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Murtha stonewalls another
Johnstown critic
Claims national role
 Finding
himself criticized by yet another Johnstown, PA resident -- Mrs. Harry
Beam -- Rep. John Murtha once again stonewalls a hometown critic in
his letter of response to
Mrs. Beam's Aug. 23rd Readers' Forum letter.
Here is an excerpt from Mrs. Beam's Aug. 23rd letter:
Murtha, like Sen. John Kerry, refuses to release his military
records. My husband, retired Lt. Col. Harry Beam, is more than willing
to release his record and compare it to Murtha's.
If such a comparison would be made, my husband's Silver Star,
Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, his unit's
Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Citation more than
qualify him to criticize Murtha.
And here is an excerpt from Rep. John Murtha's Aug. 26th response:
I'll compare my military record to that of any of my critics,
including (presidential adviser) Karl Rove, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum
and my opponent (Washington County Commission Diana Irey)....
The critic in this case was Johnstown resident Mrs. Harry Beam, not
those Murtha names. As with PA Iraq War veterans Craig Minnick (also a
Johnstown resident) and Mark Russack, Murtha stonewalled Mrs. Harry
Beam. [read
Minnick / Russack story]
In another part of his response, Murtha gives false proof of
supporting our troops:
...I have been on the defense subcommittee for more than 25 years,
both as chairman and ranking member. My entire career has been spent
in support of the troops in the field...
Here is proof Murtha has NOT supported our troops during his 25+ years
on the defense subcommittee:
-
As chairman of the defense subcommittee (1991-1994), Murtha oversaw
the gutting of the military. THIS IS NOT SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS. [see
chart here]
-
As chairman of the defense subcommittee (1991-1994), Murtha called
for U.S troops to cut and run from Somalia in 1993. THIS IS NOT
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS.
-
As ranking member of the defense subcommittee, Murtha called for
U.S. troops to cut and run from Iraq. THIS IS NOT SUPPORTING OUR
TROOPS.
-
As ranking member of the defense subcommittee, Murtha prejudged
Marines guilty of "killing innocent civilians in cold blood." THIS
IS NOT SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS.
-
As ranking member of the defense subcommittee, Murtha falsely stated
on
Aug. 22nd: "I don't think
there would have been an investigation if I hadn't said something."
An investigation was already underway when Murtha spoke his
prejudicial statement at his May 17, 2006 press conference.
Murtha's words do not line up with the facts. He is unwilling to
listen or respond directly to constituents' valid concerns. His San
Francisco politics reject the common-sense values of PA district 12.
It's time to Boot Murtha.
[NOTE: As with Mrs. Beam's Aug. 23rd letter, the Johnstown
Tribune-Democrat has not put Rep. Murtha's response letter online. It
only appears in their Aug. 26th print edition.]
 WELCOME
BACK, MAX!
Max Cleland is coming back to Johnstown!!
Former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia is
throwing a rally in Johnstown, PA for Rep. John Murtha -- the day
before Vets for the Truth's Boot Murtha Rally.
The news is highlighted in the following
release from Murtha's re-election committee:
[EXCERPT:]
JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Aug. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Murtha for Congress
Committee said that former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) announced
last night he's leading a large-scale effort among his veteran
brothers to support U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), who is coming
under attack from "radical right-wing forces in the veterans'
community" aimed at "swift-boating Murtha, like they did former
Democratic nominee for president Sen. John Kerry.
The rally will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006 at 11 a.m. in
Central Park in Johnstown, Pa. Cleland said he expects veterans from
all over America to make the journey "to support Murtha in an
unprecedented show of unity against the war."
VFTT's Boot Murtha Rally is set for Sunday, Oct. 1 starting at 2 pm.
Rally participants will gather at Central Park in Johnstown and
proceed to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena for the full event.
Pennsylvania radio personalities Quinn & Rose of the popular "War
Room with Quinn & Rose" show will be co-emcee'ing the Rally. Also
lined up for the Boot Murtha Rally:
Terry Pennington, father of Rob Pennington, one of the
so-called "Pendleton Eight," who are being held without bail at the
Camp Pendleton, CA, brig. They are being charged with murder and
conspiracy, those seven Marines and one Navy Corpsman.
David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, leader of the
anti-hijacker group on Flight 93 (the man who said, "Let's roll!"
John Wrobleski, father of a Marine killed in Iraq, and who
deeply resents the dishonor brought upon the USMC by Murtha's
comments.
Gregg Garvey, father of Justin Garvey, who was killed in Iraq,
founder of a program that enables local communities to purchase and
erect memorials to their fallen sons and daughters. He will lead the
memorial service that precedes the rally.
GOP Congressman and Former POW Rips John
Murtha
CNSNEWS.com covered the story [LINK]
[EXCERPTS:]
Amid cheers, whistles and two standing ovations, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson
(R-Texas) took fellow Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa.) and the U.S.
media behind the proverbial woodshed for a verbal walloping.
"Most of you know, at the end of last year, a liberal congressman from
Pennsylvania insisted we immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq,"
Johnson told the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday.
"When I heard this, it made my blood boil."
Johnson was referring to Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, who
has been quoted as saying that the U.S. Army is "broken, worn out" and
may not be able to meet future military threats to the nation.
"It hurt to think what the men and women in harm's way would believe
when they heard the news that someone in Congress was not behind
America's mission," Johnson said. "It hurt to think what the military
families here at home would believe when they learned that people in
Washington did not support the troops. And it hurt me to think that
some people would just give up on our men and women in uniform.
"What would Iraq be like if the United States pulled out?" Johnson
asked. "What would Iraq be like if we left and allowed dangerous
people like the head of al Qaeda, (Abu Musab al-)Zarqawi, to run the
country?"
Johnson, without naming Murtha, compared criticism of the war and
demands for withdrawal with his own experience during the Vietnam War.
A 29-year Air Force veteran and highly decorated pilot, Johnson fought
in both the Koran and Vietnam wars. After being shot down over North
Vietnam, Johnson spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war in
Hanoi, half of that in solitary confinement.
"I do know what it's like to be far from home, serving your country,
risking your life and hearing that America doesn't care about you,"
Johnson said, choking back tears.
"[Hearing] your Congress doesn't care about you. Your Congress just
cut off all funding for your war. They're packing up and going home
and leaving you." Johnson added he was "scared to death" by such talk
because years ago, he was afraid he would be left in Vietnam
"forever."
"I know what it does to the mission," said Johnson, "and so help me
God, I will never, ever let our nation make those mistakes again."
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