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Michelle Malkin: Jack Murtha — Requiem for a Corruptocrat
We aren’t supposed to speak ill of the dead. But those whom the deceased viciously smeared and humiliated deserve to be defended. Entrenched Rep. John “Jack” Murtha, D-Pa., died Feb. 8 after a botched gallbladder surgery. He has been hailed as a “military advocate” (The Associated Press) and “one of the greatest patriots ever to serve in Congress” (former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn.). These obsequious obituaries leave out inconvenient truths:
Murtha was an unrepentant smear merchant and corruptocrat to the bitter end.
In May 2006, during an MSNBC TV show appearance that Marines and their families will never forget or forgive, Murtha accused U.S. troops of wantonly killing some two dozen civilians, including children, in the terrorist stronghold of Haditha, Iraq. He bellowed: “Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” Murtha publicly indicted the Marines before military investigations had been completed. His remarks opened military-bashing floodgates around the world.
In the wake of Murtha’s reckless blabbing, MSNBC executioner Keith Olbermann accused the Haditha Marines of “willful targeted brutality.” The Nation magazine claimed that “members of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment perpetrated a massacre.” The New York Times dubbed Haditha the “defining atrocity” of the Iraq war. International papers piled on with Vietnam-era “My Lai” allusions. Murtha cold-bloodedly sat back and enjoyed the ride while the Marines were left twisting in the wind.
By 2008, seven of the Marines charged in the incident had been exonerated or had charges against them dropped. Lt. Andrew Grayson was acquitted. Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, Capt. Lucas McConnell, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani all had their cases dismissed. Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the last of the Marines facing charges, awaits a long, dragged-out trial this year.
Murtha, the so-called “military advocate,” went to his deathbed refusing to apologize or retract the attacks on the Haditha Marines (several of whom unsuccessfully sued him for libel to restore their honor). Decent people would call this intransigent treachery. Murtha’s friends apparently consider it great patriotism.
The ego-bloated, big-mouthed lawmaker treated his own constituents with trademark contempt. During his last congressional campaign, he mocked voters in his district as bigots. “There’s no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area,” he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Responding to mounting criticism on both sides of the aisle about his logrolling orgies on the Hill, he sniffed: “If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.”
First, foremost and forever, Jack Murtha took care of Jack Murtha. The glowing encomiums from his liberal colleagues have glossed over the 19-term Democrat’s defining moment of political self-service. In 1980, Murtha was an unindicted co-conspirator in a massive bribery probe — in which undercover FBI agents videotaped Murtha entertaining a $50,000 bribe from agents posing as emissaries for Arab sheiks trying to enter our country illegally. From transcripts of those conversations published by the late newspaper columnist Jack Anderson, Murtha’s true colors shined:
“I want to deal with you guys awhile before I make any transactions at all, period. ... After we’ve done some business, well, then I might change my mind. ...”
“I’m going to tell you this. If anybody can do it — I’m not B.S.-ing you fellows — I can get it done my way,” he boasted. “There’s no question about it.”
Murtha worried not about his integrity or how his constituents might be harmed, but about getting ratted out:
“All at once,” he said, “some dumb (expletive deleted) would go start talking eight years from now about this whole thing and say (expletive deleted), this happened. Then in order to get immunity so he doesn’t go to jail, he starts talking and fingering people. So the (S.O.B.) falls apart.”
“You give us the banks where you want the money deposited,” one of the bagmen offered.
“All right,” Murtha agreed. “How much money we talking about?”
“Well, you tell me.”
By the time of his death, Murtha had been caught intervening on behalf of a law-breaking Pennsylvania company convicted of selling military equipment parts illegally overseas; had steered unprecedented billions of dollars in federal earmarks to friends, family and donors; had earned multiple “most corrupt in Congress” designations from both the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the right-leaning Judicial Watch; and had remained intimately tied to PMA Group, a former lobbying firm under federal investigation, and Kuchera Industries, a defense contractor also under federal investigation.
From his character assassination of innocents to his insatiable appetite for pork and power, Murtha embodied everything that is wrong with Washington. If only the culture of corruption he serviced could be buried 6 feet under with him.
— Michelle Malkin is author of Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild. Click here for more information. She can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 07:53 AM
Thanks for calling a spade a spade. Murtha was a credit to his country when he served in the Marines, but he disgraced his uniform and that legacy with his scandalous attack on innocent Marines at Haditha. I don’t understand his stubborn refusal to acknowledge he was dead wrong, although he must have enjoyed the anti-war rewards ($$$) bestowed on him by Nancy Pelosi & Co.
Rot in hell, Jack. Semper Fi.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 09:01 AM
As a former Marine I lost all respect for Murtha who was a disgrace to the people of America and back-stabbing hypocrite looking to further himself by slandering innocent Marines just because he thought it was politically advantageous at the time!
