Defiant Murtha Lashes Out

Based on John Murtha's op-ed in the Johnstown Tribune Democrat, it's obvious that, not only isn't he repentant; he's downright defiant:

Since 1974, I have had the privilege of serving the people of our area in the U.S. Congress. My title is representative, and I try to represent our area and people well.

Under the Constitution, Congress has the sole responsibility for appropriating funds to the executive branch, and, as such, it is my constitutional responsibility to direct those federal funds.

Earmarks are a tool Congress uses to change the budget in a way that provides a more positive and direct impact at the national and local levels.

That's spin of the highest order. It's also a pile of BS. Earmarks in the hands of men like John Murtha are re-election slush funds:

Every entity that got an earmark appropriation from Murtha this year gave him a campaign contribution, according to a survey by the newspaper Roll Call and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The lucky 26 groups gave Murtha campaigns $413,000. He ensured that these friends got $114.5 million worth of projects from his appropriations committee.

You know that earmarks are a form of legalized corruption when a Soros-funded organization like CREW says that Murtha belongs on their list of most unethical legislators in Washington.

It's understatement to say that Murtha's op-ed isn't showing him in his best light. In fact, I think it's an indicator that he's feeling the heat we've been putting on him. Check out this BS from Murtha:

In Congress, I also have the privilege of serving our military as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. In August, the House passed a $459 billion Defense Appropriations Bill, and as chairman, my name is the only one that appears on this bill. I take this responsibility very seriously and I believe the bill we produced this year is one of the best we have ever passed.

Let Rep. Murtha talk about the defense budget increases if that's what he wants to do. It doesn't change the fact that Murtha trampled the Haditha Marines' constitutional rights when he accused them of "killing innocent civilians in cold blood", then covering it up. I've watched public officials do some utterly despicable things in my lifetime. I watched LBJ lie to the American people about winning in Vietnam. I watched Nixon lie about the coverup of Watergate. I've seen Dan Rostenkowski literally brag about the gifts and trips he got from lobbyists because he chaired the House Ways and Means Committee.

With that said, I can state without hesitation that Murtha's tossing the Haditha Marines' constitutional protections under the proverbial bus for political gain is the most reprehensible thing I've ever seen. Murtha deserves a serious reprimand for that alone. That's before considering his threatening Mike Rogers on the House floor. Rep. Rogers challenged the usefulness of the NDIC in Murtha's hometown of Johnstown. Rogers should know about that since he's a former FBI special agent.

It's time that Murtha was sent packing. It's time that We The People dumped a bunch of chlorine into the House's 'gene pool'.

Technorati: John Murtha,Corruption, Earmarks, Haditha Marines, NDIC, Mike Rogers, Constitution, Slush Fund, CREW

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog