In a damage control piece Thursday, Associated Press writer Kimberly Helfing attempted to portray Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha's last-minute use of high-profile advisor Tony Podesta as "shoring up" his support, characterized accusations directed at residents of his district as only targeting "some" of them, and failed to mention Murtha's opponent until the fifth paragraph.
The facts are that Murtha is not clearly ahead in the polls (ahead by not much here, behind by more here), that he may very well be behind in reality against challenger William Russell, and that Murtha directed his "racist" characterization at 12th District residents in general, not just "some" of them.
Here are the key paragraphs from Helfing's report:
Rep. John Murtha brought in a high-profile adviser and scrambled to raise money to shore up support against a GOP challenger who has gained momentum since Murtha said some residents of his western Pennsylvania home base were racist.
Tony Podesta, Pennsylvania manager for Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid and former President Clinton's 1996 re-election, said he drove to Murtha's hometown of Johnstown, Pa., on Monday. He described Murtha as a friend under attack and said he offered suggestions as a volunteer.
Murtha, a powerful 17-term Democrat, is being challenged by William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who moved from Virginia to Johnstown to run against him.
Murtha was considered safe for re-election until he recently told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." He apologized, but then later told WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, that "this whole area, years ago, was really redneck."
This week, Murtha - a decorated Vietnam veteran - sent out a fundraising appeal to the e-mail list of the liberal group MoveOn.org with the subject title "late breaking threat." He said because of his opposition to the Iraq war, he was a victim of "swiftboating."
Points:
- Murtha's description of Western Pennsylvania as "a racist area" isn't criticizing "some" residents, as Helfing claimed in the opening of her piece. It was clearly a generalized statement meant to apply to all of them.
- It's interesting that Murtha believes that MoveOn's mail list members won't be particularly bothered by his outrageous "racist" and "redneck" remarks. He's probably right. While they'll examine everystatement from a Republican in search of racist "code words" (like "tax cuts" and "community organizers"), a goodly number of MoveOn folks don't think anyhone from their party can be racist, even when they make obviously racist remarks.
- Murtha use of the term "swiftboating" is laughable, except in the sense that the word really refers to "telling the truth about Democrats," as the SwiftVets did with John Kerry in 2004.
If a GOP incumbent had made similar remarks and was in similar reelection trouble, the headlines would be more along the lines of "Incumbent GOP congressman's racist remarks have him trailing challenger." But the AP has a party to protect; Helfing is just doing her job.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
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Murtha and Obama can both file unemployment checks
October 30, 2008 - 23:28 ET by Lame CherryOh that's right, the people of Illinois will still be stuck with Obama past November.........until Patrick Fitzgerald and Hillary Clinton combine in payback and impeach Obama from the Senate.
Obama better heat up his German bunker for his exile as he is going to prison for vote and money fraud.
Maybe Murtha can be his house boy, serving Obama tropical drinks as they both tell of the Reich which was in the glorious days when Obama was messiah to the idiot mob.
agtG
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
That would be The 180 Day
October 31, 2008 - 06:47 ET by SickofLibsThat would be The 180 Day Reich not The Thousand Year Reich, correct?
Here's hoping this corrupt, senile and traitorous old ba$tard...
October 31, 2008 - 00:21 ET by R D Helm...goes down in a humiliating defeat next Tuesday.
I just wish the Marines could find a way to remove his worthless name from every existing record that placed his unworthy self in the company of true American heroes, such as my father, who served as a Marine for five years, four of which were served in Korea during the war.
John Murtha can ROT IN HELL for all I care.
-Dave
The MSM is the 21st Century version of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
»→ Here's hoping
October 31, 2008 - 00:26 ET by Cool ArrowHere's hoping one Haditha Marine hunts this fool down and publicly beats the living sh!t outta him.
Sounds good to me
October 31, 2008 - 00:37 ET by cocodrieSounds good to me
Poor Jack. Just 'cause
October 31, 2008 - 05:59 ET by motherbeltPoor Jack.
Just 'cause I'm a scab, everyone picks on me!
I read somewhere yesterday that Murtha had sent out a letter to his supporters saying he needed $1million for these last days to counter these "attacks."
I got a mailing from Russell, and I sent him a contribution, even though I'm not in that district.
I wonder if the DNC will come through for Murtha.
Good for you, mb!
October 31, 2008 - 08:10 ET by BlondeThis was linked on Drudge....describing Murtha's "plea" for a million bucks...poor baby is being "Swift Boated", LOL. Even Hillary is trying to help him out.
Hope he goes down gloriously in flames!
In his own words (19 seconds): This man is qualified to be VP?
»→ Hillary helping Murtha?
October 31, 2008 - 08:14 ET by Cool ArrowI had more respect for Hillary than that.
That's just smarmy
Broom Hilda is aiding Murtha?
October 31, 2008 - 17:03 ET by R D HelmOne would think she would be astute enough to stay as far away from him as possible.
How sad.
-Dave
The MSM is the 21st Century version of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
Murtha
October 31, 2008 - 00:42 ET by jaywlOnce a Marine, always a Marine the saying goes. It implies a lifelong trust and bond between men. It is not easily broken. Cowardice, immorality, and murder or other serious crimes come to mind as dissolvers of that bond. Murtha, on the other hand, set himself up as the judge of a fellow Marine's right to that bond and trust. He, personally and extra-judicially, found the Haditha Marines to be murderers, including the murder of children. He found them to be cowardly, because only cowards kill innocent women and children. And he indicted his Marine Corps for sending them into combat ill-trained and afraid. He was wrong. I have heard no apology and at this point it would be useless. I have always believed that we Marines would never presume to tell a fellow Marine that he or she has lost that honor. A Marine would know when the honor is lost or forfeited. He knows.
