Murtha the Clear Choice for House Majority Leader

[bemildred]

Given the critical role he has long played in promoting Democratic values and defending American freedom, Pennsylvania Rep. Jack Murtha is the clear choice for House Majority Leader in the 110th Congress.

It is no exaggeration to state that the Democratic Party, and indeed the nation, owe Jack a debt of gratitude for the new, refreshing political winds that began blowing over the Potomac this past election day.

Last week's resounding Democratic electoral victories were, first and foremost, a referendum on the war in Iraq, and a rejection of the Republican White House and Congress' categorical military and foreign policy failures. No public official has more powerfully and courageously spoken out about these failures -- and what must be done to remedy them -- than Jack.

Last year, faced with a phalanx of Republicans attacking his Iraq war resolution, Jack insisted on standing alone, hour after hour, eloquently speaking truth to power on the House floor. Murtha received two Purple Hearts for wounds received in Vietnam, so the slings and arrows aimed at him that day, and ever since, over his opposition to the American Iraq policy were no match for this veteran.

HuffPo

-- Rep. Mike Honda (D- CA)

Vice Chair, Democratic National Committee

[texpatriot2004]

1. K & R nm

[David Dunham]

3. Not after he's called the idea of ethics reform "total crap." No way.

[LSparkle]

4. Flavia Colgan (sp?) debunked that on MSNBC

Murtha never said that!

[texpatriot2004]

8. Exactly! That is a lie. He never said that. nm

[God Almighty]

2. The thing I like about Murtha is that he's got the integrity to see when he's wrong

I think we could do better - but not with Hoyer.

[cleveramerican]

5. He's more conservative on social issues than you might think.

He's pretty strongly anti-abortion. Pro-Patriot act etc.

[BushOut06]

6. A lot of us are anti- abortion

You can be strongly anti-abortion, and yet be pro-choice. That's the beauty of choice.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Murtha is anti-choice as per his voting record

Harry Reid is an example of someone who is anti-abortion and pro-choice, Murtha is not.

[Thrill]

7. I'll say it again. Anyone but Hoyer

[texpatriot2004]

10. I don't know about the "anyone" part but NO HOYER! nm

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. Not so fast.

Unfit for Majority Leader

Unfit for Majority Leader

By Ruth Marcus
Wednesday, November 15, 2006; Page A21

The videotape is grainy, dark and devastating. The congressman and the FBI undercover agents -- the congressman thinks they represent an Arab sheik willing to pay $50,000 to get immigration papers -- are talking business in the living room of a secretly wired Washington townhouse.

Two other congressmen in on the deal "do expect to be taken care of," the lawmaker says. But for the time being -- and he says repeatedly that he might change his mind and take money down the road -- he'd rather trade his help for investment in his district, maybe a hefty deposit in the bank of a political supporter who's done him favors.

"I'm not interested -- at this point," he says of the dangled bribe. "You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't, you know." Indeed, he acknowledges, even though he needs to be careful -- "I expect to be in the {expletive} leadership of the House," he notes -- the money's awfully tempting. "It's hard for me to say, just the hell with it."

This is John Murtha, incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi's choice to be her majority leader, snared but not charged in the Abscam probe in 1980. "The Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history," Pelosi pledged on election night. Five days later she wrote Murtha a letter endorsing his bid to become her No. 2.

Not the most promising start.

[babylonsister]

15. Murtha just explained what happened 26 years ago. He never

accepted bribes, he was never indicted, it was an FBI sting operation he didn't fall for. And the fact that Hoyer is trying to swiftboat him repulses me. FWIW, that's Murtha's opinion; Hoyer's goons put this story out there again.

[LSK]

18. the video has been posted in GD several times

I have watched it. Its much ado about nothing and this happened in 1980.

[bemildred]

12. Kick for the future House Majority Leader. nt

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Murtha is the WAR HERO anti-war Democrat. All Dems gain from him.

Making him the number two man is a win-win-win for the Democratic Party's image. Now that Pelosi has nominated him, if he is defeated, the voters will see that as the Dems wimping out on their anti-war pledge. Giving him a position of power will equal bringing some troops home right away without actually having to do anything in the minds of voters. A cheap trick? Yes. But that is what politics is all about.

He will make people who hate the war feel all warm and fuzzy and secure inside, knowing that Dems are in power and are going to take care of this mess. The nation needs him.

[texpatriot2004]

14. Murtha brings military experience to the table now and we need

that.

[texpatriot2004]

16. Kick nm

[texpatriot2004]

17. Murtha brings military experience to the table now and we need

that now.