Opponents Aim To 'Swift Boat' Murtha

Anti-War Democrat Brings In Heavy Hitters To Support His Own War Record

(CBS)  Democrat John Murtha is one of Congress's most vocal opponents of the war in Iraq, but the former Marine's own war record is now coming under fire from a familiar source.

CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports from deep in the heart of Pennsylvania steel country that Rep. Murtha is engaged in a new battle – this one in his own backyard.

This is what Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, is saying: "I don't appreciate these people sitting on their fat backsides at the White House, sending our young people to war when they don't understand the circumstances."

But this is what he's facing: "We are here to 'Swift Boat' John Murtha."

That's right, "Swift Boat." Veterans for Truth — some of the same guys that went after John Kerry's military record in 2004 — is back.

This time, they are gunning for Murtha — who is up for re-election — by questioning his military record and his character.

"Our campaign is entirely negative, but as we all know, negativism is a positive aspect of American politics," said fellow Vietnam vet and former Congressman Don Bailey.

This weekend, they organized a "Boot Murtha" rally.

Murtha, ever the Marine, rolled out some heavy political ground support of his own to take them on.

"Jack Murtha's critics don't know Jack," said fellow Vietnam vet and former Senator Bob Kerrey.

"This guy laid his life on the line for us and for our country, and we're not going to let any Swift Boaters, shrimp boaters or anybody else take out Jack Murtha," said retired Ge. Wesley Clark, another Vietnam vet and the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.

No one thought the 16-term Congressman was in any danger of losing his seat to Diana Irey — his "stay the course" Republican challenger. But the "Swift Boat" guys changed the equation, so Democrats are changing their battle plan.

"Take your dirty politics, shove it where the sun doesn't shine and leave town," is how former Senator and Vietnam vet Max Cleland put it.

[nevikpi]

Typical Republican political machinations. They don't have any ideas to present, and the facts don't support their assertsions. So, they find a few slimy partisans to attack the character of a man who, unlike the current occupant of the White House, and his staff, actually went to war and risked his life for this country! When will people in the US wake up and finally realize that the Repugnant party is all about lies and deception?! They are not moral -- they are amoral!

[Atlantic2752]

What a surprise, the sleeze is back... they need to get a life

[pdun1]

Fair Enough! Let's just put Murtha's military record up against George W Bush's. That should settle everything.

[pdun1]

Fair Enough! Let's just put Murtha's military record up against George W Bush's. That should settle everything.

[wvce]

All I can say is that if the American people believe this *** again, they *** well deserve whatever they get.

[soci-2009]

One pix is worth a thousand words.

In todays lingo = Graphic Sound Bite

Next time Repubs say "cut and run" when honest discussion is attempted - just show a picture of a vet without legs - they were sacrificed for lies - and now they can't run.

[aristotle11]

Unfortunately, that Republican sleeze does win them elections. People are manipulated by the negative ads.

[cymraes1-2009]

So how does Murtha's military record match up to George W. Bush's record?? hmm??

[garyrr-2009]

The truth needs to come out about Murtha%u2019s military record and ABSCAM. If Murtha has been honest with us, he has nothing to fear. The Vets don%u2019t create forged documents.

[ericdobbs]

"The Vets don%u2019t create forged documents."
We are talking about Republicans here. Money. Anything can be forged on the orders of Dr. Goebbels (Rove), and you can bet there will be no audit trail.

[wood_worth]

Looks like the Republicans have got this election sewed up. With every Dem. congressman and senator runniing against George Bush, their opponents are working to beat them. Great strategy. At least after the 08 elections we'll be rid of YEHAW Dean

[themooniac]

Same ol' scumbag Republican tactics. They should stick to what they do best - hitting on teenage Congressional pages!!

[itchybrain]

Look at the bright side. We can now torture the swift boaters into telling the truth.

[themooniac]

Exactly, now all we have to do is get them a flight from Florida to Gitmo.

[mh4cbs1]

Lets see if CBS and the rest of the corporate media give the "swift-boaters" the platform to do it again.
In 2004, mainsteam media allowed these lying jackals to taqke down Kerry. They claimed "both sides" should have equal time. I didn't notice that CBS gave the Anti-War movement equal time, when we had hundreds of thousands in the streets of DC and NYC. We were ignored while instead they acted as Bush cheerleaders for War, even though our warnings of Bush Lies proved true.
Corporate media is selective in who they give voice to.
Lets see if they let the swift-boaters do it again. They don't need to give known liars equal time to slander other veterans with their lies. Or does CBS have other motives?