Good post. Thank-you for
October 31, 2008 - 00:52 ET by Carl KolchakGood post. Thank-you for your service, we are very proud of you. My dad was in the Army, and he and I were talking the other day about the Marine song that goes "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli." I was hoping you could help me out. He and I couldn't figure out when the Marines were at the shores of Tripoli. Can you assist?
Regards
»→ Funny you should ask, Carl
October 31, 2008 - 00:59 ET by Cool ArrowThe first trip the Marines took was to fight the Muslims who took Americans as Slaves and ship's cargo as booty.
The Arabs demanded protection money which the US Congress was evidently willing to pay rather than fight the Arabs.
Thomas Jefferson sent troops anyway.
This was the War against the Babary Pirates.
Right
October 31, 2008 - 01:10 ET by jaywlIt actually was a funny little war. But the little bastards stopped the bullshit, just like MooMooKadafi later.
»→ Correction
October 31, 2008 - 01:15 ET by Cool ArrowBarbary Pirates. (Babar is a French Elephant)
Murtha, furthermore
October 31, 2008 - 00:53 ET by Cool ArrowThat Murtha made his accusations out of a corrupt lust for political gain makes him even more disgusting.
His name now adorns bathroom walls whereas the names of many of his buddies are chiseled in black granite.
Kick
October 31, 2008 - 00:46 ET by ShanghaiRayKick his ass to the curb. Tired of seeing him on TV, standing next to his b*tch Pelosi spouting insane lies. Remember the old saying "the first hen to cackle is the one that laid the egg" this aptly applies to Murtha's racist/redneck gaffe...he was obviously speaking about himself and what lives in his own heart/mind and not the other good citizens of Pennslyvania. How in the hell does he know what people think? Maybe he was referring to his friends or supporters that he meets during his clandestine KKK meetings led by Senator Byrd are the ones he's actually thinking about.
Cue Bill Engvall voice. Hey
October 31, 2008 - 01:14 ET by Carl KolchakCue Bill Engvall voice.
Hey Murtha you want to badmouth Marines and accuse them of horrific acts when you don't know the facts and weren't there. Then you want to call people in your own district racist and rednecks? Sounds pretty stupid to me.
"Here's your sign"
What's really sad is this
October 31, 2008 - 02:09 ET by ckc1227What's really sad is that the race is as close as it is. It shouldn't be.
Obama's Economic plan: more taxes, more spending, more regulation. Prosperity here we come.
»→ Arnold Ziffel Murtha
October 31, 2008 - 05:19 ET by Cool ArrowIt's pathetic this pig will continue to pull a pension after he gets his screwtail butt out of the Senate.
But at least he will be gone.
Give Me A Break, PLEASE!!!
October 31, 2008 - 05:57 ET by thericoDwayne P. Theriot
I don't know about you, but if I worked for the MSM I would be pretty worn out by now. It's a non stop spin-fest trying to cover for these idiots on the left. I bet the people in the MSM are finally earning those big salaries now.
Code Pink Hero?
October 31, 2008 - 06:48 ET by Retired GeekJohn Murtha accepted awards from Code Pink. Who is Code Pink? It's the group that regularly harasses families visiting wounded service men and women at Walter Reed Hospital.
Code Pink and MFSO members (who do not elect him) get Murtha's attention. Iraq War veterans from his hometown (who have elected him) do not.
Murtha the Abscam Crook
October 31, 2008 - 06:50 ET by Retired GeekThe 54-minute Abscam tape shows Mr. Murtha functioning as a cynical backroom operator, telling the FBI undercover agents: "You know, you made an offer. It might be that I might change my mind someday." Later, he explained how that might happen: "I want to deal with you guys awhile before I make any transactions at all, period," he told the fake sheiks. "After we've done some business, well, then I might change my mind. I'm going to tell you this. If anybody can do it--I am not BSing you fellows--I can get it done my way. There's no question about it."
Mr. Murtha has said his only interest in the purported Saudi sheiks' money was that he hoped it would be invested in businesses in his district. But the full tape makes clear that Mr. Murtha was primarily interested in talking about such investments as a possible cover should he later decide to have the money transferred.
Oh, he only insulted (twice)
October 31, 2008 - 06:52 ET by SickofLibsOh, he only insulted (twice) SOME of his constituents - that's different.
Western Pennsyltuckians, come out of your hollows and throw this decrepit rat bastard out!
this guy is a Marine?? No way!!
October 31, 2008 - 10:47 ET by JIMMY1660he may have worn the uniform, but he is not a Marine. This Un American piece of Goat Dung should not be in any American Elected Office. Who elected this guy and why re-elect him.
allow me to Love America
The AP: trying to save a Democrat
October 31, 2008 - 12:48 ET by Mary Louise TurnerIf Mr. Murtha were a Republican, would the AP have tried to save his hide? No! Because of the "D" in his title, the AP, as with so many MSM outfits, is spinning for him. No wonder no one trusts the media anymore - so many double standards!
its very hard to unseat
October 31, 2008 - 16:26 ET by pepsiman127its very hard to unseat longtime scumbags like abscam murtha cuz of the pork delivery to the district..an boy does he excell at that. If people voted with integrity rather that whats in it for me mentality he couldnt get 10% of the vote vs. any shmo ./// go to hell murtha you dishonest disgrace to the uniform..