"We're one of the biggest recipients of pork. And pork is good."

[dugaresa]

This statement comes from this article about Congressman Murtha's race. Apparently a republican challenger is trying to use Murtha's statement about how racist the area is and his comments about an incident in Iraq against him.

However as I read the article, it becomes apparent that everyone loves pork and Murtha brings home the bacon.

So what does this mean? Well...all politics are local and while McCain hates earmarks and pork and promises to "name names" well that pork and those earmarks put food on people's tables via the jobs they create.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08307/924751-178.stm

Here is another comment from the article.

"I'm about 20 yards to the right of Barry Goldwater," said Mr. Hamrick, a Republican. He's voting for Murtha.

"I think that gentleman has brought people here, brought industry here," he said. In fact, Mr. Murtha may well have brought Mr. Hamrick here. He was a manager for Lockheed Corp., which set up two plants at the urging of Mr. Murtha, the ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee on defense. As such, Mr. Murtha controls billions in defense dollars and when he sets to put something in Pennsylvania, chances are it will be built.
"

I also think that the point here is that folks know where their bread is buttered and if you have a congressman, a senator or even a president who takes care of people's basic needs ...they will vote against their party lines because of it.

[barbtries]

1. i've always heard

that pork is how byrd kept his seat for so long.

[dugaresa]

2. and the folks in West Virginia have kept him in the Senate so long

for that very reason.

[Glorfindel]

3. Yep...small, impoverished states like WV and MS depend on seniority

It's the only thing they have going for them, and that's why senators and congresspersons from these states are almost never defeated for re-election.