Peg Luksik & Defeating Murtha

Peg Luksik & Defeating Murtha
Well-said: "When government gives a shekel, it gives a shackle." By Peg Luksik, Johnstown, PA, mother of six children and a former candidate for Governor and Founder of "Mom's House," an alternative to abortion.

"With government coins, comes government control." (Me)

I met Peg in Johnstown at a William Russell function a month ago and found her to be a very impressive person. I believe I disagree with her about John Murtha's stance on the sanctity of life -- and also perhaps on the best way to campaign against him. At some point, I'd like to write more on Mrs. Luksik, with an emphasis on our different views about what's possible in American government and what's not. If you want to know more about her views while she ran for Governor (in 1998), go here.

The best way -- the only way -- to campaign against John Murtha is to attack him -- for his gratuitous comments about the Haditha Marines and the War generally, for his abject failure to "bring home the bacon" to his economically depressed congressional district, and for his total sell-out to lobbyists, most of them living the high life in the Washington Beltway.

It's true that many people in the Johnstown area (Cambria County) look at John Murtha as "a decorated veteran of Viet Nam" and a man who has "brought home the bacon" to the 12th Congressional District.

In fact, there are serious questions -- ones Murtha has never put to rest by providing his medical records -- about his "wounds" (very minor ones) in Viet Nam. Former Democratic congressman Don Bailey has said Murtha told him he basically fabricated his heroism in Viet Nam. (See: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=%5CPolitics%5Carchive%5C200601%5CPOL20060113d.html

In fact, Viet Nam -- like ABSCAM, another less-than-stellar moment for Murtha -- was long ago. Voters in the 12th District, like many across the nation, tend to put a "statute of limitations" on past misdeeds. In 2006, Diana Irey focused her TV campaign mainly on ABSCAM, and it didn't seem to help her that much.

On the other hand, Murtha's exaggerated claims about producing some sort of economic rebirth in the 12th District are absurd. As I've pointed out in a previous column -- with statistics from the Almamac of American Politics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- very few people in the 12th have benefited from the huge amounts of federal dollars Murtha has brought in.

The Median Household Income (MHI) in most of the 12th, especially Greene County, is below the MHIs in inner-city districts in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Murtha's failures to energize local economies should be a major issue, as should his self-serving -- and false -- accusations about the "Haditha Marines," one of whom (Justin Sharratt) is in Murtha's District. Did he know that Sharratt lived in Washington County? Frankly, such considerations don't seem to matter to Murtha.He was running for Majority Leader and anti-military remarks helped him with far-Left Democrats like Obey and Waxman.

No matter, I guess, that the remarks energized al Qaida in Iraq. Murtha's comments have cost American lives.

I've written before on John Murtha's shaky stance on issues related to the sanctity of life. Peg Luksik -- mentioned above -- differs with me on this issues. She believes Murtha has taken steps to advance the pro-life cause, and I disagree vigorously. Murtha has endorsed many extremist Democrats, most notably Nancy Pelosi, who favor partial birth abortion and other abominations. If Murtha opposed abortion as a matter of principle, he would not be head cheerleader for Democrats who want nothing done to reduce abortions.

Jack Murtha lives in a world that would be incomprehensible to most 12th District voters, including the Democrats. Here's how author John Brady describes the DC of the past (and present): "Washington was a men's club, basically, where the key to success was building relationships." (From Bad Boy: The Life and Politics of Lee Atwater)

Brady adds, "Washington was also about men making deals, using a smiling face . . . as a front for carrying on with some of the most ruthless behavior in the land." This is a world people like Peg Luksik, Diana Irey, and even William Russell only know from a distance. John Murtha? He's one of the one men who created that world.

Political guru Lee Atwater (who also knew the world of "ruthless behavior") was an expert on defeating Democrats in districts that were staunchly Democratic. (He was talking about the South in early 1970s, but his remarks apply to Murtha's district.)

Atwater said, "Republicans in the South [in 1970] could not win elections by talking about issues. You had to make the case that the other candidate was a bad guy."

