Max Cleland Condemns Smear of Rep Murtha As "Un-American"

[kpete]

Max Cleland Condemns Smear of Decorated Vietnam Veteran, Rep. John Murtha as “Un-American”
Posted by Pamela Leavey
August 3rd, 2006

This morning, former Senator Max Cleland traveled to Johnstown, Pa. to denounce the partisan attacks against Rep. John Murtha by “Veterans for Truth,”a component of Veterans For Freedom.

.........................

“I am not going to let vicious right wing smears against a good man go unanswered. I am honored to support my fellow Vietnam veteran as he runs for his 17th term in Congress,” Cleland said. “I am outraged at those who still believe that defaming an opponent’s character or calling him ‘unpatriotic’ is fair game in debate on foreign policy. I am tired of men who never fought in combat, accusing men who bear the scars of war of acting unpatriotic just because they disagree with our President. This type of politics is un-American and needs to stop.”

Cleland, who lost his seat in 2002 after his opponent ran ads comparing him to Osama bin Laden, has agreed to chair Veterans for Murtha. He has campaigned extensively for Democratic candidates since leaving office, especially for Senator John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. Cleland will highlight the Congressman’s unconditional support for the military and for veterans. Murtha has repeatedly directed funds to military hospitals and health programs in his district.

“As an organization dedicated to defending and supporting the rights of Americans to debate American foreign policy, we simply cannot stand by and allow someone like Rep. Murtha, a man who has served his country with distinction and courage in Vietnam, have his patriotism questioned by partisan political groups,” said Mike Lyon, Executive Director of Patriot Project’s Board of Directors. “Larry Bailey and his ‘Swift Boat’ buddies represent the lowest level of personal smear politics. They should be ashamed.”

more at:
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3790

[Hubert Flottz]

1. That's the kind of "support" we vets get from the GOP Max...

Mark Shields: From Rumsfeld, an ugly smear and a giant fib

Rumsfeld's "wit and charismatic candor" were praised on the liberal New York Times op-ed page, while the editorial page chief of the conservative Washington Times, proclaimed as "most charismatic" of the year the defense secretary "who's the heartthrob of neo-cons and mature women around the country, and Republicans everywhere."

Well, this is a different year, and in his first 2003 press conference, Rumsfeld shamefully smeared American veterans and then deliberately fibbed about how there is absolutely "no need " to consider reinstating the draft because the nation's all-volunteer military was, he assured us, working perfectly.

First, the smear of veterans. Speaking of the 11 million Americans who, during the Vietnam years, answered their country's draft call and the 2 million who served in Vietnam, Rumsfeld alleged that these draftees "added no value, no advantage, really, to the United States armed services over any sustained period of time, because the churning that took place, it took enormous amount of effort in terms of training, and then they were gone."

I'll say "then, they were gone!" Of the 58,152 Americans who gave their lives in Vietnam 20,352 of them were draftees. How dare the secretary of defense say these good and brave Americans "added no value, no advantage, to the United States armed services?" More...

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/column.shields.opinion.rumsfeld/index.html

[me b zola]

5. .

gop= "we support some of the troops--and in words only"

[Hubert Flottz]

6. They Worship an AWOL and a war criminal...

And Bush is the best they have!

Edit...R # 5 !

[warrens]

8. Y'know, this is way past a political argument now

The other side is pure evil.

[upi402]

11. Yep, I agree

and they have been for thousands of years, I think.

[Jim__]

2. Good for Max Cleland.

Democratic veterans need to stand up and express outrage whenever the patriotism of another Democratic veteran is attacked by these assholes. Everybody should write letters to the editor with respect to these attacks. Most American people understand exactly what kind of garbage this is; and it should be smeared all over republican candidates.

[Nutmegger]

3. Smearing veterans is "un-American".

But this riles people up and sends them to the polls.

[Metta]

4. Smear disproven by Marine and Navy probe.

Hats off to John Murtha for being the oracle on this one. How loudly will Faux News and the smearboaters be in their apologies and position reversals?

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Wouldn't it be nice to go back to the days when calling a

candidate's child a "thespian" is a dirty tactic.

Thanks Newt and Karl. :grr:

[Kurovski]

9. Kick!

:kick:

[upi402]

10. Right on!

Heroic man.
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[w8liftinglady]

12. I wish more Dems would have the balls of cleland and murtha

this country is begging for some real leadership.People I know respect their candor.Come on,dems-what do you have to lose?