Representative John Murtha (D-PA), in an encounter during House debate with Louis Gohmert (R-TX), challenged Gohmert with questions relating to his service, or lack of service, in the US Military.To Congressman John Murtha, I ask: What the hell does that have to do with the price of tea in China?The transcript follows....
Rep. Gohmert: Let me close by saying some have not had nice things to say about our colleague Mr. Murtha, and others wanting to pull out of Iraq quickly. I understand the faithful visitation that he does routinely. So i say thank god for his big heart. I say thank god for his compassion. Thank god for his visits to the wounded. Thank god for his ministering to grieving families. But thank god he was not here and prevailed after the bloodbaths at Normandy and in the Pacific or we would be here speaking Japanese or German. Thank you.
Rep. Murtha: Was the gentleman at any of those locations? Either at normandy or any of those locations?
Rep. Gohmert: You want to know which locations?
Rep. Murtha: Yeah. Normandy?
Rep. Murtha: I say were you there?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir. I wasn't.
Rep. Murtha: Were you in Vietnam?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir.
Rep. Murtha: Iraq?
Rep. Gohmert: No. I have been over there. I haven't been fighting.
Rep. Murtha: Boots on the ground?
Rep. Gohmert: I do admire the gentleman's compassion and all he has done for our wounded. He has done a great service that would be you, Mr. Murtha.
You may have served our country admirably in the past, but such service has no bearing on, and is in fact tarnished, by the disservice that you are performing today. Representative Gohmert was spot-on in his assessment of you. And rather than address the content of his criticism, which came a little uncomfortably close to the truth for your tastes, you proceed to utilize your past military service to evade the issues.
You, sir, in your self-interest, have parlayed a stellar military career into a cheap, two-bit marker for your and your party's political advancement.
Rather than "dressing down" Rep. Gohmert, all you have done with regard to your past and present actions is to dress down yourself, your military career, and your military comrades in arms who have served and are continuing to selflessly serve their country. You, sir, have made yourself into the "emporer who has no clothes."
You, Representative Jack Murtha, have turned yourself into a disgrace.