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 11:11 AM
Let’s not speak ill of the dead. Murtha volunteered to fight in Vietnam, a heck of a bigger contribution to this country than Michelle Malkin or any of the commenters have ever performed.
Corruption? Hank Paulson, a Republican, gave $23.7 trillion to his friends on Wall Street so they could get their $10 billion bonuses each year. He’s still alive, tee off on him.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 11:14 AM
I can’t help but wonder if this authoress, in her writings, is misdirecting the pain she must feel ...
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 11:51 AM
I smiled when I heard he died. He was a scumbag in the purest sense and those who defame the columnist are simply clueless.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 12:31 PM
You so called marines or patriots that attack Murtha prove the oxymoron “military intelligence” to the tee…malkin, when you look in the mirror, do you actually see the pig that you are?
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 12:35 PM
Yes, publius with a small p, by all means let’s condemn Malkin for not serving in Vietnam. What is she, 30? Remind me what branch of the service Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama led?
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 12:56 PM
I agree. Rot in hell.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 01:48 PM
Murtha, like so many of his congressional colleagues, was a “corruptocrat”, as Malkin states.
Was it luck or pull that kept him out of prison, like Malkin’s hero, Duke Cunningham? Who knows.
But…
Unlike Clinton, Cheney, GW Bush, Murtha didn’t hide behind a student deferment.
Like GHW Bush, and a legion of others, he volunteered to put himself “in harm’s way” (as John Paul Jones said) to serve his country, and earned ribbons and citations for his service in the field.
Contrast that to Malkin, Rumsfeld, Rove, Cheney, Scooter Libby, Palin, Beck, and the
neo-Con coven that slur him.
Malkin, having never served herself, presumes that because Bush’s DOD brass
white-washed the Haditha group, they are “innocent”..
Those who’ve actually served will smile. It’s like that old line, “Military justice is
to Justice what military music is to Music.”
Or like the number of cops or doctors who will publicly testify under oath on “one
of their own”, no matter how many innocents may have died.
Even as a tarnished, log-rolling, pork-barrel, greasy-hander (which he was) Murtha
was a braver, tougher, more honorable human being than Malkin will ever hope to
be.
It took a lot of guts for aging DOD shill Murtha to step forward and admit he’d been
wrong about Iraq, and call for changes ... which led to the “surge”, and saved large
numbers of American, allied, and civilian lives.
When has the arrogant, histrionic Malkin ever admitted making a mistake. Never.
If Colonel Ben Walsh hadn’t gone to glory the same week as Murtha, he’d probably
have called Malkin out in person.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 02:06 PM
I don’t see anyone on here condemning Murtha’s military service. At all. So what’s with the collateral-damage red herring being thrown at anyone who WASN’T in the military? And why isn’t Obama on that supposed List of Shame? Did he don a uniform for his country?
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 02:40 PM
Your B.D.S (Bush Derangement Syndrome) is showing again, Publius - and it’s making you look really dumb. You really should see a doctor about that, he isn’t President anymore, and those soldiers have been exonerated - you must have a chronic case..
“It took a lot of guts for aging DOD shill Murtha to step forward and admit he’d been wrong about Iraq, and call for changes ... which led to the “surge”, and saved large
numbers of American, allied, and civilian lives. Hilarious.”
Publius this proves you’re ignorant. He admitted he was wrong ABOUT the surge AFTER the surge, so how can that LEAD to the surge? You are giving him CREDIT for “laying the groundwork for the surge” after this?:
Murtha Proposes Bill to Choke Funding for the Surge.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16185.htm
Congressman Murtha Crafts Bill to Prevent Iraq Troop Deployments:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252216,00.html
Murtha: No Surge For Bush
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/154090
This is what you call “leading to the surge”???
This is the same surge that Biden was opposed to, the one that Obama voted against in the Senate, and now Biden wants to give Obama credit for success in Iraq.
Funny how all the “war heroes” of the left are all anti- war (Murtha, Kerry) when we are losing but love to take credit when there is success.
And yes all of the named (notably not listed - Obama) are contained within the word “ZERO”. ZERO attacks on the homeland since 9/11.
As usual, and predictably by the cookbook, you go right for the throat of the author or make some comparison to something totally unrelated, instead of debating her points. Characteristics of the intellectually lazy.
Small “p” or big “P” I wouldn’t show my face in here anymore if I were you.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 02:48 PM
Malkin is not slamming Murtha’s service, just his corrupt political career. Serving in the military does not make you an honorable man (Lee Harvey Oswald, Timothy Mcveigh anyone?). And if military service is a prerequisite for leadership remind me; B.O., Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, served in what branch of the military?
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 05:10 PM
He will not be missed—corrupt union puppet—He was bad for the hard working taxpayers..
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 06:03 PM
The lefties just don’t get it. If Malkin, Beck, Limbaugh, Rove, Lutz, Cheney, and Fox Views says something, it has to be true because the others have repeated it already.
There are web sites that prove we have been invaded by Martians and Obama was born in Kenya.
Joe Biden has a son serving in the Middle East.
SOME LEADERS WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY: But questioned this war
Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army
journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70;
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star &Bronze; Star, Vietnam. Paraplegic from war injuries.
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Army Reserve 1979-91.
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star.
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars,and Soldier’s Medal.
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Silver Star /Legion of Merit.
Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam;
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
George McGovern: Silver Star &DFC; during WWII.
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy. SUB COMMANDER
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal
Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII.
MISC. HAWKS Pundits, and Preachers, WHO DID NOT SERVE
Sean Hannity - Rush Limbaugh - Bill O’Reilly - Michael Savage
George Will - Chris Matthews - Paul Gigot - Bill Bennett
Pat Buchanan - John Wayne - Bill Kristol - Kenneth Starr
Antonin Scalia - Clarence Thomas - Ralph Reed - Michael Medved
Charlie Daniels
SOME LEADERS WHO HAVE NOT SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
Dick Cheney - Dennis Hastert - Tom De Lay - Bill Frist - Mitch McConnell - Rick Santorum - Trent Lott - John Ashcroft
Jeb Bush - Karl Rove - Paul Wolfowitz - Richard Perle - Douglas Feith - Eliot Abrams - Newt Gingrich - Phil Gramm - Rudy Giuliani
Jack Kemp: did not serve because he, “Had knee problem”, But he continued as quarterback in the NFL for 8 years.
OTHERS WHO DID SERVE
John McCain: Vietnam POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit,Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard duty; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty.
Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non- combat role making movies.
B-1 Bob Dornan: Intentionally enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 06:46 PM
Michelle - You’ve, once again, added new meaning to word “muck-raker”.
I know that your fans are too stupid to know what a muck-raker is.
Too bad you use your writing talent for such vicious attacks. You, of all people, know that there are two sides to every coin.
The responses on the right say it all - they are lost in Limbaugh-Beck radio talk - all for money! Looks like you join them in the pursuit of money too!
Politics is so dirty - maybe you could come out of the mud for awhile and write something good about the government - I wonder if you got your education with any assistance from the US taxpayer. If you did, you can thank liberals!
» wrote on 02.15.10 @ 10:24 PM
Hey Dexter…Abraham Lincoln did not serve.
Then again,President George W. Bush - US Air National Guard. Served from 1968-1973. Twice promoted during his service; first, to 2nd Leutenant and then to 1st Leutenant. Honorably discharged.
President George H. W. Bush - US Navy. World War II. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Secretary of State Colin Powell - US Army. Vietnam War. 4-Star General (Ret.). Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993). Awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Solder’s Medal, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge - US Army. Vietnam War. Awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld - US Navy. Naval aviator. Served from 1954-1957.
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) - US Air Force. World War II. Awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and the Yuan Hai Medal awarded by the Republic of China.
Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) (Ret.) - US Army. World War II. Awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star.
President Gerald Ford - US Navy. World War II. Served from 1942-1946.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) - US Navy. Vietnam War. Awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) - US Army. Vietnam War. Awarded two Purple Hearts and several other decorations.
Congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA) - US Navy. Vietnam War. Nominated for the Medal of Honor. Awarded the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.
Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) - US Marine Corps. Vietnam War. Awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal.
Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) - US Air Force. Korean and Vietnam War. POW in Hanoi from April 1966 to February 1973.
Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - US Army Reserves. Served from 1973-1986.
Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) - US Air Force. Served from 1978-1989.
Your point?
» wrote on 02.16.10 @ 08:23 AM
Wow Bruce - you are weally smart. I had to look up what that big word meant because I am stooopid.
I’m glad I did , because unlike liberals, I appreciate when there are watchdogs who “search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or the like, esp. in politics.”
Liberals want us to overlook such things, they love corrupt governments and politicians, which is why they hate the non-whitewashed Fox News. They prefer government propaganda to what they see as corporate propaganda.
In typical and now predictable hypocritical cookbook liberal style of course, you don’t refute what Malkin says, you simply follow the
Liberal opposition cookbook:
Step 1) Degrade her supporters
Step 2) Make an association with Beck-Limbaugh
Step 3) associate her with greedy corporate interests (Halliburton is always a good word)
Step 4) viciously attack her for making vicious attacks.
Step 5) attack her for not saying anything good about your government heroes, while adding nothing good of your own.
Step 5) Extra credit points: Find a way to make her sound like a racist.
It’s really getting old and predictable and nobody falls for this B.S. anymore. It’s like watching Wayne Newton sing “Donkeyshane” for the 5000th time in Vegas. Get a new act.
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