Precisely. You can's defeat Murtha by saying that he's basically "a good guy who's somehow gone astray." Frankly, if he was a 'good guy," which he's not, he'd deserve to be re-elected until he was carried out feet-first from the House.

Murtha may be a good something, but he's NOT a good man.

Granted, some people in the 12th enjoy living life in a veil of illusion. But many voters are aware that he's a self-aggrandizing bully, and they're the ones a candidate like Russell should be appealing to.

If you read the statistics (economic, voter registration, vote totals) about the 12th carefully, they tell the story of how Murtha can be defeated. You'll hear more about those statistics in the days ahead.

The critical moments for Lt. Col. William Russell will occur in the coming winter and spring. He will need to raise enough money to mobilize supporters and get his message across. If he does those things, he can win.

Three Issues to Defeat Murtha

NOTE: THIS IS CROSS-POSTED AT MY NEW MAIN SITE: http://stevemaloneygop.blogspot.com/.



I sent the following to Chris at http://thehotjoints.com/, who just joined “Bloggers for Russell.” (Look to youir right on the blogroll to see who they are.)

Thanks very much for joining the Bloggers for Russell. On William's web site there will be a steady stream of releases and comments over the next 11 months (yikes! that's a long time).

I'll have everybody up on The Russell Bloggers -- there are about 40 now -- within the next week. Much appreciate the support.

"HotJoints" (Chris), you’re right that Murtha’s comments on Haditha were outrageous.

My suggestion -- and I'm working on the "outside" and NOT a member of the Russell Campaign Staff -- would be with Issue #1 to rub Murtha's nose in Haditha every possible opportunity. His comments were totally self-serving, designed to get support for him as Majority Leader among far-left, anti-military Democrats. For personal gain, he severely harmed brave soldiers and their families. He MUST apologize.

Another big issue is that he's done nothing for 90% of the 12th congressional district (outside his home county). As I’ve pointed out in previous columns, the Median Household Income in the 12th is one of the lowest in Pennsylvania. A major reason for this is that Murtha has relied almost exclusively on government handouts – “earmarks” – and has done nothing to stimulate the growth of private business.



Even in his favored place, Johnstown, Murtha’s actions have led to a steady population decline. The area is beautiful and the souls there are hard-working, good people, and I’m happy to live among them. There are few jobs for young people, and they have to leave to find decent employment opportunities

The third issue is that he’s done everything possible to advance Nancy Pelosi and others just as bad, which totally conflicts with his bogus image of being a "conservative" Democrat. Pelosi and her main supporters in Congress stand for everything that is anathema to voters in the 12t District. Murtha managed Pelosi’s campaign for the majority leadership and was one of the Democrats who voted for her as Speaker of the House. When the voters of the District figure out that Murtha and Pelosi are joined at the hip, they will react with revulsion.

Pelosi believes that Murtha is “a good man.” Well, he might be a good something, but he’s not a good MAN. Like his young colleague Jason Altmire, Murtha is one of the "Nancy Boys."

Is the approach I suggest “too negative?” Actually, it’s important for a congressional candidate – William T. Russell in this instance – to indicate both why he should be elected – and why his opponent should not. It is not negativity to tell the truth about Jack Murtha’s many failings, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. (Scroll down to see fact-based criticisms of Murtha.

One thing Democratic guru Joe Trippi says that I agree with is that the essence of a campaign should be on a single three-by-five card. The three issues I highlight will fit on that card. I hope the Russell Campaign focuses on basic points that emphasize exactly WHY Murtha must go.

Haditha, the Economy, and Pelosi: If Russell gets these three three points across to voters. we'll stay up very late on Election Night.

RUSSELL BLASTS MURTHA'S AIDING Al-QAIDA

Note: Thanks to the many (many, many) Australians who visit this site. Americans and Australians are brothers (and sisters) in innumerable ways. Keep coming back. P.S. Australians for Russell has a nice ring to it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MURTHA’S DOUBLE TALK CANT HIDE HIS FLIP - FLOP - FLIP ON THE WAR

Johnstown, PA – November 30, 2007: William Russell the Republican for Congress had this to say after Murtha’s trip debrief news conference.

