From Rep. Jack Murtha:

[babylonsister]

I'm not too sure what these Republicans are trying to accomplish with all their attacks:

• The Republican Leader in the House says, "I listen to my Democrats friends, and I wonder if they are more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people."

• Dick Cheney says on national television that anybody who questions him is emboldening the enemy.

• Donald Rumsfeld compares anyone who questions their "stay the course" strategy to Nazi appeasers.

Give me a break. Let there be no doubt that Democrats are united behind the fight against terrorism. Democrats are united behind our troops. And Democrats are united behind a strong America.

But as far as Iraq goes, the truth is that the American people have been way out ahead of the Bush Administration. Sixty percent of the American people disagree with the direction in Iraq because nobody is being held accountable and we're not making any progress.

There's only one hope to get that change and get a new direction; that's a Democratic majority in the House. And the people at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) are leading the charge to make sure that happens. I know you have been a strong activist with the DCCC and that support has made a difference, but today the most important action you can take is to give a gift to the DCCC -- and that's why I'm writing today.

We are in a race against the clock with less than 50 days before the election. I am asking you not to wait until the last minute -- but act now. The House Democrats are pitching in from their own bank accounts and will match every dollar with THREE of their own. But, you have to get it in by September 30th.

I've never been one to go out front and lead the charge in the elections -- but I learned that these Republicans in charge right now couldn't care less about getting it right in Iraq. They're not interested in what I or anybody else has to say.

While all Americans know that terrorism is a serious threat worth fighting against, the Bush Administration tries to confuse the Iraq War with the larger war on terrorism and continues to fight a war of rhetoric and political slogans instead of one of action.

We can't fly blind like this anymore -- as long as Republicans are in charge, they're just going to keep playing politics instead of doing what needs to be done for the American people. And that's why we need a new direction in this nation and new direction in Congress.

These Republicans want to convince the public that they're "strong" and Democrats are "weak" -- it doesn't take strength to sit on your backside in an air-conditioned office, pound your chest and insist that our young men and women on the ground "stay the course" in Iraq.

These Democratic men and women running for Congress know things have got to change. They know that we need to stand strong against terrorists instead of just grandstanding. I've traveled around the country and met a lot of these candidates, and they're outstanding people, people I'd be proud to serve alongside in Congress.

We need to support the DCCC's efforts to help carry these candidates across the finish line. The DCCC is putting up television and radio ads exposing the way Republicans have laid down for this president; they are charging around the country building up the get-out-the-vote program that will make sure Americans know what is at stake and make sure their voices are heard. And they need our help to keep it up. It's that simple, and now's the time when your gift to the DCCC will be worth three times as much. Stand with them and stand with me today.

I know you have been a critical activist of the Democratic Party all year and I can't thank you enough. I hope that we can count on you to take the additional action of making a contribution today.

Give $50, $75, or more now and triple your donation to help stop the Republican campaign of "smear and fear".
https://www.dccc.org/contribute/default/?id=topnav
Thank you for all your help.

Sincerely,

Jack Murtha
Member of Congress, Pennsylvania's 12th District

PS: Democratic candidates are standing up to fear and smear campaigns in congressional districts across the country, and they are fighting back against these ridiculous attacks by Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and all the other Republican leaders. But they need our support, and the DCCC can give it to them better than anybody else around.

[lonestarnot]

1. WOODamnwhoo! Murtha!

I was just going to post this. You left off the links.

[bigtree]

2. yeah!