Fighting Dems Stand Up Against "Vicious Right Wing Smears"
The newest target of a swift boat attack? Rep. John Murtha, who is being sued for speaking out against some of the worst atrocities in Iraq.
As Glen Greenwald writes:
The lawsuit filed yesterday against Murtha based on his comments about the shootings of 24 civilians at Haditha is frivolous for multiple reasons. But worse than its legal inanities is the fact that its goal is so clearly to punish Murtha not for any supposed defamation, but because he is a prominent and effective political critic of the administration and of the war. He must therefore be smeared and punished, and that is clearly what this lawsuit is intended to accomplish.The most damning fact about the motives behind lawsuit is that it is Rep. Murtha -- and only Rep. Murtha -- who is being sued for the alleged defamation, despite the fact that countless other public figures, including a sitting Republican Congressman, Bush loyalist Rep. John Kline, voiced similar and even more extreme accusations about the Marines in Haditha. And yet none of them has been named in this lawsuit. That's because, plainly, this lawsuit is about punishing Murtha for his political views and attempting to deter anyone from publicly criticizing the war and the Bush administration.
Well it's not going to be that easy to tarnish John Murtha. He is fighting back and so are his brothers-in-arms. Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, who was himself the target of vicious Republican attacks in 2002, will travel to Pennsylvania during the next two days to defend U.S. Rep. John Murtha.
"I am not going to let vicious right wing smears against a good man go unanswered. I am honored to support my fellow Vietnam veteran as he runs for his 17th term in Congress," Cleland said. "I am outraged at elements of the Republican Party who still believe that defaming an opponent''s character is the best way to disagree with him. I am tired of men who never fought in combat, accusing men who bear the scars of war, of acting unpatriotically just because they disagree with our president. This type of politics is un-American and needs to stop."
From the Tribune-Democrat:
Rendell said the anti-Murtha faction will meet opposition at today’s press conference.“Boy, are they in for a surprise,” he said. “If they attack Jack Murtha, they are going to be attacked back.”
Dozens of veterans groups from the region are planning to attend.
Terry Menear, from the Somerset Vietnam Veterans Association, will be there.
“I think they ought to stay where they belong,” he said. “I am all for John Murtha.”
Murtha said critics are trying to take attention away from his mission to redeploy troops away from Iraq.
“I try not to be distracted from my mission, which is to change the direction of our country,” he said.
“It’s great to see so many people support me in my district.”
Dot Helsel, a resident of Stonycreek Township, supports Murtha and believes most residents in Johnstown still do.
“I think he’s done an outstanding job for the Johnstown region,” she said. “You don’t always agree with somebody, but I would say most people in this area like him.”
Helsel said she does not think protesters or negative attention will affect Murtha’s campaign.
“He’s been there too long now,” she said. “You can disagree with somebody but you don’t have to be disagreeable.”
Mary Miller of Johnstown, national president for the Association of Vietnam Veterans of America, said Murtha protesters have taken his words out of context.
“A lot of these people who are outing him have never served in the military and they don’t understand what it’s like,” said Miller, whose group is a service organization for the Vietnam Veterans of America. “It’s just upsetting, really. He’s always been for the veterans and the families. He’s done a lot.”
This isn't the first time Rep. Murtha has come under fire for his views on the war. It isn't the first time fellow soldiers have come forward to defend him, and it won't be the last.
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