By Mark Silva
Rep. Jack Murtha, the decorated Vietnam War veteran who was early among members of Congress speaking out against the war in Iraq, is campaigning for Sen. Hillary Clinton in his home state of Pennsylvania -- where Clinton hopes to stage a strong rebuttal of Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on April 22.
"Let me tell you something. I’ve served with seven presidents,'' Murtha (D-Pa.) said in an opener, in a video that the Clinton campaign is promoting. "I am convinced that we’re in probably one of the worst situations that I’ve seen in the 35 years I’ve been in Congress. We need a person with experience, a person that understands the policy.
"When the Clinton administration left, there was a $250 billion surplus. Now, there’s almost a $3 trillion deficit.
"The military has been so depleted by this war. We’re spending $343 million dollars a day to build roads in Iraq and we’re not spending money on the projects that are so important.
"And who can solve that problem – Hillary! ...
"The next president of the United States – Hillary Clinton!''







Comments
Surplus, my behind. There is no surplus when you are using the Social Security Trust Fund to BS the public that you balanced the budget, they didn't. Military problems, when Bill Clinton went into office there were 1,807,000 men and women in uniform, when he left there were 1,385,000. When you reduce the size of the military by 23+%, you ask for and get trouble.
Posted by: Joe G. | March 27, 2008 1:52 PM
I hope the 20% of the Clinton supporters that won't vote for Obama when he wins the primary election will go back to being right wing of the Republican party where they belong...
For the other 80%, please get on board with us and help us end this. We know who won this fight, it is time to start the healing and get behind this wonderful candidate! Please take another look at Obama...it isn't like switching teams, we are all Americans. "if you cannot change your mind, you cannot change anything!"
These special interests don't stand a chance against the over 1.2 million small donors that Obama has. Help our party grow that database and be a part of the Calvary that takes America away from those special interests! After all it is all about the Supreme Court Justices, if McCain gets in, we are going to have some pretty tough laws to abide by.
There are some people who are willing to give up their lives for the good of this country... then there are some people who cannot even give up their obviously lost nomination for the good of the country...
Posted by: Elbramn | March 27, 2008 2:05 PM
Well as nice as this is written, Don't be fooled. Bill Clinton was the President when this happened. To say Hillary was responcible is just as reasonable to say Chelsea had a hand in it. Come on People. Bills coat tails can only carry so much. GET OUT HILLARY!
Posted by: Larry Jones Eugene,Oregon | March 27, 2008 2:18 PM
More accurate headline: "The not-yet-indicted Jack Murtha, the prince of pork barrel, stumps for Hillary Clinton"
Posted by: McCainocrat | March 27, 2008 2:20 PM
"And who can solve that problem – Hillary! ..."
Hah! SHE VOTED FOR THE WAR. She helped us get our $3 Trillion deficit in the first place.
Posted by: Stephen | March 27, 2008 2:45 PM
HEY JACK,MARK THE DATE....HILLARY WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT.27\03\2008
Posted by: kay | March 27, 2008 2:46 PM
She can be credited for Bill's successes but God forbid, you blame her for any of his failures including Lewinskygate.
Posted by: chancey | March 27, 2008 2:55 PM
Nice, respectful title. Why didn't you just write: "Jack Murtha's stumps for Clinton"?
Posted by: Charles Ferrera | March 27, 2008 2:56 PM
Touting Murtha as a highly decroated war hero is a slap in the face to those who were the real heros. He was never even fired upon or fired in return. Shame on him for allowing this erroneous hero image to continue. Hillary deserves him as she too lied about her war hero episodes. Puke!
Posted by: speedycampbell | March 27, 2008 3:03 PM
Rep. Jack Murtha, as a retired Military Officer my self, this man is a disgraced for what he has said and don to hurt the military service man in the war. But then again look who he is supporting her husband did more to harm the military while he was in office with all the base closures and look where it left us.
Posted by: L Haven | March 27, 2008 3:08 PM
Jack Murtha: now that is the kiss of death.
Posted by: camel jockey | March 27, 2008 3:10 PM
Congress' biggest porker - and that's saying something - is stumping for Hillary. Couldn't she just send out her other recent big endorser? Ya know, Hugo Chavez? Sure, he endorsed both democrats but I'm sure he'd make the time for Hill.
Posted by: Jeff | March 27, 2008 3:31 PM
DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by: jacksmith | March 27, 2008 3:38 PM
Posted by: Joe G. | March 27, 2008 1:52 PM
And Dick Cheney testified in front of Congress in the early 1990s that Clinton didn't cut the military budget ENOUGH. Yet now, Cheney and his enablers like you, whine that Clinton shouldn't have cut the military at all.
