Kerry On "Swift Boating" of Jack Murtha

(Repeat from GD).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5392265

“I won’t stand for the ‘swift boating’ of Jack Murtha. It disgusts me that a bunch of guys who have never put on the uniform of their country venomously turn their guns on a Marine who came home from Vietnam with a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. No matter what J.D. Hayworth says, there is no sterner stuff than the backbone and courage that defines Jack Murtha’s character and conscience.

“You know why the Republicans are engaged in the lowest form of smear and fear politics? Because they’re afraid of actually debating a senior congressman who has advised presidents of both parties on military matters. They’re afraid to debate a decorated veteran who lives and breathes the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor. They’re terrified of actually leveling with the American people about the way they misled America into war, and admitting they have no clear plan to finish the job and get our troops home. Whether you agree with Jack Murtha’s policy or not is irrelevant. The truth is there is a better course for our troops and for America in Iraq, and I am going to keep fighting until we take that course for the good of our country.

“Instead of letting his cronies run their mouths, the President for once should stop his allies from doing to Jack Murtha what he set them loose to do to John McCain in South Carolina and Max Cleland in Georgia. The President should finally find the courage to debate the real issue instead of destroying anyone who speaks truth to power as they see it. It’s time for Americans to stand up, fight back, and make it clear it’s unacceptable to do this to any leader of any party anywhere in our country.”

He will be speaking to this on the floor of the Senate today.

The BackLash Cometh....

A uniter, not a divider. Go President Kerry!

If all the Democrats would have stood with Kerry and denounced the SBVT and called on Bush/Cheney to reject this it could have helped. Where was the level of outrage when Rep delegates wore purple heart band aids? Remember the outrage the Reps drummed up about using Wellstone's funeral politically (or as we would say to celebrate Wellstone's life and values.

They created outrage out of nothing, the party and the media ignored the Rep bad behavior. The call against this could have come from anyone but John Kerry - it needed to be a defense of him questioning the decency of those people.

This is just and necessary....I expect nothing less. :patriot:

That's what should be done. Good to see the Dems on game when they actually think things through. The GOP trashes the Dem because they fear the idea. All the Dems need do is trash the trashers and put the spotlight and the issue back in their court.

Bush couldn't explain why we should be in Iraq in a million years. Any surrogates trying to do better WHATEVER the value of their ideas, cannot come close to making up for that failure, anymore than they have ANY input on the failure of performance and any ability to change the course of the implementation of war.

:applause: Let 'em have it!

Democratic leaders need to rub the Swift-Liars' faces in their putrid swill, just like Kerry did so well.

a bet that they will distort and further lie about Kerry's words?

I heard Kerry's Hardball remarks about Murtha and about what Murtha said ... i thought Kerry's comments were respectful and i've previously said so ...

if Kerry is speaking about Murtha today on the Senate floor, here is what i would like to hear him say ... most of the following are direct quotes from Murtha ... i have removed those statements that draw conclusions (included at the end of this post) about "what the policy should be" and retained statements that provided facts or assessments about what was happening in Iraq or in this country regarding the war ... if Kerry is sincere in defending Murtha, he should clearly state exactly where he agrees with him ... before we debate what the policy should be, we should decide whether we agree or disagree on the facts ...

Here are the statements Murtha made yesterday that led him to the policy position he advocated - I would like to know whether Kerry agrees or disagrees with these statements ... it would be unfortunate if Kerry chose to hide from discussing the foundation of Murtha's position and instead focussed primarily on his conclusions ... my point, btw, is not to suggest Kerry hasn't commented on some of these issues previously ... my point is, out of respect for Murtha and those who agree with him, Kerry should specifically state whether he agrees or disagrees with the following:


Here were the conclusions Murtha reached based on the above observations ... i intentionally separated the conclusions from the "facts" shown above to see if we could at least agree on a starting point ...

"no schedule which can be changed; nothing that's controlled by the Iraqis; this is an IMMEDIATELY REDEPLOYMENT of our American forces because they have become the target"

well said.

