The Swiftboating of John Murtha is about to generate BLOWBACK!

[johnfunk]

First came (to quote Taylor Marsh) the "vile spewing Republican anti-veteran blog."

Then came the registration of MurthaLied.com...

Now it's catch-up time. Go back to Taylor first to learn who a few of the key anti-Murtha players are.

Then swing by this thread by the Agonist's Sean-Paul Kelly (including the comments) to put a few more names on this smearboating campaign -- and draw a few threads together.

Bottom line: the scampaign is all about boosting-via-bad-mouthing the congressional campaign of one Neocon toady and all-around ignoramus Diana Irey (think Jean Schmidt but younger and with a better plastic surgeon), who is challenging war hero Jack Murtha.

One problem... those damn Internets are about to cause a case of severe blowback for the smear artists and their beauty queen!

A comment in Agonist tells America that Diana's hubby, as it turns out, was tied to a contractor (read: arms dealer) in Iraq who got killed -- and who wasn't exactly Dale Carnegie, if you catch my drift. He points to this blog entry (from a rightie commentator) and this article from CorpWatch.

I'll say it right here: the attempted Swiftboating of John Murtha is about to generate tem megaton blowback... and YOU, dear reader, know you can't resist checking out those links, doing a little background reading, dropping a line to your local Pennsylvania or Armed Forces-related publication, calling your favorite local or national talk show and discussing it...

... and do not forget to grab the :popcorn:!

(corrected for spelling)

[TayTay]

1. Here is another web-site with info on the smear on Murtha

http://www.patriotproject.com/

They have a nice graphic up on who is behind this.

[spindrifter]

3. And look where the money flows!

Between 1985 and 2001, the Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation donated $15,860,000 to the Heritage Foundation; $7,333,000 to the Institute for Policy Analysis; $6,995,500 to the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace; $6,693,000 to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); $4,411,000 to the American Enterprise Institute; $2,575,000 to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research; $1,855,000 to the George C. Marshall Institute; $1,808,000 to the Hudson Institute; and $1,697,000 to the Cato Institute.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Scaife_Family_Foundation
++++++++++++++++

Well endowed, as they say.

[sylva]

28. CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME WITH THIS???

What about this? My rightwinger brother just sent it and I don't know how serious to take him!

"Last June, the Los Angeles Times reported how the ranking member on the defense appropriations subcommittee has a brother, Robert Murtha, whose lobbying firm represents 10 companies that received more than $20 million from last year's defense spending bill. "Clients of the lobbying firm KSA Consulting -- whose top officials also include former congressional aide Carmen V. Scialabba, who worked for Rep. Murtha as a congressional aide for 27 years -- received a total of $20.8 million from the bill," the L.A. Times reported.

In early 2004, according to Roll Call, Mr. Murtha "reportedly leaned on U.S. Navy officials to sign a contract to transfer the Hunters Point Shipyard to the city of San Francisco." Laurence Pelosi, nephew of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, at the time was an executive of the company which owned the rights to the land. The same article also reported how Mr. Murtha has been behind millions of dollars worth of earmarks in defense appropriations bills that went to companies owned by the children of fellow Pennsylvania Democrat, Rep. Paul Kanjorski. Meanwhile, the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan campaign-finance watchdog group, lists Mr. Murtha as the top recipient of defense industry dollars in the current 2006 election cycle.

As Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, has said, "If there is a potential pattern where Congressman Murtha has helped other Democrats secure appropriations that also benefited relatives of those members, I believe this would be something that merits further review by the ethics committee."

It's odd that the media, which has been fairly unbiased in going after corrupt politicians recently, has gone silent on Mr. Murtha's questionable actions. Or maybe it isn't. Since December, Mr. Murtha has become the darling of the antiwar crowd, and, as we've seen with other such darlings, scrutinizing their behavior is considered disrespectful. But as we're on the subject, few might recall that after the massive 1980 Abscam scandal, Mr. Murtha was named by the FBI as an "unindicted co-conspirator."

(From the Wash Times)

I NEED A GOOD ANSWER TO THIS!

[rasputin1952]

29. Looks to me like a whole lot of nothing...if there was anything to this

it would have come out long ago...same thing w/the ABSCAM deal back in the 70's. This is all BS coming from a GOP that knows nothing but obfuscating the truth and making any D look bad, even if they have to fabricate the "charges". I am intrigued that they added Pelosi into it as well...probablky figured it would get 2 for the price of one...x(

[sylva]

32. See,Abscam was before my time...

...and I don't know HOW they dragged Pelosi into the whole thing.

[rasputin1952]

33. Pelosi is in this 'new thing'...but ABSCAM brought down some D's

for SERIOUS cash passing. Murtha was contacted by the 'fake sheiks', but did not take cash from them. He was never indicted, nor was he censured. Somehow, a tape of the meeting w/the "sheiks" came out...:eyes:...and now the R's and RW talk is trying to make Murtha look like a 'bad guy'. They loved him when he was hawkish, since he sees a problem w/Iraq and is taking on the administration, they view him as a threat. If they could find out that he pulled the wings off of flies when he was a 4 yo, they'd be screaming that he is a serial killer. BTW, bush pulled the wings off of flies and blew up frogs w/firecrackers when he was a kid.

Strange thing is though, no one seems to care that bush pounded out cowardice to new depths when he didn't even finish an Air NG stint he got to get out of going into the regular military. His dad pulled strings, just like he did at Yale, and bush got a free ride. Kerry, Murtha, Bob Kerrey, McCain, Cleland, Hagel all served...Dan Inoyue received the Medal of Honor, as did Bob Kerrey, and they are depicted as 'trash' because they are mostly D's, but all despise this administration.

Nixon served, so did Johnson, Ford served and Carter did as well, of course, Eisenhower served and Truman did as well (WWI no less). Reagan served, but never left Hollywood...he made B films about the war and training films as well...But Kennedy was in the Pacific while St Ronnie was boinking anything he could get his hands on.

What it comes down to, is that the R's have nothing, so they bash whomever they can....they are just plain evil little cowards that need to get the heck out of DC and go back to their swamps so they can destroy nothing but themselves...


OOPS...I got to ranting...sorry...:)

[greiner3]

52. Sorry to be graphic;

But I would not wipe my ass after a healthy one with the washington times.

[Jack Rabbit]

56. Sounds like a typical GOP smear campaign

None of these points address the main issue of the Iraq war. They are all red herrings.

[autorank]

35. Hey Tay Tay...

...clicked on it and who comes up - Brent Bozell...he's everywhere. Wonder what it's like to be in
your late 50's and working as a Republican troll.

:hi:

[stepnw1f]

2. Unamerican Sleazeball Rove

is about to be further exposed as the chickenhawk traitor he really is.

[bobby911]

4. fuck Rove

it's time for us to stand up and MAKE the media pay attention.

[stepnw1f]

5. I'm All Ears Man

The corporate media has essentially locked out our criticism. If they read it or hear about it, they do nothing at all. The media knows what it is doing. At least "upper management" does. Remember, we are up against a "CORPORATE MEDIA" deregulated.

[johnfunk]

10. Baseless charges -- just like the Swiftboating of Kerry

The evidence is pretty clear that their accusations are bogus... and it's time to not only tell the media but shove it in their faces.

There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that drives an online wingnut wilder than getting in their face.

[bobby911]

15. all ears?

how about a one day strike?

 it won't take much to force the issue guys.

 If we can gather enough momentum for a one day strike by even
ten million or so they won't be able to ignore it.

 Ten million isn't as hard as it seems.afl/cio covers a lot of
that.Get the teamsters and the afl/cio to declare a one day
strike and they wont get a choice but to cover it.

 Get equal numbers to support and we have a movement.

 Maybe I'm just an optimist but I still beleive we can make a
differance.

[liberaltrucker]

19. Welcome to DU(I think)

Very good puncuation and spelling.

[johnfunk]

20. Hey, I agree with the sentiment

I'm great at spelling gaffes every now and then too ;)

[johnfunk]

8. True, but take some time to comment at murthamustgo.blogspot.com

Let them know that their little scam is about to blow up in their feces... er, faces... um, well, yeah, it is hard to tell teh difference!

[Change has come]

24. I like the way you think

Welcome to DU.

[RagAss]

42. Welcome to DU....Bobby911

[johnfunk]

7. Comments are getting... well, a tad heated at the "Murtha Must Go" blog

One of their resident cockroaches decided to respond to a critic.:

JJ Balzer said...

No, it's when he said, "Bob Irey's a crook."

Hey, Chicago Ray, ever heard of Dale Stoffel?

Don't worry, the whole world will. Soon.

And why?

Because you and your band of pea-brained smearboating liars decided to engage in the politics of dishonest personal destruction against John Murtha.

I'm grabbing the popcorn. This is gonna be biiiiig fun... but not for you...

9:26 PM
Delete
Leo Pusateri said...

Hmmm... hate filled vituperation... name calling...

Have you bothered to take a look in the mirror, lateley?

9:51 PM
JJ Balzer said...

Like most right-wing dimwits, you can't tell the difference between hate and invective when you read something. Are you a victim of homeschooling, Puta-seri? Or just developmentally disabled? I'm not hating you -- I'm laughing at your feeble, debunked smearing of Murtha!

This blog needs a goddamn laugh track!

Oh, one other thing: you mentioned "Bush Derangement Syndrome." I happen to like 41 a lot. I voted for 43 the first time, but didn't repeat that mistake when he broke his promise to rein in entitlements and make real reform to the tax system. My taxes have gone UP -- in a GOP state -- and Bush Jr. raised taxes on my son, a student at Pepperdine.

You're not just a laughingstock, Puta -- you're a damn fool too, making unsupportable assumptions about your commenters. But that's OK -- keep the laffs coming.

Hell, you might even prompt me to write a check to a Democratic candidate for the first time: John Murtha.

[me b zola]

12. i'm loving it!

"Hell, you might even prompt me to write a check to a Democratic candidate for the first time: John Murtha." :applause:

[johnfunk]

16. That, as they say in WWE, is called a Smackdown

Not quite GOPers eating their own -- the commenter came across as informed and gleefully contemptuous of the Smearboater. Back in his face with 100 times the force -- probably rammed the Smearboater's tongue out his unprepared, prolapsed sphincter.

[me b zola]

6. She's ready to blow!!

I feel it. Just now on cnn they played comments from people on whether or not the Miami 7 were real threats....four out of five people said no that this is political.

Yep, they're screwing with the wrong Marine. Murtha is well loved and respected by the military. People who may not have known what to think about the swiftboat liars attack on Kerry will likely be able to connect the dots this time around.


I feel all kinds of blow-back is getting ready to hit the fan, and I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it! :beer: :smoke:

[johnfunk]

18. That is part of the reason the smearing of Murtha will generate blowback

1) The public is fed up with Bush.
2) The public distrusts the "stay the course" parrots.
3) The public supports the troops.
4) People with an interest in politics do not like these personal vendettas.
5) Activists can leave comments in unmoderated smear blogs -- yes, it does get under their skin.
6) And the press just might take notice -- I do know a couple people in the press, and they now feel like they got "took" by O'Neil, "Dr." Corsi and the Smearboaters. The FReepers behind this assault on Murtha's character may just rue the day they decided to pull this stunt.

[me b zola]

23. That's good news to hear...

"I do know a couple people in the press, and they now feel like they got "took" by O'Neil, "Dr." Corsi and the Smearboaters."

If you know a few, then there must be more out there. If they are any kind of reporter than they know what a friend to the military, veterans, and the Pentagon Murtha has been his entire political life and they will not quietly accept this lastest smearboating.

Here's to sanity & humanity being restored :toast:

[Metta]

9. Diane Irey is void of merit. Just slander. No substance or policy.

Just another water carrying, Bible thumping hack, imho.

[NewJeffCT]

11. OK, I don't get it?

Why is this that different than any other Republican tactic in recent years? Republicans with connections to sleazy operatives is not big news, is it? Am I missing something because it's late and I'm a bit tired?

[johnfunk]

13. What's different is the press isn't buying and Irey's hubby's tied to...

... an apparently crooked arms dealer who was apparently assassinated in Iraq last year. Culture of corruption and criminality -- and Irey's married to it!

And I'll keep saying it -- get in their faces, get in the blog's comment section, and go after Irey's vapidness and corruption.

[NewJeffCT]

37. Still...

The swiftboaters were tied back to Rove back in 2004 and nothing ever came out of that, other than Kerry being hurt by it.

[Tab]

38. It's a little different than that

in the Swiftboating, they could paint Kerry with the "commie jane fonda vietnam protester" brush, using that to overshadow his war performance, and tap into those latent feelings.

They don't have any such thing that can snag Murtha on that taps into things like that, plus Murtha has a thick skin and isn't afraid to fight back.

[jerry611]

14. It won't backfire at all

In America, the politics has become so ugly on both sides that no one cares anymore who is smeared, insulted, or slandered.

Americans have the mentality that it is a free country with freedom of speech. And absolutely no one is immune from dissent or criticism. If you go out on a limb and make a political opinion on an issue, expect to be attacked in every way possible. Even your closest friends, family, and co-workers will attack you.

That's just how it is these days... Politics is a dirty business. And that is why the clean people stay out of it.

[johnfunk]

17. As I said, not so much backfire as blowback

... in the questions beginning to resurface about Diane Irey's hubby and his dead business partner in Iraq.

They were looking to pocket thousands -- millions -- on the lies of Bush and the 2500-plus of America's finest soldier citizens killed as a result of those lies.

They lie. WEe demand accountability. Irey pays for her cheap-shot, trash=talking supporters. It's only fair.

[Erika]

26. There's a lot of "clean people" in politics

They are known as democrats. To be realistic, 98% of Dems are clean; two percent of republicans are.

[YumYum]

36. Too bad right doesn't make might!

[me b zola]

21. What a sick effing joke

They quote an article from the Washington Times that the author doesn't even know that the honorable Rep Murtha is a CONGRESSMAN, not a senator. :rofl:

"..Sen. John Murtha, a Marine veteran and a fervent opponent of the Iraq war, is not waiting for the conclusion of the investigation to accuse the Marines of killing civilians in "cold blood" at Haditha..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:





Yeah, okay guys. :spray:

[johnfunk]

22. DEPARTMENT OF DUMBASS: Freeper idiot posts plas to swiftboat Murtha

It doesn't get dumber than this!

Here it is, bad grammar, misspellings and all:

Operation Street Corner, Vietnam Veterans for the Truth and Larry Bailey.

Sitrep (Situation Report) from the frontlines in Pennsylvania's 12th district.

Larry Bailey has a reputation. It's a reputation for getting things done, even if he has to do them himself. Working with other Veterans and activists during the last election cycle he had a very noticeable impact on those elections. How did he do it? He went to the people. He went to the streets. He's now doing the same thing in Congressman Murtha's home district. Although he is not a part of the Irey campaign, he maintains regular contact with them in order to ensure that he makes the most efficient use of the time and resources available.

This is what Larry Bailey did during the last election cycle: http://operationstreetcorner.com/osc/list.htm I understand that Mike Bradley of Vietnam Veteran's for the Truth is also supporting Larry in his efforts.

...

Do you want to see Murtha gone? Do you want to see him defeated in November? First, write a check to "Vets for the Truth" and put it in the mail. (The donations will be covered under Iowa Presidential Watch's 527 status.) Do it today. Do it now. Then ship the items requested below to the address enclosed. After that, just pass the word.

...

CORRECTION: I have just been informed that Mr Bradley and Larry Bailey have nothing to do with the Irey Campaign. I do apologize for the mistake.

Sure they don't "Boner." Sure they don't...

[spag68]

31. Johnstown

I grew up in PGH.
and had relatives in Johnstown. If this asshat goes to Johnstown to bad mouth Murtha, he will find out about swift boats, as there is a river in town.

[blm]

65. This is going to get lost down here - can you start a new thread with it?

People have got to get on this.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. kicked and recommended!

[still_one]

27. what makes you think it will be different this time?

it worked for Max Cleland, John McCain, and John Kerry

Remember we are dealing with an administration controlled media

[rasputin1952]

30. Evil knows no boundaries...it must be fought in the open and with

truth.

Every time these people try this stuff, it needs to be acted upon immediately with the truth. These people need to be exposed for the liars they are. They need to understand that EVERY veteran suffers when charges are leveled that cannot be backed up by facts.

The GOP is filled w/allegations of the veterans, (mostly D's), that supposedly "stumbled" in their duty. For crying out loud, they tried to knock out Bob Kerrey, (actually they succeeded), from running for pres...and He received the Medal of Honor!

They back up bush, a coward and someone who couldn't even complete one hitch in the ANG...but a decorated D Vet is a target?????

Hound the media, make sure they deliver the truth!!!!

[Joanne98]

41. Max Cleland got taken out by the Diebold voting machines....

[FairVotes4all]

34. Everyone!

come out en-masse to post on this sad excuse for a blog

[johnfunk]

39. Sunday Meet the Right-wing Press TV Time KICK!!!

[emulatorloo]

40. kick n/t

[drm604]

43. Here's another DU thread

about swiftboating Murtha. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1499689

See my post in that thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1499689&mesg_id=1501866

[johnfunk]

44. I guarantee you that FReepers and Swiftboaters are NOT accustomed...

... to this sort of rigorous and rapid exposure, individually and as a network.

[me b zola]

46. speaking of rigourous & rapid exposure

I'm having a lot of problems loading their load of crap. I'm on a slow conection, but this site has been problematic. Have you noticed this or is it just me? I would love to drop in and leave a few comments, but it is giving my system fits.

on edit: I couldn't set up an account because I don't have my own blog:(

[johnfunk]

47. That's what sloppily coded sites do

I'm on broadband, and it does take longer to load than most blogs.

Be patient, then give 'em hell.

[johnfunk]

45. MURTHALIED.COM goes live with a whine session from Amanda Prewett Doss

This is just too precious. Amanda's horrified -- simply horrified -- that she's getting angry e-mails about her soon-to-be-lying scam of a Web site even before it's officially launched!

Democrats.com is on the case:

... Now meet Amanda Doss. She's one of those people and is about to put up a web site called Murthalied.com which, based on her known alliances with the kings of the bottom feeders, the Swift Boat Liars, will attempt to smear a fine man like John Murtha -- and other Veterans, like me, as well -- with new and improved levels of low-rent attacks.

But we're on to her already and she's rushed her web site into production quickly to spotlight the "…negative, hateful, or inappropriate email" she is allegedly receiving from readers of progressive blogs.

"Shortly after I purchased the domain name MurthaLied.com, my personal information (including where I live, my picture, my client list, and my email address) was posted on several 'Liberal' blogs," whines Doss. "Keep in mind, this information was posted BEFORE I had even created a website for MurthaLied.com."

She goes on to share the content (and originating e-mail addresses) of "… some of hateful and even threatening emails I have recently received due to these blogs, before this website was even created." Here's some samples:

"Please continue to try though, we will bury your threats, expose your lies, and most of all we will make it personal about you too. It is real easy in this day and age to find out people's spending habits, their comings and goings, and all the little things such as ex-boyfriends, ex-friends, and ex-colleagues in between. We will dig dirt up on you, it has already started. As they say in wingnut land... 'Bring 'em on..'"

Here's another:

"Interesting that a political whore would pick a name like "streetcorner". I've wonder who you'll be doing on the corner. (ick!)."

And there's more... much more. Click and enjoy!

[drm604]

48. This somewhat confirms what I've been thinking.

In this thread I said that I thought that Doss was really of secondary interest: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1499689&mesg_id=1501866

From Doss's post on http://murthalied.com:

Let me introduce myself. I am Amanda Doss, web designer by profession. I have created websites for many different businesses and people. I have created websites for child care centers, autobody shops, Catholic churches, Methodist churches, screen-printing businesses, and more. I have also created websites for both Democrats and Republicans.

