Unofficial John Murtha Thread: Good, Bad and Ugly

[Demeter]

Here's a compilation of articles on John Murtha's bid for Majority Leader of the House, and Nancy Pelosi's support of that bid.
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First, from the man himself:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-john-murtha/dear-democratic-colleague_b_34001.html

Dear Democratic Colleague,

Yesterday, I received the endorsement of Speaker-elect Pelosi in the race for House Majority Leader, and I am deeply gratified.

Last week the American people spoke and clearly demanded change. We now have a tremendous opportunity to show them that we can deliver, work together, and fix the real problems affecting so many Americans, including implementing Speaker-elect Pelosi's Six for '06 agenda.


I want to point out that we could not have won the Majority without the voices of so many of you who spoke out ahead of me on the issue of the Iraq war.

It is the outspokenness of so many of you on Iraq that has ensured a Democratic Majority. You helped me to develop the message which was so instrumental in breaking the perceived barrier Democrats had on national security issues. The American People have put their faith in Democrats to lead the country on a change in policy on the Iraq war, which was the key issue in this election.

The war in Iraq must remain our number one priority until it is resolved.

I have spent 32 years in Congress working with Democrats and Republicans to find solutions on the major issues our country has faced. I am up to the challenge that is before us. If chosen as your Majority Leader, I look forward to working with each and every one of you and our new Speaker to chart a new direction for our country immediately upon convening the 110th Congress.

By overwhelmingly electing a Democratic Majority, Americans have placed their trust in the Democratic Party. With your help, we can ensure a unified Caucus and a unified message to the American people.

Sincerely,
John P. Murtha

Member of Congress
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Next, the Washington Post scolds Nancy P. and Murtha, what you'd call a two-fer:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300722.html?referrer=email


In Backing Murtha, Pelosi Draws Fire
Her Ethics Vow Is Questioned

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 14, 2006; A01



House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Rep. John P. Murtha's bid for House majority leader set off a furor yesterday on Capitol Hill, with critics charging that she is undercutting her pledge to clean up corruption by backing a veteran lawmaker who they say has repeatedly skirted ethical boundaries...Pelosi (D-Calif.) directly intervened in the heated contest between Murtha (D-Pa.) and House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) on Sunday by circulating a letter to Democratic lawmakers. The letter voiced her support for Murtha and put her prestige on the line in a closely fought leadership battle. Some Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups say they are baffled that Pelosi would go out of her way to back Murtha's candidacy after pledging to make the new 110th Congress the most ethical and corruption-free in history.

Murtha, a longtime senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, has battled accusations over the years that he has traded federal spending for campaign contributions, that he has abused his post as ranking party member on the Appropriations defense subcommittee, and that he has stood in the way of ethics investigations. Those charges come on top of Murtha's involvement 26 years ago in the FBI's Abscam bribery sting.

Pelosi said in her letter that she was swayed to endorse Murtha, a longtime ally, by his early call for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Pelosi aides and Murtha supporters said the charges against him are trivial or untrue. A senior Pelosi aide conceded that her endorsement is risky but said that she had to show her loyalty to Murtha, who has been steadfastly loyal to her.

....details on massive allegations appear here....

Hoyer and Pelosi have had a strained relationship since Hoyer competed with her in 2001 for the post of minority whip; Murtha managed her winning campaign. The urge to stay loyal to the presumed new Democratic speaker -- as well as to curry favor to obtain committee assignments -- will bring a substantial number of votes to Murtha, one of his supporters said.

Hoyer supporters continue to say he has more than enough votes to prevail, regardless of Pelosi's wishes. Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.) said Pelosi timed her endorsement to come out after the votes were solidified, giving a nod to Murtha for the sake of loyalty but doing little to sway the election. "This race is already a done deal," agreed Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah).

Staff writer Charles Babington contributed to this report.

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Huffington Post supports Murtha over Hoyer, courtesy of Blogger Flavia Colgan:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/flavia-colgan/murtha-v-hoyer-it-comes_b_34013.html

Murtha v. Hoyer: It Comes Down to Authenticity


When the new Congress convenes in January, the first big battle won't be with Republicans, but with themselves. As expected, Congressman Jack Murtha announced that he will challenge current Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for the Majority Leader role. Unexpectedly, incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi has decided to test-drive her newfound influence by backing Jack, setting up a real battle for the second-most powerful position in the House of Representatives.

There are a lot of reasons to like Murtha for the role, and not so many to favor Hoyer.

First, the obvious. Jack Murtha had the foresight to challenge the President strongly on Iraq, when too many in his party tried to blur the lines with wishy-washy proposals, including Hoyer. Late last year, Murtha observed that the current course in Iraq is not working, and since the President seemed uninterested in setting forth a new course with achievable and measurable goals, troops should begin a modified redeployment following Iraqi elections that was consistent with their safety. Further, he said, while the US should continue to engage in a diplomatic policy to help Iraqis stand on their own two feet, a quick-strike force should remain in the region, and US Marines should maintain a presence just over the horizon, to ensure that the country does not destabilize.

In the end, this was not only good politics, as it opened the door to strongly oppose the Administration on Iraq, but now it seems that the non-partisan commission led by former Secretary of State Baker will propose, essentially, the same thing.

So, chalk up a point for Murtha for credibility on the most important issue in the nation.

But, Murtha offers so much more than that.