You can't have it both ways.
Posted by: BC | March 27, 2008 5:06 PM
Birds of a feather!
Posted by: DB Cooper | March 27, 2008 5:18 PM
For the other 80%, please get on board with us and help us end this. We know who won this fight, it is time to start the healing and get behind this wonderful candidate! Please take another look at Obama...it isn't like switching teams, we are all Americans. "if you cannot change your mind, you cannot change anything!"
Posted by: Elbramn | March 27, 2008 2:05 PM
If Hillary wins the nomination, will you get on board to support the Democratic candidate. Will you and the other Obama supporters continue as Democrats or defect to the other side as sore losers. Honestly, if Hillary wins, and she just might, the Obama people need to understand that Obama has been shadowing Hillary's stance on the major issues. In the long run, their stance is about the same.
This is not a personality contest; this is the survival of the United States, so those of you who do not get your candidate nominated on the Democratic ticket should not, for the sake of this country, betray your trust in the Democrat party, and go AWOL to McCain. I know I won't.
Posted by: the truth | March 27, 2008 6:07 PM
Here's a website that discusses how the sub-prime mess came to be. It's about 10 pages and it's a trifle dense, but honestly, I don't know why we're talking about anything else-
http://my.opera.com/richardinbellingham/blog/show.dml/1796860
Posted by: davie | March 27, 2008 6:57 PM
Murtha is a joke. Hillary is a demon.
Posted by: Hillary's wake up call | March 27, 2008 7:25 PM
"MURTHA SPEAKS"
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, JOHN MCCAIN DID VOTE 100% OF THE TIME FOR THE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND AFGANISTAN. HE DIDN'T JUST TAKE TRIPS TO SAND BOWL.
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, JOHN MCCAIN DID VOTE FOR "TROOP LEAVE" BETWEEN TOURS OF DUTY.
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, JOHN MCCAIN, AND THE GOP LEADERSHIP DID VOTE FOR VETERANS RETURNING FROM IRAQ GET THE PROPER POST CARE?
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE JOHN MCCAIN NOT ONLY VOTED FOR TROOPS TO GET ARMOR HE DELIVERED IT EVERYTIME HE TOOK A STROLL DOWN BAGHDAD STREETS WITH "BLACKWATER" ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE PROTECTING HIM FROM "AL QUEDA" THAT WEEK.
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, JOHN MCCAIN, WAS THERE, CAPTIVE ON THE HILL UNTIL THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, YES, THE SAME ONE HE WORE, WHILE CAPTURED THE EQUIPMENT, TRUST, AND HONOR THEY SO DESERVED.
JUST ASK THEIR WIVES, CHILDREN, FATHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS, NEIGHBORS, AND FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN.
JUST ASK, AND THEN BLAME JACK MURTHA!
"NEUTERED GOP REPUBLICANS"
Posted by: ROGER MORRIS | March 27, 2008 7:51 PM
Hillary should not get out of the race period ... this is the way a Democratic primary should be - viable candidates gathering votes and delegates and the nominee being chosen at the convention. this fact should be explained to younger voters who may not realize this is the way it was for many years and the only true democratic way to elect the best candidate - not the one backed by the media.
Hillary is the best qualified of the three - and has the best chance of getting elected in Nov. that's a given. And she can do it - especially with the help of the super delegates who have the political experience to know who will be more electable in November and who is best for the party. And that's Hillary.
Again someone needs to explain to the younger and newer voters that super delegates are a small part of the total delegate count and their rule is for balance not to mimic the popular vote. if one candidate truly has a vast majority of the popular vote - the super delegates don't play a big role. however, as in this case if you have two candidates that are neck and neck - the super delegates have been built into the system to help pick the one better suited to win the election. in this case it is Hillary - and they have an obligation to vote their experience and their hearts - not what some candidates' supporters might want them to.
Also if Obama's supporters are so BIG about the popular vote deciding the nominee - why aren't they and Obama strongly fighting for the votes of Florida residents to count???? Oh. I see. Obama only cares about the people's voices when they support him and not someone else.
Obama would not be sitting so pretty if Florida votes were counted - as they well should be. All candidates names were on the ballots, a record number of Floridians voted, both candidates abided by the rules, and it was not the voters fault the party screwed them over. Not counting their votes will disenfranchise the Florida Voters we will need in November to win. Do the primary over - that is the only fair thing to do.
For all of Obama's talk about unity - he is doing everything to the contrary and destroying the democratic party - he talks a good game about "the voice of the people" but does nothing to help Florida's voters get their voices heard - he only cares about the voters' voices when they are in his favor.
he has won many delegates in caucus's not in the popular vote - caucus systems that are archaic and easily manipulated - as we saw in Texas.