"Thank you John Murtha for admitting the surge under the leadership of General Petraeus is working."

"I agree, the American people are impatient with the central government and as Mr. Murtha stated, it close to dysfunctional. But enough about the Pelosi - Murtha led Congress.

The Central government in Iraq is taking charge with leaders who have been braving large scale assassination attempts, threats to their families, and an infrastructure ravaged and neglected by Saddam's regime and sabotage by Islamic Radicals. They are rebuilding an army and police forces, getting control of foreign national criminals in their presence, and have actually passed major reforms. Can the same be said of our Democratic majority in the House?"

"The $14 Billion per month that Murtha says is taking its toll on training and equipping our military here at home is not the issue. It is the political games that Murtha and Obey are playing with military budgets that is causing the Department of Defense to short change training and equipping functions in order to ensure the success of the surge and support our Soldiers on the front lines. "

"Murtha wonders why the next rotation of troops is not ready to back fill those currently deployed while he holds up the funding necessary to equip and train them."

"When Murtha cites the Abu Ghraib photos as being the best recruiting tool for Al-Qaida, he is too modest. He has completely forgotten about his endorsement of Al-Qaida's recruiting efforts by publicly accusing United States Marines of cold-blooded murder of Iraqi civilians. Murtha gave the United States Congress's stamp of approval to the enemy's propaganda and placed American service men and women in greater danger of attack by giving credence to the enemy's message on the Arab street.

"We are eagerly awaiting Murtha's apology to the exonerated Haditha Marines for placing them in greater danger, ruining their careers, and undermining their comrades."

"I agree that we should step up our diplomatic and political efforts to help the Iraqi's establish political and economic control. Thanks to the security provided by the surge, the Iraqi civil entities are gaining control. If we had followed the advice and position of Murtha and his Democratic colleagues, we would not have the opportunities we currently have.

"Rather than pit domestic political and economic policies against our military and political objectives in the war against Islamic Radicalism, why don't we focus on synchronizing those policies so we can keep our troops safer and bring them home from a peaceful theater? Mr. Murtha has proven time and again that he will not support our Soldiers in the fight. I stand ready to support them and help achieve victory and security for our future"

"It's no wonder John Murtha wants to try to distract 12th District voters from his record. But no matter how much rhetoric and double talk he puts out, it won't change the fact that the only person in this race who's flip-flopped on important issues after receiving massive campaign donations is John Murtha."

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Larry Stiles, USMC-Vietnam Veteran
Campaign Manager
William Russell for Congress
P.O. Box 630
Johnstown, PA 15907
http://williamrussellforcongress.com
Phone: 814.243.8662

Please volunteer for William Russell for Congress at http://williamrussellforcongress.com/.

PAID FOR BY WILLIAM RUSSELL FOR CONGRESS

JOHN MURTHA: NO JFK, NO FDR, NO TRUMAN

Tomorrow's (Tuesday's) column will deal with the mixed blessing (to say the least) of John Murtha's "earmarks" (government handouts) for his congressional district -- and why the Congressman's home town of Johnstown, PA ought to envy tiny Blue Springs, Mississippi, the location for global giant Toyota's newest assembly plant. (Hint: Don't look for a Toyota plant to sprout anytime soon in Johnstown.)

I notice the following column is getting a lot of readers from Washington, DC. If any of them are associated with John Murtha, I have two pieces of advice, the first for them, the second for him: (1) to staffers, for goodness sake get a real job;! (2) to the Congressman, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the House." On the other hand, let me welcome the numerous visitors from Manchester, NH, whom I believe are associated with the McCain and Giuliani campaigns. (Scroll down to see Sunday's column about those two Republican frontrunners.)

"The tree of liberty is nurtured with the blood of the patriots."