[garyrr-2009]

The Vets don%u2019t put out anything they can%u2019t back up. They must have something good. Murtha%u2019s history.

[bobverick]

I am a disabled Iraqi veteran, Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, who lives in Pennsylvania's District 12, Murtha's district. Murtha has brought this on himself with his comments about Iraq and the Pendleton 8. Many of his constituents, including myself, who supported him for many years are discouraged with him. We hired him to speak for us and he turned his back on us for money and a bigger office in DC. So now it is time for us to thank him for his service and retire him. Also the former Supreme Allied Commander, Wesley Clark, did not recieve a very warm welcome from the veterans of Murtha's home county. You notice CBS didn't even mention his name in the article.

[boba2222]

Hmm? Who are we to believe?, the ex-alcholic politian, with a tendency to not tell the truth as the recent NIE reports shows, or Murtha the decorated vet and friend of the average soldier?

The man who sent them into war without the correct troop levels, equipment and body armor, and no plan to keep the peace, or the veteran congressman who has worked with the Pentagon and fought for more money for defense and more body armor for our troops? A real brain teaser?

This time around Swift Boaters will quickly be seen for the sleeze that they are. Karl Rove has no shame and exemplifies this adminstrations hipocracy. They have a child predator heading the Republicans dept. with thier anti-predator anti-pervert legislation another one in homeland security. Leaking classified information to smear anyone who disagrees with thier wrong policies. Lieing to us to get us into Iraq and lieing now on how things are going...all with no oversight from a rubber stamp REPUBLICAN congress....Time to throw the bums out!

[uscgx2]

Swiftees are "repugnican" jackals, lying backbiters working in packs, the only way they could ever take down better people than they are.
Voters should take note of the sort of scavengers, chickenhawks, war profiteers, sexploiters and other bottom-dwellers that lead and make up the 'pugnican party these days.

[davewinps-2009]

Of course, the Swifties are back, these defenders of the (would be) King.

It's election time, once again the 'peasants' are storming the palace, and the nefarious branch of the Republican party is stalking the countryside like the Klan of the 20's.

Of course, back then, when the Klan virtually ran the Republican party in some parts of the country, the party claims no affiliation.

These are desparate times for the Decider. We can look forward to massive voting irregularities, as well.

[drgoodwin12]

The Swiftees and The Rovettes when ever any honesty or integrtity surfaces they come singing they same old songs of destroy the mans character.With the recent resignatation of Foley and all the republicans who were complicit in keeping silent about.It is time for a real investigation an independent investigation that produces results prior to election day of the Rovettes and Swiftees.Namely,Boehner,Hastert and Alexander who kept silent about Foley since last year.Which is more heinous complicity in attempted child molestion or speaking what you think about the Iraq war.Even Barney knows the answer to that one.

[asfdave]

I served as a swift boat officer in viet nam. I know many others who served with distiction and honor. "lying jackal sleaze " Hmm I think that is insulting and harsh to describe swift boat veterans in that manner,please rethink how you describe loyal veterans who served with honor

[ggross56]

I blog at Murtha Must Go because John Murtha threw the Constitution out the window when he accused the Haditha Marines of "killing innocent Iraqis in cold blood" without even having been briefed on the matter. In fact, we posted that Gen. Hagee didn't brief him until a week after he made his initial accusations.

The last I looked, American citizens were guaranteed the right to due process, a fair trial governed by the rules of evidence. Murtha didn't give the Haditha Marines that processs because he didn't even wait for the investigation to finish or to have them charged.

I ridiculed John Murtha last fall on my Let Freedom Ring Blog for his immediate redeployment nonsense but I didn't get upset with him because I knew that 'proposal' wouldn't get any consideration from serious people.

When Murtha played judge, jury & executioner, it became personal.

Frankly, I don't give a *** what his military record is if he's willing to throw innocent Marines to the wolves for political gain. I won't pay attention to him because he didn't care about the Constitution's foundational guarantees.

