(OH Cong.) Boccieri: Schmidt, Bubp off mark with comments

John Boccieri's district is in East Central Ohio.
http://www.timesreporter.com/left.php?ID=48075&r=2

COLUMBUS – State Rep. John Boccieri, D-New Middletown, an Iraq War veteran, said he is disappointed in his former colleague of the Ohio House and now Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio.

(snip)
Boccieri, who returned in September from his fourth tour in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, said, “My colleague, Rep. Bubp, is out of line and so was Congresswoman Schmidt. To call a decorated serviceman a coward because he shares a differing view about Iraq War policy demeans all veterans and soldiers in uniform today.”

(snip)
“Their style of politics attempts to demean the character of people with different opinions and brand them as unpatriotic,” Boccieri said in a news release. “I find it ironic that at a time when American soldiers are fighting for democracy in Iraq, we are experiencing such a confining view of democracy right here in our own country. Debate is healthy and is at the core of a robust democracy. The debate about Iraq is appropriate and verbal attacks waged against a decorated veteran who chose to put his life on the line for all of us is cheap and insulting.”

(snip)
“I have the utmost respect for State Rep. Bubp’s service to our country and would share this same sentiment if I felt he was being unjustly attacked,” Boccieri said. “Rep. Bubp should follow the lead of a regretful congresswoman – Jean Schmidt – and rescind his disparaging remarks made to Congressman Murtha, and in my judgment, all of America’s veterans.”

Thought I heard that on one of the news channels Tuesday.

Yes AngryOldDem, Bubp denies he said what Mean Jean claimed. See below.


First though please everyone go DU this AP article from yesterday:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_co/iraq_frelinghuysen


As expected, MSM fell for the GOP stunt last week in Congress to target John Murtha and Democrats against an open debate about the Iraq War and US troops.

An AP News writer. Donna de la Cruz, inaccurately wrote that John Murtha and the Democrats called for the immediate withdrawal of US Troops. It is framed as an apparent pro-GOP spin to "protect" New Jersey Republican Representative, Rodney Frelinghuysen, against ads by the "liberal group", MoveON.org. Ultimately, the article by AP News is "labeling" Democrats as unsupportive of US troops in Iraq.

The following excerpts were taken from the AP News article;

N.J. Lawmaker Targeted for Iraq Comments

By DONNA DE LA CRUZ, Associated Press Writer

"WASHINGTON - New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (news, bio, voting record) is among eight Republican congressmen targeted by a liberal advocacy group for criticizing a call for American troops to immediately withdraw from Iraq.

...snip...

Last Thursday, Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), D-Pa., called for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The next day, the Republican-controlled House hastily arranged for a vote on Murtha's resolution. Democrats accused Republicans of orchestrating a political stunt that prohibited thoughtful debate on the issue, and nearly all voted against the measure. The final tally was 403 against Murtha's resolution, and 3 in favor of it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_co/iraq_frelinghuysen

Cruz and AP inaccurately reported the news (intentionally, imo), as the GOP had hoped. In truth,

1. The Hunter Resolution was voted on!
2. It was the Hunter Resolution that called for the "IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL" of US Troops, NOT the Murtha Resolution.
3. The Stunter-Hunter Resolution was a GOP effort to preempt debate against the "Murtha Resolution." Aside from opening a true debate, the Murtha Resolution called for 'redeployment' of US troops outside Iraq in a strategic withdrawal over a course of time, including more political and diplomatic engagement in the region.
4. John Murtha actually VOTED AGAINST the HUNTER RESOLUTION!


Please contact The Associated Press:
Headquarters
450 W. 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001


EMAIL: info@ap.org
Main Number: 212-621-1500

This was yesterday and a number of us wrote but the AP piece is still uncorrected.

Even if you don't feel like writing, please go to the link above and rate it down!

______________________________________

And as far as Rep. Bubp denying he said what Mean Jean said he said here's an article from yesterdays Cincinnati Enquirer:

Schmidt in war of words
Rookie lawmaker's 'coward' remarks ricochet

- snip -

...Danny Bubp, a freshman state representative who is a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, told The Enquirer that he never mentioned Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., by name when talking with Schmidt, and he would never call a fellow Marine a coward.

"The unfortunate thing about all of that is that her choice of words on the floor of the House - I don't know, she's a freshman, she had one minute.

"Unfortunately, they came out wrong," said Bubp, R-West Union...

No excuse.

I know if I had been misrepresented that way, I would also be calling her out for an apology and another formal retraction. And I would not mince words to hide my anger.

These things just "don't happen". They used this moment to pump up their pathetic RW base with the "dems hate the military meme".