At the bottom of each the websites I design, I put copyright information as well as designer information, including my email address for professional responses. From the websites that I created for Democrats, I have NEVER received a negative, hateful, or inappropriate email from their Republican opponents.

As I said I think that Doss is of secondary interest and people shouldn't be concentrating so much on her. It appears that the real people of interest are Larry Bailey and Mike Bradley, and possibly Bill Faith. This has ended up giving them ammunition against us right from the start since we're now being made to appear like we're attacking an innocent person. That claim will probably be all over the media. People need to be more careful and research a little further before sending off hate mail.

That said, I'm certainly not convinced of her complete innocence. Her complaints certainly seem to be designed to make Democrats look bad. I don't know whether or not there's any truth to her claims of never receiving hate mail from Republican opponents of Democratic sites but I have a feeling that the statement is disingenuous at best. We all know that Democratic sites receive all kinds of vicious e-mail. I'd like to know which Democratic sites she's designed. If they were, for example, simply local campaign sites that didn't viciously smear opponents then of course they wouldn't draw the same type of mail and comparing them to murthalied.com is comparing apples and oranges.

[Joanne98]

49. Is Larry Bailey related to Don Bailey?

[drm604]

55. I have no idea.

Who is Don Baily? What can you tell me about him?

[Joanne98]

50. Yep. Larry Bailey is a biggie all right

Captain Larry Bailey, USN (RET)

Larry Bailey retired from the U.S. Navy in 1990 after a 27-year career as a SEAL officer. His career included duty in the United States and in Panama, Bolivia, Scotland, Colombia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. He is a graduate of Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army's Foreign Area Officer School. He holds an undergraduate degree in History from Stephen F. Austin State College in Texas and a master's degree in Education from East Carolina University. Captain Bailey's most significant military assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Naval Special Warfare Center, where all Navy SEALS undergo basic and advanced training. Mr. Bailey is currently a free-lance consultant and writer on military affairs who has been published numerous times in the national press. He is also heading up the Kerry Lied Rally, an effort to put thousands of people in front of the U.S. Capitol on September 12, 2004 for an event intended to "tell the truth about Vietnam veterans, and to counter the lies John Kerry told about them."


----------

Not related to Don Bailey.....

[Joanne98]

53. Here's Larry Bailey at a Freeper press conference

http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Current_Event,Vote_2004&ArchiveDays=720

[Heywood J]

51. Here's what I sent her.

You do realize, for one, why people who post reader mail leave the sender's email off, regardless of the contents? That would make you an easy target for a harassment claim, e.g. to your ISP, should anyone take your implied suggestion to respond personally using those addresses.

Secondly, care to post the entirety of your site's inbox for us to see, rather than cherry-picking those that seem to support you? If you're going to run on a popularity contest or a "woe is me" platform, you could at least verify your claim.

Thirdly, if you're going to claim he lied about something, you should really make sure that your ducks are 110% in a row before you make the claim. That's how slander and libel suits get started. Just a word of advice.

I don't think she'll care, but I'll have spoken my peace.

[johnfunk]

54. Maybe she'll finally figure out she's their patsy

She'll take the heat and shoulder the burden of abuse while they get away with lies, lies lies...

If she had half a brain, she'd know this.

[johnfunk]

57. Sunday night KICK

:kick:

[drm604]

58. Kick

:kick:

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[johnfunk]

60. How INNNNNNNteresting...

Maybe someone should ask Amanda Doss or {link::murthamustgo.blogspot.com|this blog ] what they think of the matter...

[blogslut]

61. fight fire with fire

http://murthalied.net
:)

[drm604]

62. Very nice! n/t

[blogslut]

63. thanks

:)

[blm]

64. It IS going to blow up - Vet buds of Kerry started The Patriot Project

to counter ANY veteran who gets attacked for speaking out. They are very wellfunded and developed a strategy to track, out and swamp the scum who are doing this.

No more blindsiding.