[bluestardad]

Unless you have served in the Military (hostile fire area) or registered for the draft your comments have limited credibility. The proponents of this war in Iraq ran out on their obligations to serve their country%u2019s military and now are screaming the loudest to keep our children in this bungled expedition.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[bluestardad]

God Bless Murtha,
Myself having lost family members in the Second World War, Family and Friends killed and wounded in Vietnam, Friends wounded in Panama, Children serving three combined combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, my perspective is that the entire middle east is not worth one drop of blood from my children, family, or friends.

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[mjv2944]

bluestar
You are correct. They are not worth one drop of American blood. This is more of the conservative BS that got us in this mess. VOTE OUT all incumbents, maybe even Murtha should go, although I think he is a patriot, maybe its time.

[russellvbrla]

Here we go again. A bunch of vietnam vets *** with politics again. Please, republican vietnam vets, stay out of politics. I understand your embarrassment at losing a war for your country, but don't try to make up for it by vicariously "fighting" a war in Iraq using the blood of our youth. Stay out of it. At least Murtha has the common sense to expose a losing war when he sees it. You lost a war and disgraced our country with your behavior 30 years ago. Don't do it again. And if you can't do that, then please at least try to win this war in Iraq. "Cutting and running" may not be the answer, but nether is "sitting and bleeding". Either destroy the enemy like you are supposed to do, or get the hell out of there.

[a1aaa1]

Are the "Swift Boat" types for real? I wonder why they haven't exposed George Bush's distorted military record? Could the Swift Boat Vets be any more Hypopcritical?

[meboard]

I heard the RNC is fielding a new hit group--swift boat veterans for pedophilia.

[omicronthree]

stopneofatbs- maybe you should quit blogging here and e-mail some little boys with Foley! Honestly! You bad mouth murtha yet, you support an administration headed by some little punk who used daddy's influence to hide from the war in the "Air National Guard." Heck, until then I never knew there was an "Air National Guard." I guess lil' George was going to lay down his life in defense of our country if the vietnamese decided to build jets out of bamboo and attack the U.S.

[omicronthree]

I was in Charlie Battery, 1/12 Field Artillery. Never saw combat, but I was willing had the need arisen.

[omicronthree]

anyone who approves of the current administration is an imbecile of the highest order!

[meboard]

jh6379, "Little Girl" is stopneofatbs' alter ego. And there's a lot of frustrated Little Girl in there!

[meboard]

That's it stopneofatbs, keep validating. It's good for you to keep letting it out. You'll be a recovered republican like me in no time!

[energyecon]

More GOP political wh0res who countenance pedophiles in the name of maintaining power.

All the hypocrisy of their 'family values' is laid bare, they have no moral compass. And most damning of all, they attempt to justify their moral bankruptcy by pointing the finger at the other side. Where is all their proud and profoundly empty rhetoric about 'values' now?

[grumpas]

Cheer up omicronthree at! It's pettiness like stopneofatbs displays that got a lot of us voters to quit voting Republican! When a political party worries more about *** and abortion more than they do corruption, greed and lies! It tells you something about the people's priotities or lack of them one! It does no good to argue with ignorance like he or she displays! They have ruined many a website with their hate filled venom! They are so bored with Georgie's infantile ramblings they have to find something creative to do!

[meboard]

No disapointment stopneofatbs, its quite entertaining to watch the vile spuw. Is your head twisting round as you type?

[bobverick]

Who are the war mongers and war profiters? John Murtha's brother made millions while lobbying for defense contractors. The best part, his brother was lobbying him, since he is a senior member of the defense appropiations committee. I believe that is called a "conflict of interest" and "war profiteering." That is good old Jack. He made his buck off the war he voted for and now that his families pockets are lined it is time to redeploy the soldiers home.

[hangelle]

Stopneofatbs - sweetie, get yourself some help. Nothing but extensive psychotherapy is going to fix what ails you! You can rail all you want, but let's face it. Our great GOP is bordering on self destruction, and its time for all great Republicans to face up to it and get things back in some semblance of order.

[tokra1]

How short are democrats memories? They seem to forget about Mel Rynolds, the Democrat from Illinois. He wasn't simply emailing 16-year-olds: he was having *** with them.

And Democratic hero Bill Clinton pardoned him in Clinton's corrupt last minute pardon. And there was NO outrage by Democrats. Yet Democrats want to put Foley in jail because of emails and instant messages?

Doesn't this prove the point that democrats don't care about the accusation or actions, all they care about is if someone is a Democrat or a Republican. They don't want to jail Foley because of his Internet activity, they want to jail Foley because he is a Republican and disagrees with their politics.

And the liberal media never blamed the whole Democratic party.
Nor were they outraged when Barney Frank's boyfriend was running a prostitution ring out of Frank's D.C. digs.
When a democrat does it - it is always a "private matter that shouldn't concern others". When a Republican does it - the Media is on it like white on rice.
Do you know how to say hypocrisy?

[hangelle]

When a democrat does it, he gets impeached, and rightly so. When a republican does it, what? We're supposed to disregard?

[talsian]

Anyone doubt the power of the GOP smear machine? If so then just read stopneofatbs posts. The GOP is great at creating little smear zombies to support the culture of corruption. It's all straight from the White House to Rush to the web. According to them, the real dangers in this country aren't the deficit, (interest alone has gone from being 10% of budget to 18% during bush's years) it's not dependence on foreign oil, the real dangers are.... ex-vets and flag burning. What the...?

[hangelle]

Actually, your unreasonableness speaks volumes.

[zykracosmos]

Swiftboaters and the Karl Rove dirty trick machine will find Murtha to be a formidable target. In fact, when Murtha gets through with them, they will be exposed as the neocon paid political servants that they are, and they will all have about as much credibility as Foley does today.

[meboard]

Folks, have you not dedused? Our "friend" stopneofatbs is actually Carl Rove. Hi Carl!

[talkingham]

Yeah and I guess it's Clinton's fault too that Republican Congressman Foley had to resign, and the first 3 republican speakers of the house or candidates for the postion during and after Clinton all resigned in disgrace. Amazing how the liberal media didn't jump on any of them and delve into their sexual exploits - but then Clinton is much better box office and rallies the republican base better than El Diablo according to "Dr." Falwell.

Keep your mad-on, 'cause everything bad in the world is all the fault of Clinton and those dirty liberals. Republicans use the "L" word as a substitute for the "N" word. Don't kid yourself, I grew up in and still live in the South where all the white folks have moved to the suburbs to avoid integration.

Yes, it's all Clinton's fault. (911, Congressmen Gingrich (man they gave him a free ride ride), gambler-moralist sec education B. Bennett, Delay, and now Foley.

[rharrin1]

stopneofatbs if the republicans remove their own why haven't they removed cheney and bush unless you think s-- with a girl is worst than lying to take this country to war just to fatten up their wallets and their GOOD OLD BOYS

what is wrong with us, I am a Viet Nam vet, very ashamed of all of swift boat critics, please shut up

[grannysue1]

So here we go again, maybe we should start swifiting the swifters, let's see we have corruption, *** scandles, Halliburton, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, the budget deficit, the Schievo debacle, Abranoff, and Cunningham, surly there must be something we can think of to let people know exactly just how these so called PATRIOTIC AMERICANS have lived their lives!They are the lowest form of scum and this administration invented them. They should be proud, all the while saying support our troops, so let's see how many amputees from IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN do you think they can slime, all the while riding around in their big SUV'S with their "support our troops" bumper sticker on it and their little American flags flying off the antenna! Doesn't it just make you a proud american to know that these folks are out there sliming members of the service and calling the ones who serve but are Democrats cut and runners??? Maybe we can find a U.N. investigative unit to come in and oversee our election to make sure it's ethical, just like we do with the third world countries, which this administration is hell bent on making us anyway. I think we should make Ney, Cunningham and Foley the keynote speakers at the Republicans next convention, with a big picture of Abranoff in the background smoking big cigars and holding wads of cash with his arm around Bush and Rove! Good luck to us Americans left that didn't drink the kool-aid. Thanks Grannysue

[gatordoc99]

The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth would try to prove Colin Powell and John F. Kennedy were traitors and cowards if they had come out against the war.

The are so maniacal in their beliefs that pretty much anyone who doesn't support the war, no matter the cost, no matter how failed it might be, is not really an American. They subscribe to the belief that the only real Americans are Republicans that support George W. Bush. They are, in fact, a political arm of the Bush administration designed to personally attack anyone who goes against them.

It is such a shame to think that men and women can go to fight for their country, return and give more service to their country by being politically active, only to be called traitors if they voice an opinion contrary to the hegemonic. They make me ill with their politically directed character assassination. How can veterans then believe they fight for freedom when they are not accorded that freedom as citizens? "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism," Thomas Jefferson