Guard instead of going to Vietnam has continued its war on actual Vietnam veterans. An outfit called the Cybercast News Service last week questioned the circumstances surrounding the awarding of two Purple Hearts to Murtha because of wounds he suffered in the Vietnam War.

<<snip>>

As it is, the charges are remarkably flimsy. Former representative Don Bailey (D-Pa.), whom Murtha defeated in a 1982 congressional primary after a redistricting, said that Murtha had told him he did not deserve his Purple Hearts, Kurtz and Murray reported. Bailey, who won a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars in Vietnam, recalled Murtha saying: "Hey, I didn't do anything like you did. I got a little scratch on the cheek."

Authentic war heroes (including McCain) often play down their own heroism. In any event, what we know about Murtha, McCain, Kerry and, yes, Bailey, is that they served in combat in Vietnam. What we know about Bush and Vice President Cheney ("I had other priorities in the '60s than military service'') is that they didn't.

[LynnTheDem]

1. MFing sick bastards.

What kind of fucking pricks sit there and question a vet's PURPLE HEARTS???!

Only MFing rightwingnuts, of course, fucking little shits.

[dajoki]

5. by now we should expect this n/t

[Jeffersons Ghost]

19. you don't have to use those words!

It's MOTHER-FREEPING... sorry for useing a nastier word than fucking but it's basically the same act only you don't get kissed while they're FREEPING you.

[madeline_con]

2. Here's the CNS "report"

Murtha's War Hero Status Called Into Question

A Cybercast News Service investigation also reveals that one of Murtha's former Democratic congressional colleagues and a fellow decorated Vietnam veteran, Don Bailey of Pennsylvania, alleges that Murtha admitted during an emotional conversation on the floor of the U.S. House in the early 1980s that he did not deserve his Purple Hearts.

(snip)

Murtha and Bailey, once allies, were forced to run against each other in a Democratic congressional primary in 1982 following redistricting. Murtha won the election.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=\SpecialReports\archive\200601\SPE20060113a.html

[EVDebs]

14. Murtha and Dems should give Swifties the Scarlet Face award nt

[tmooses]

3. I am more convinced that the right wing's vicious attacks are more a

reflection on their fear of losing power and being exposed for what they are than any kind of ideological stand. These are the same people that wrap themselves in the flag and are ready to claim anyone who disagrees with them are not true patriots-yet their hero is a coked out spoiled rich kid who avoided combat so others could die in his place.

[dajoki]

4. they are...

just vicious hissy fits when someone speaks against them.

[renie408]

6. What about when Saxby Chambliss went after Max Cleland?

That was awhile ago. I think they are just dirty fighting bastards. I think they have some kind of How To Hit Below the Belt playbook that tells them how to be skanky.

[tmooses]

7. I agree-it's the ends justifies the means playbook. The Repubs have

raised their "belt" up to their chin and can't take any criticism. I think it time we dropped their belt or raised ours!

[dajoki]

12. they'll do anything...

to grab power.

[gumby]

8. I called E. J. Dionne stooopid

not too long ago. Seems he now agrees with me. HAHAHA

How can any, living, breathing, inside-the-beltway pundit not know or understand the viciousness of the right wing?

[dajoki]

21. how can anyone not know?

[Imalittleteapot]

9. Sadly,

there are more Americans than I care to think about that suck this sicko stuff in and believe it. Even more distressing is that the evil jerks that spew this crap have little respect for their followers that they prey upon. I won't call them stupid. I will call them lost.

:cry:

[dajoki]

10. i call them evil n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. " personal vilification to abort honest political debate."

kick!

[EVDebs]

13. "Tailgunner Joes"

Joseph McCarthy's nickname.

[jasmeel]

15. The repub world is so upside down it blows my mind. n/t

[gratuitous]

16. Gee E.J., we've just been screaming it at you for years

Finally sink in, or did the Murtha story actually engage you enough that you noticed?

And, now that it's gotten on your radar screen, are you going to keep an eye on right wing viciousness, or is this just a one-day wonder, something to stick in a column and then forget -- like all the other times? You can be all surprised by right wing viciousness again in February, April, July and several times in September and October. Should be worth a column each time.

[The Magistrate]

17. No Foulness Is Beyond These Reptiles, Sir

"When a Republican is robbed at gunpoint, he turns over not just his wallet but his pants and shoes as well, because it does not occur to him a common thief would draw a line somewhere."

[LizW]

18. This piece of crap was on Thom Hartmann yesterday.

He tried to paint himself as a "journalist" and had the gall to blame Murtha for making his service an issue!

Thom was having none of it (although as always, he had class and didn't call the guy a lying sh--hole).

He asked, "What about the warmongering chickenhawks? Haven't they put their lack of service at issue by advocating war?"

The guy said, "That's not the issue..." and proceeded to blather until Thom finally just thanked him and cut him off.

[Jade Fox]

20. Dionne is an example...

of the kind of middle-class person so desperate to believe that nothing REALLY bad ever happens, that they will bend over backward to rationalize it away when it's staring them in the face. It's an almost religious belief in the supremacy of "niceness", and comes from never having to venture out of their ivory towers into the real world. They flatter themselves that they are more rational than others, when really they are just more naive and privileged.

At least Dionne has his eyes open for the moment.

[geiger]

22. They eat their own remember

In the primary of Bush's first presidential run, Rove went after McCain like a dog after fresh meat and he relished in it.

[rman]

23. Not to downplay Murtha,

and he probably is not unique in this, but it strikes me as odd that (some?,many?) Dem reps apparently do not know their enemy. I'd think they would know if they'd be in the habit of sticking out their neck as for instance Murtha does as of recently.

[Festivito]

24. Think of how we treated slaves and Native Amercans.

That's our lesson on how to get ahead.
Whether business or politics,
the lesson should be clear.

[dajoki]

25. but that doesn't make it right n/t

[Festivito]

26. Not RIGHT to bring a gun to a knife fight.

When it turns out to be a gunfight, where is that precious being right? DEAD!

The question we've not answered:
Is a republic more important than compassion, or
is compassion more important than a republic?

[dajoki]

27. the Republic...

will turn to anarchy without compassion.

[SaveElmer]

28. I'm not usually one to quote scripture...but

I can't help but think of Proverbs 11:29...one of the few I know

"He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind."