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| Pelosi Defends Murtha Vs. GOP Reprimand |
| 2007-05-20 |
| From Associated Press May 20, 2007 9:06 AM EDT WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is defending a close Democratic ally whom Republicans want to reprimand for threatening a GOP lawmaker's spending projects. Pelosi, D-Calif., said she had "no idea what actually happened" during a noisy exchange in the House chamber last week between Reps. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., and Mike Rogers, R-Mich. She has no idea what actually happened but she's on Murtha's side. She'd probably defend him no matter what he did. "What I do know is that Congressman Murtha has - enjoys - an excellent reputation in the Congress on both sides of the aisle," said Pelosi in a broadcast interview taped Friday and aired Sunday. He has an excellant reputation for being a senile old fart who shoots his mouth off while having no inkling of actual facts. "He writes the defense appropriation bill in a bipartisan way each year and with the complete involvement of the Republicans as to who gets what on the Republican side," she said. Murtha is a 35-year House veteran who leads the House Appropriations subcommittee on military spending. He is known for a fondness for earmarks - carefully targeted spending items placed in appropriations bills to benefit a specific lawmaker or favored constituent group. During a series of House votes Thursday, Murtha walked to the GOP side to confront Rogers, a former FBI agent. This month, Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike from an intelligence spending bill an item that would restore $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center, a facility in Murtha's Pennsylvania district. Rogers was threatening Murtha's meal ticket. Ain't politics wunnerful? According to Rogers' account, which Murtha did not dispute, the Democrat angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because "you're not going to get any, now or forever." "And I'll fart in your general direction, too!" "This was clearly designed to try to intimidate me," Rogers told The Associated Press on Friday. "He said it loud enough for other people to hear." House rules prohibit lawmakers from placing conditions on earmarks or targeted tax benefits that are based on another member's votes. Murtha's office said in a statement: "The committee and staff give every Democrat and Republican the same consideration. We have extensive hearings and every request is given careful consideration. We will continue to do just that." "Except when we won't because they are Republicans, Damnit!" Rogers said he planned to file a "privileged resolution" Monday that would seek a House vote on whether to reprimand Murtha. "I wasn't there" for the confrontation, Pelosi said. "I do know that the Republicans caused quite a stir that was unjustified on the floor of the House, and I'm sure things were said on both sides." "I wasn't there but whatever the Republicans do is unjustified. Why can't they just let me rule as the Queen I truly am?" She wasn't there and stated earlier in the interview she had no idea what actually happened but she does know the Republicans were unjustified. And she's the Speaker of the House. Sheesh! She added, "I don't know that there was going to be a resolution. There was rumor that that might be the form it would take, but we'll deal with it if that's what comes forward. But I think Mr. Murtha's reputation for bipartisanship will hold him in good stead." She actually said that with a straight face! During leadership elections after Democrats regained control of the House in November, Pelosi aggressively backed Murtha in his bid to become majority leader, the No. 2 position. He lost to Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. You are backing the wrong horse, Queen Nan. Pelosi spoke on ABC's "This Week." |
| Posted by:Deacon Blues |
| #4 Murtha's not special. Most congresscritters fail the smell test nowadays. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2007-05-20 22:30 |
| #3 Murtha does need a good butt-whipping, I'd suggest that the ABSCAM unindicted co-conspirator status shows he's beyond shame. His elevated status in teh Dem party just affirms that |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-20 19:37 |
| #2 Rogers should have dropped the guy with a combo and kicked him in the head when he was down. Murtha's a bastard who, in an earlier America, would now be on trial for treason. I'd LOVE to see him take a good butt-kicking. |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-05-20 19:02 |
| #1 Nancy - a smart person once said, "Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." You might consider that. Oh, wait; I'm a Republican AND I'm not from your district, so my thoughts are worthless. Nevermind. Keep runnin' yer mouth. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-05-20 17:01 |