Is Murtha An Ethics Blight For Democrats?

(CBS/AP)  In the House, a bitter battle is under way after Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would prefer Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania to be majority leader over her current lieutenant, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Critics accused Pelosi of backpedaling on a pledge to scrub the House of corruption.

The Democrats, after all, ran against what they called Republicans' "culture of corruption" this election cycle, CBS News' Capitol Hill reporter Evelyn Thomas observes.

Democrats also said they wanted to stop the avalanche of earmarks, which are inserted into bills just before they are voted on and which members often don't know about. Murtha is a very big believer in earmarks for his district and brings home lots of pork, Thomas says.

Murtha, a decorated Vietnam veteran who favors an immediate drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq, has also fought charges for years of using his senior status on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee to award favors to campaign contributors. He voted against a Democratic package of ethics reforms earlier this year and was touched by — but never charged in — the Abscam bribery scandal a quarter-century ago.

CBS News Capitol Hill reporter Allison Davis explains that the Ethics Committee cannot investigate an allegation of anything that occurred more than three Congresses ago. Since Murtha's supposed involvement in the Abscam sting doesn't fall within those time limits, it might not be as much of a sticking point in his candidacy for House Majority Leader as one might think. Yet Abscam continues to follow Murtha, as it has since the first allegation surfaced.

Another thing to look for on the Murtha front in the 110th Congress is possible allegations that Murtha colluded with another member of Congress to prevent the Ethics Committee from pursuing allegations into his wrongdoing relating to Abscam, Davis reports.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Democratic-leaning watchdog group, accused Pelosi of compromising her ethical standards by endorsing Murtha.

Shot back Jennifer Crider, Pelosi's spokeswoman: "House Democrats will lead the most honest and open Congress in history. Leader Pelosi has pledged to change the way business in Washington is done, and that's what she'll do."

The Baltimore Sun reports that Pelosi and her lieutenants are pushing Democrats to back Murtha. Some Democrats — freshmen and senior members eager to secure plum committee assignments — are said to be feeling intense pressure to commit themselves to Murtha or risk being blacklisted.

Rep.-elect Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who was summoned to Pelosi's office to explain why she wasn't backing Murtha, Hearst Newspapers reported.

"I thought we were above this type of swift-boating attack," Murtha said in a statement issued by his office, referring to unsubstantiated allegations about John Kerry's Vietnam War heroism from a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the 2004 presidential race. "This is not how we restore integrity and civility to the United States Congress."

Murtha appears to be the underdog to Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democrats' whip. Both Murtha and Hoyer claim to have commitments from a majority of Democrats, but the balloting Thursday will be secret and commitments often change.

[bejzip]

What do you expect. Crooks are the best that the Demo's have.

[pakaal]

Speaking of ABSCAM, it's interesting to note House Republican Richard Kelly's involvement in the Abscam case - looks like Kelly was a lot less reticent than Murtha. After stuffing his pockets with $25,000 Kelly turned to FBI undercover agents, saying "Does it show?"

Also interesting to note that it was another Democrat targeted in the sting, Senator Larry Pressler, who actually went to the FBI to report the 'attempted bribe'. When interviewed by Cronkite, who called him a hero, Pressler said "I do not consider myself a hero ... what have we come to if turning down a bribe is 'heroic'?"

Now THAT'S an honest man.

[pakaal]

ecrelin, you said "he is on tape in the ABSCAM investigation clearly soliciting bribes."

How does the actual quote on the FBI tape "I'm not interested at this point" translate to a solicitation?

Don't get me wrong, I have no interest in defending the guy but I have less interest in seeing lies perpetrated against anyone, Republican or Democrat.

[MrSviess]

Getcentered, get a clue. Obviously you are not concerned very far, ASSumptions like that don't sound too bright. What difference does time make, do your homework, he is on tape in the ABSCAM investigation clearly soliciting bribes, his charges were waived by party higher ups against vehement protests by the independent prosecutor, that's why he was never charged, he did not beat the charges and would have certainly been convicted. That is why very many of his fellow house democrats don't want him and you wouldn't either if you tried to think for a second.

[tejasdemo]

Hello crazy nazi right wing fruitcakes. How's are the meds working out today ? Lol

[tibu987]

Ethics? What are ethics? Is that an American word? So, here we go again. It is good that we keep these wrondoings (may be legal in Washington, but no favor to the American public), in the public eye. So Murtha is one of the big porkmeisters. We have to stay on top of these arrogant creeps and get them out of their ivory towers and out of the government.
A quotation that seems very apropo:

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)

Well said Ron. (Although I did not care for him and still think ill of him, he was as lousy an actor as he was a President).

And yes, I am a Democrat who has never voted for any Bush or any Republican. In politics sleaze does not fall to any one party.

[peterbaldwin-2009]

Abscam? Has the media no honor? First Kerry and now Murtha.

The Kerry attack backfired and so will this. The American people are sick and tired of the media doing the bidding of Karl Rove.

The Dems have to be wary of falling back into the Battered Wife Syndrome role of the appeasing, solicitous victim. They have fallen for the bipartisanship line (Bush promising not to be abusive if given another chance - "I promise") only to be slapped down by Bush with the Bolton push and now the judicial nominees.

That whole idea that the people want bipartisanship is a fiction created by Rove. The people want Bush stopped, which necessarily means gridlock for two years until a Dem President can be elected. The people want gridlock if that is what it will take to stop the bleeding and the looting.

[b4815]

What we have here is complete democratic hysteria....bout 2 find out the guys u voted 4 r a bunch of CROOKS!!!!!!!!!!

[pakaal]

Y'all crack me up. ANGRYliberal, I appreciate how much support you're giving Murtha. So much corruption, no wonder the Republicans on this comments board are rooting for him, he's just like one of the family!

[Syndicate]

Very hypocritical of the Dems, but what did you expect.