But the dem leaders, while saying Murtha is a good man and all, will refuse to endorse his policy.

the point i was trying to make was that even those who don't agree we should leave immediately should agree with Murtha's underlying "facts" ...

it's wrong for Democrats to say they back him and to refuse to either state they agree or disagree with his underlying arguments ... it's certainly possible to look at the same set of facts and reach different conclusions ...

but i don't think the Senate Democrats would even be willing to tell the American people the truth on many of the issues Murtha raised ...

for example, has Kerry every acknowledged that 80% of the Iraqi people want us to leave? if he doesn't agree with the "fact", then he should say why ... but if he believes the statement to be true, he should explain why he believes we have a right to remain in Iraq another 12 to 15 months in spite of the wishes of the Iraqi people ...

my point is that the only way to make progress on our differences is to clearly state what we believe the current situation is and how we see the situation evolving ... if all we do is focus on the ultimate conclusion we reach, we'll never achieve any kind of unity ... the process of reconciliation requires a step-by-step approach to finding common ground ... that just ain't happening at all right now ...

complementing Murtha on his integrity is all warm and fuzzy but it does nothing to help heal the rifts within the party ... i'm glad the Party stood behind his "right" to speak his mind; what they need to do next is address each and every point he raised ... don't hold your breath ...

Kerry Responds to Murtha Attacks on the Senate Floor, Debate Rages
November 18th, 2005

John Kerry just delivered a scathing speech on the Senate floor decrying the ’swift boat’ style attacks on Jack Murtha. The floor speech has facilitated a bit of raging debate between Senator Jon Kyl and John Kerry. The back and forth was quite heated.

The following is the text of Kerry’s floor speech:

Mr. President, yesterday, Jack Murtha, a respected congressman on military matters, and former Marine Drill Sergeant and decorated Vietnam veteran, spoke out on our policy in Iraq. He didn’t come to that moment lightly. He spoke his mind and spoke his heart out of love for his country and support for our troops. I am not going to stand for a swift boat attack strategy against Jack Murtha.

It disgusts me that a bunch of guys who have never put on the uniform of their country venomously turn their guns on a marine who served his country heroically in Vietnam and has been serving heroically in Congress ever since.

No matter what J.D. Hayworth says, there is no sterner stuff than the backbone and courage that defines Jack Murtha’s character and conscience.

Dennis Hastert — the Speaker of the House who never served — called Jack Murtha a coward and accused him of wanting to cut and run. Well let me tell you, Jack Murtha wasn’t a coward when he put himself in harm’s way for his country in Vietnam and earned two purple hearts — he was a patriot then, and he is a patriot today. Jack Murtha didn’t cut and run when his courage in combat earned him a Bronze Star, and his voice should be heard, not silenced by those who still today cut and run from the truth.

Just a day after Dick Cheney, who had 5 deferments from Vietnam, accused Democrats of being unpatriotic — the White House accused Jack Murtha of surrendering. Jack Murtha served 37 years in the Marine Corps. He doesn’t know how to surrender — not to enemy combatants, and not to politicians in Washington who say speaking his conscience is unpatriotic.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1197

forth with Senator Kyle.

"Just a day after Dick Cheney, who had 5 deferments from Vietnam, accused Democrats of being unpatriotic — the White House accused Jack Murtha of surrendering. Jack Murtha served 37 years in the Marine Corps. He doesn’t know how to surrender "

Dick Cheney, our hero. What an asshole

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

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After reading the text of Kerry's floor speech, all I can say is "Wow!" Looks like the junior Senator from the great state of Massachusetts ate his Wheaties this morning.

I am particularly pleased that he made reference to Cheney's and Hastert's lack of service. Keep it up, John. People will start to sit up and take notice, realizing how morally bankrupt the Bush cabal and their policies are.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/093004X.shtml

proves Murtha is right. This is destroying our military and wrecking our economy to boot. Please pay special attention to the final part of the article. Thanks Ray and thanks Jack !

R&K

I hope everyone who was attacking him over Murtha takes a fucking breath before they go batshit on a Democrat the next time.

deserve such a title? How can this be, so many go on and on about dems being nothing but spineless wimps..

Way to go John, its never too late.

A breath of fresh air from the "too little, too late" talk. :hi:

Now THAT'S telling the mofos! We want MORE of this!

n/t