Hillary has won 90% of the BIG states needed to win the general election.
Obama has played the race card over and over again ... but insinuates that anyone not voting for him is a racist. he surrounds himself with people who have an "us against them" "black against white" mentality and them screams about unity and unifying.
Who is he unifying? Not seniors, not white women (who are a large group in this country), not Latinos (another powerful force).
The media has given Obama a FREE ride on everything. Every time I turn around he is saying something stupid and irrational - was I the only one bothered by the "typical white person" comment. how stupid and ignorant and racist of him. If I ever made a comment and followed it up with "typical black person" or "typical Jewish person" there would be an outcry and rightfully so - especially in this age of cultural awareness - that was a insensitive and culturally ignorant statement. yet the media and his cult followers close their eyes, and gloss over that...and Obama goes on vacation. (Sort of like Bush hiding at his Crawford Ranch every time he was in crisis.) His whole arrogant attitude crys out the fact he thinks he is invincible not because of the will of the people but because the media taints everything he does as good and everything Hillary does as bad.
OBAMA sits in church for 20 years hearing divisive racist anti-American comments from the so-called reverend Wright ... he garners support and has a relationship with the racist & sexist Farrakan...he says "typical white person," (I spent time in inner city Chicago as a school kid and I do not remember being afraid when someone "different" walked down the street behind me - guess some of us have more backbone).
he throws his grandma under the bus to make a completely irrational connection between his elderly grandmothers and wright and farrakan (again painting the picture of the white oppresor). If Hillary had done that the media would be saying "she'll even throw her grandma under the bus to get out of a tough spot.
ALL this ... and we are suppose to feel bad because Hillary says she would not have Wright as her pastor??? that was the high road ... Grow Up people ... Obama has some serious explaining to do ... and he did nothing but distract in his so-called race speech - now all of a sudden he actually speaks about the white side of his family when he always acts as if he is 100% black? Only bringing up his "white" side when it is politically convenient??
Hillary has a zillion reasons to stay in the race and to (God willing) win this nomination and go on to win the presidency - she is the best candidate bar none.
However the media and the people Obama has bought out (with all the money he was not been giving to charity throughout the years - so much for caring about those in need ... his only sizable contributions went to Rev. Wright's Church and the Black Congressional Caucus) are shrilly chanting for Hillary to get out of the way because they know the longer she stays in the race - the more time for people to get to know the real Obama - slick, inexperienced, self-serving, with a bland and dismal voting record, and a complete lack of having done great things in either public or private life.
And as for Hillary supporters saying they would not vote for Obama if he won the nomination a) The only people in Texas I have heard saying they would not vote democratic is Obama supporters saying they would not vote for Hillary when she is nominated and b) It would be hard to support someone who you know is too inexperienced and too self-serving to be a good president. To me Obama and McCain are more of the same ole same ole - two un qualified men running, and voters left to pick the lesser of two evils.
Voting in a slick, smooth talking, inexperienced, self-centered and overly ambitious younger man versus a more mature, more experienced, more intelligent woman with a record of working hard and championing the rights of minorities, children, families and women ... is not Change people - it's the same ole same ole Boys' club that we have had in this country for 200 years.
Hillary will bring a new perspective into the White House we sorely need now. The nation needs someone who cares about health insurance for everyone, keeping American jobs in America, creating more green jobs, who cares about the environment, about intelligently returns our troops home now that their mission is done...
And I resent people saying that because her last name is Clinton - she will preside exactly like her husband - really, a woman with her own mind - imagine that!!
Being the first doesn't count if you are not qualified - in fact being elected because of race (which I truly feel Obama has succeeded only in uniting the black vote - and I find it hard to believe 85% of any ethic group could all agree on the same person - many, certainly not all, are voting for him because of his skin color) instead of being the most qualified will certainly backfire.
And Pelosi is a sell-out - in the March for Women's lives where more than a million women cheered Hillary on - there was Pelosi with her arms around Hillary working for women's rights - I saw none of the male candidates there BTW - and after Hillary helps her become the first female to hold her post - Pelosi who doesn't have the backbone to stand up against Bush or Cheney, even with the voters mandate to do so - is now like the little subservient woman she is, trying to change the role of the super delegates to benefit Obama (not the party but Obama). I have lost all respect for her.
be tough Hillary - we have fought this fight before, the qualified woman versus the established media and the good ole boy network ... hang tough you'll continue to break barriers for all women (of all colors) as you have been doing for the past 20 years.
Hillary '08
Posted by: carmen zayas | March 28, 2008 2:59 AM