Steny Hoyer is the ultimate DC-insider. While being very open about his efforts to cozy up to big business lobbyists on K Street, Hoyer was less forthcoming about doing the bidding of corporate America in exchange for campaign donations. While soliciting multi-thousand dollar checks, Hoyer refused to do his job as Minority Whip, sitting out the battle over the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), voting for the credit card industry written bankruptcy reform bill, and the Cheney energy bill. To be sure, Hoyer is smooth on television - always keeping to his talking points.

This is exactly what Americans said they do not want, in the midterm elections. In the bellweather of Ohio, progressive firebrand Sherrod Brown won a Senate seat railing against unfair trade agreements and for more progressive economics. In red Montana, Jon Tester wasn't the choice of party insiders to carry the Democratic banner, but in the end it was his rough around the edges persona that endeared him to voters. The anti-politician, Jim Webb, was the choice of Virginians for Senate, over the slick career pol, George Allen. Webb was never measured in what he said about the war - he spoke his mind, and voters respected that.

When looking at Jack Murtha, he combines the best of all three. Watching him on television, no one can say Murtha is slick, or reciting talking points. He's emotional, he thinks on his feet, and sometimes, yes, he even stumbles over a word or two. It's called authenticity. Like Tester, he's a gruff man's man, who likes his guns and doesn't want to "take them away" from anyone. Like Webb, as a Marine, Murtha has the credibility to talk bluntly about getting out of Iraq. Like Brown, Murtha is unabashed in his support for blue collar workers.

If Democrats are smart, they'll follow the voters' desires and Nancy Pelosi's lead in supporting Jack Murtha for Majority Leader. It won't win them many fans in corporate America, who are banking on Steny Hoyer to carry their water. It won't win Democrats many friends among the chattering class which still won't say America needs to get out of Iraq. Political consultants who are always hung up on talking points won't like the freewheeling and honest Murtha. No, but electing Murtha to Majority Leader will win Democrats the only people who ultimately matter - the voters.

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AND LASTLY, THE ANONYMOUS WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL SUPPORTS HOYER FOR HIS "DC BELT-WAYS"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111301038.html?referrer=email

A Choice for Democrats
Steny Hoyer should be the new House majority leader.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006; A30



LOYALTY IS an admirable quality, but sometimes it can be taken too far. That is the case with the decision by the incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to offer a public endorsement of the bid of Pennsylvania Rep. John P. Murtha (D) to become majority leader. Ms. Pelosi's preference for Mr. Murtha was no secret; he managed her campaign for minority leader against Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), now Mr. Murtha's rival for the majority leader post. What was surprising was that Ms. Pelosi would weigh in publicly on Mr. Murtha's behalf, albeit -- as she pointedly noted at the beginning of her letter -- in response to his request.

On the merits, Mr. Hoyer is by far the better choice for the job. He is a moderate and highly capable legislator whose selection would reinforce Ms. Pelosi's announced commitment to govern from the center.

Mr. Murtha's candidacy is troubling for several reasons, beginning with his position on the war in Iraq. A former Marine, Mr. Murtha deserves credit for sounding an alarm about the deteriorating situation a year ago. But his descriptions of the stakes there have been consistently unrealistic, and his solutions irresponsible. Just last week he denied that the United States was fighting terrorism in Iraq, though al-Qaeda is known to play a major part in the insurgency. He said the United States should abandon even the effort to train the Iraqi army and should "redeploy as soon as practicable," an extreme step that most congressional Democrats oppose. He claimed that "stability in the Middle East, stability in Iraq," would come from such an abrupt withdrawal; in fact, virtually all Iraqi and Middle Eastern leaders have said that it would lead to a greatly escalated conflict that could spread through the region.

Mr. Murtha would also be the wrong choice as majority leader after an election in which a large number of voters expressed unhappiness with Washington business as usual. Mr. Murtha has been a force against stronger ethics and lobbying rules. He was one of just four Democrats whose votes helped kill a strong Democratic package of lobbying reforms this spring.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has been an avid participant in the orgy of earmarking, including numerous projects sought by a lobbying firm that employed his brother. During the Abscam congressional bribery investigation in 1980, Mr. Murtha was videotaped discussing a bribe with an undercover FBI agent. ("You know, we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't, you know," Mr. Murtha said.) He wasn't indicted, but it's fair to say the episode raised questions about his integrity.

Mr. Hoyer says he has the support of a majority of members of the Democratic caucus. We hope they aren't persuaded otherwise by Ms. Pelosi's letter.

[bemildred]

1. The Mighty Wurlitzer is really running flat out on this one, isn't it?

It reminds me a little of when Dean was running for DNC chair.

[Demeter]

2. It's a Bigger Tempest Than the Election

I'm inclined to say Give the lady what she wants. That is the essence of teamwork, following one's leader unless said leader is a certifable, W type.

The reasons for NOT going with Murtha are self-serving, it seems.

[bemildred]

3. I'm a lot more interested in Nancy kicking some ass, than

whatever issues they might manage to dig up on Murtha. The fact that it is suddenly so important to inform us about Murthas past is all you really need to know about the motives behind this.

[DURHAM D]

4. I am hoping a compromise candidate emerges from the

ashes of this battle. I have no idea who might be third in line but I hope such a person exists and that that person is neither too cozy with K Street or has earmarking issues.

[yellowcanine]

5. I think Hoyer is going to win easily. You notice that other Dems aren't exactly

scrambling to jump on the Murtha bandwagon. Hoyer had this sewn up months ago. He campaigned for and/or donated to many of the Dem Congressional candidates. It is basic bridge building work. Hoyer has done it, Murtha hasn't. Most will go for Hoyer, Pelosi's endorsement notwithstanding, which probaly came too late in the day to change many votes anyway. In fact, that is probably what she intended to happen.