"Let every nation know, whether friend or foe, that we shall bear any burden, pay any price, to ensure the survival of liberty." (John F. Kennedy, a REAL Democrat, in his Inaugural Address)

"The hand that held the dagger has plunged it into the back of its neighbor." (FDR, speaking about Italy's declaration of war on France)

A key to Lt. Col. William Trower Russell's defeating Jack Murtha in PA's 12th congressional district lies with the unlikeliest of sources: the small segment of extreme left-wing Democrats.

In a recent column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, national security writer (and conservative) Jack Kelly described these extremists as "those 19 percent of Democrats who said in a recent poll that the world would be better off if the United States loses in Iraq. . . ." (You can find that column at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07301/828771-373.stm.)

To win in the 12th, William Russell is going to need the support of a lot of registered Democrats. Specifically, he must win the hearts and minds of roughly 20,000 Democrats.

Yes, he probably won't get any from the 19% who yearn for a U.S. defeat in Iraq. But who needs them? Who would even want them?

But what about the other 81% of Democrats who'd be either happy -- or even downright elated -- by a U.S. victory? If William can get one-third or more of their votes, then next November he'll be congressman-elect from Pennsylvania.

How can he win them over?

One way is to keep talking about the 19%, the small minority, and then tie Murtha to that group like a can to an alley cat's tail. He has to say, "Yes, John Murtha is a registered Democrat, but he's NOT ONE OF YOU. He's put himself in bed with a fringe element of radicals that have nothing in common with the Democrats of Pennsylvania or the 12th District."

Quote JFK in your speeches, William. Then ask them if Jack Murtha has anything in common with the fallen President. Ask them if he hasn't plunged FDR's "dagger" into the back of our soldiers.

Ask audiences if the Murtha of the Haditha slander has anything in common with JFK -- or with FDR -- or with Harry Truman? Those great Democrats would have nothing to do with "The Prince of Pork" swilling away at his trough and defaming his betters.

Murtha's condemnation of the "Haditha Marines" (one of whom, Justin Sharratt, is from the 12th District) is absolutely disgraceful. In calling them "cold-blooded" killers, Murtha was lying about their actions and about the men themselves. He was pandering to America-haters, foreign and domestic.

Yes, John Murtha "brings home the bacon" in his efforts to buy votes. But by emboldening the enemy, he ensures that other Americans -- fathers and mothers, husbands and wives -- bring home caskets containing American soldiers. (Scroll down to acquaint yourself with one of those soldiers from the Wieger family.)

Murtha claimed he made his Haditha statements after he was "briefed" by a Marine officer (Gen. Hagee). However, as NewsMax and other outlets have poined out, Murtha made the statement well before he met with the General. In short, the Congressman made it up. Why?

He vilified the Marines for one reason: so that he could curry favor with Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leftists (the 19-percent crowd). He wanted to become Democratic Majority Leader (fat chance!), so he sold out his Marine brethren for the votes of Left-wing Democrats.

In so doing, he become the most EX of ex-Marines, one who defaulted on his obligations to be courageous and truthful.

William Russell should talk regularly about Murtha's "19-percenters," the fringe element of Democrats who root for the enemy in Iraq. He should point out how western Pennsylvanians have nothing in common with that leftist fringe group that Murtha solicited.

As he links Murtha to the 19%, Russell can bring in thousands of Democrats -- tens of thousands -- who are decent, hard-working, and patriotic. He can isolate Murtha among the tiny radical element of his Party.

William, this election is winnable. If you expose Murtha for exactly who he is, voters will flock to you.

When the decent Democrats find out you're one of them, they'll reject Murtha like a rotten piece of meat. "Democrats for Russell" has a nice ring to it. Concede him the 19% -- and you bring home the 81%.

Note: To assist William's campaign, please go to his web site: http://williamrussellforcongress.com/

Note 2: I have added another candidate to the small group I'm focusing on: Jeannette Marie "Jean" Hoffman Schmidt (born November 29, 1951) is a member of the United States Congress. A Republican, she represents Ohio's 2nd congressional district, stretching from eastern Cincinnati to Portsmouth