Need some educating here, re: Jack Murtha and coruption

[journalist3072]

So I was watching my local ABC evening news. And they did a story on the Murtha/Hoya showdown for House Majority Leader.

And they had a woman on who is with the Center for Responsibility in Politics (I think that was the name of the organization).

Anyway, this woman said that her organization has named Jack Murtha one of the most corrupt politicians in Washington, and she is very concerned about the message that it sends to the public, that Nancy Pelosi wants Murtha as House leader.

So, my question is, how has Jack Murtha earned this reputation as one of the most corrupt politicians in Washington (per this organization)?

What are the issues at work here?

[On Par]

1. There Was Some Smear Tactics When Murtha Came Out Against The War...

...something about his brother getting gov't contracts. But as someone who lives in his district, I've never read/heard of any corruption.

I'm sure people will expose any baggage you have if they don't want you as the Majority leader.

[Hugin]

2. Are you sure that is the name of the organization?

I can't find it listed.

Anyway, I'm sure this is BS.

[LA lady]

5. CREW

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

There's a lot on Murtha's wiki page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murtha

[Hugin]

11. I found it at about the time you posted...

Thanks.

Well, well... I'll have to read through this.

[shrdlu]

3. Is this some astroturf group?

[librechik]

4. earmarks love him

and they somehow find their way into his district. Apparently there are drawbacks to being "close to the military industrial complex."

http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=156

and he unfortunately was a little too involved in the ABSCAM investigations (bribe taking congresscritters back in the 80s)

That was long ago, though.

He's no improvement in some ways on Hoyer. They are both in it to the eyeballs.

[journalist3072]

8. Ok, thanks for that. I was really curious. eom

[DURHAM D]

6. Probably Melanie Sloan - CREW.

They are the group that put him and Maxine Waters on a list of the 20 most corrupt politicians. Apparently Murtha is very good at earmarks (esp. for his brother).

I think CREW is a Soros funded group. They were involved in the Foley outing - gave info to FBI.

[Mass]

7. CREW

CREW has him among 5 congresspeople to keep an eye on, aside for the 15 most corrupted people in Congress.

[truedelphi]

9. I know nothing about this BUT anyone can create a group

with a high and fancy sounding name.

You need the money for a telephone line installation, ditto a phone machine, a voice recording that includes the newly created name,

VOILA I am now the President of Democrats Against Cat Mites... (In a worser mood, I would have become Pres. of Democrats against CATS but Fluffly has been sweet today...)

You'll be called on your group if you intrude on the turf of an already established group - I could not for instance become The President of The American Federation of Teachers.


this is one thing that makes voting hard - you read all the endorsements about a various candidate or issue, and then have to really stop and think about names you are reading. IS the Kalamazoo Federation of Primary School Teachers really an offshoot of a legitimate group or some local pedophiles' hoopla to get another (Repuke) pedophile in office.

Takes some work. Same with watching and listening to the media.

[DURHAM D]

13. CREW is a legitimate group. They are all about

finding corruption and corrupt office holders. They are not a bunch of crazies. This info (bad info) has been out there for some time about Murtha.

I assume that for Pelosi he is the lesser of two evils. She may have extracted some serious promises from Murtha to put a lid of his activities from here on out.

[WilliamPitt]

10. My understanding

is that he has a very cozy relationship with K Street, and uses his pork-getting powers to get what he wants. I have nothing to back this up except a memory of having read this a few places, so you should dig into it on your own.

[Nite Owl]

12. Here's the link

http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/murtha.php

[troublemaker]

14. I find the ABSCAM video hard to watch

Fox news was showing excerpts a while back and I tracked down the full tape to see how out of context the snippets were. (Not very) Watched the whole hour and did not come away from it with a good feeling.

The video is hosted on the internet by a RW source because who else is going to archive an full hour of video to make a dem war opponent look bad? (I assume they put it up when he cam out against the war.) But the tape is the tape. Murtha wasn't charged with a crime, but his approach to being offered bribes is less than inspiring. His innocence is technical—he was willing to sit around while bribes were discussed and suggest things to do with the money that wouldn’t require him to take possession of it personally, etc.

Innocent, guilty, shady or just misunderstood, it doesn't matter. I do not want to be watching this damn tape on TV for the next two years, on top of whatever else gets trotted out.

The point is, to an average person of goodwill the tape looks awful. This is not a comment on Jack Murtha's moral worthiness, but on the appearance of impropriety.

The guy is a hero on the war but damaged goods for house leadership purposes.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2131539854655700584&q=abscam&hl=en