Guest Cartoon: Help for RINOs
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Nov. 22 Update (Cunningham Interview): I didn’t catch the interview. I am listening to some of the reaction on WLW. In the meantime, here’s S.O.B Alliance member Project Logic’s take on the interview and the Schmidt press release. Cunningham’s interview transcript is here.
Nov. 22 Update (Gongwer Ohio): An in-state publication that requires a subscription had the following pertinent information yesterday as part of a longer article (no link is available–I subscribed to a free trial subscription, and was sent an e-mail attachment containing what is below):
Karen Tabor, spokeswoman for House Republicans, said Monday that Rep. Bubp had engaged in what he considered was a private conversation with Congresswoman Schmidt to express his concerns about the question of an immediate troop withdrawal.
“He spoke with the congresswoman in the context of a constituent, and someone with a military background who had concerns on the issue. I think it is a fair assumption that he was surprised to hear it on the floor,” Ms. Tabor said.
“I think she went an extra step and brought that up on the floor. It’s important, though, to note that Rep. Bubp never intended his remarks to be directed at Congressman Murtha or his service to our country. As a Marine colonel himself, he respects Congressman Murtha and his record and the service of all veterans.”
Related reports are in the the Nov. 22 Cincinnati Enquirer and the Nov. 22 New York Times (scroll down past the end of the section about Rep. Murtha). Given what’s in the orginal source cited above, I’m not convinced that The Times’ published quote of Ms. Tabor is accurate.
I have reason to believe that there may be more to this story than has been published thus far, but have concluded that I will not be able to publish it, or prove it, without someone in a position to know going on the record.
Suffice it to say that while I remain pleased at the general nature of Congresswoman Schmidt’s remarks, and with the results of the House’s decisive rejection of immediate withdrawal from Iraq, I’m less than pleased with the basis for the detail in the message she delivered. The cartoon stays, as I’m not about to begin whitewashing what I (or my “guest artists”) do here, but I’m not sure that I would have had it posted had I known what I now know. I still agree with the Jawa Report Update below that no matter how frantic the media spin, no one personally called anyone a “coward,” and that the person in question did not cast a “cowardly” vote, something one cannot say about his opposite and conflicting public remarks.
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UPDATE, Nov. 20: My Pet Jawa: “Hysterical Left Begins Building New Lie: ‘She Called Murtha a Coward’”
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Nov. 19 Wizbang Trackback Carnival participant.
Beautiful — and TRUE! :)
Comment by Steven J. Kelso Sr. — November 19, 2005 @ 9:04 am
Her comments may have gone further than Dems would have liked but she should not have retracted them. Don’t say it if you don’t believe it should stand. Her comments were a quote from a Marine Colonel and no one can dispute the sentiment. “Cowards cut and run, Marines don’t.”
Comment by LargeBill — November 19, 2005 @ 1:15 pm
#2, My understanding is that she was “forced” to do so under House Rules when someone said she was attacking another member by name-debatable (her caller or writer was, not her). But in the big picture to me it’s irrelevant. If I learn more, I’ll pass it on but I’m not looking for it.
Comment by TBlumer — November 19, 2005 @ 1:34 pm
If Schmidt had any courage, she wouldn’t have voted for Bob Taft’s massive tax increases. Slurring a Marine, instead of rebutting his irresponsible policies, just shows a lack of intellect, not a dose of courage.
Comment by Jeff — November 19, 2005 @ 5:36 pm
#4, Nice try, no sale. Her prior tax votes in OH were mistakes. As far as I’m concerned, she started with a clean slate once she entered Congress, and has done all right so far.
And she did not slur anyone (lying spin the NYT is trying, BTW), she relayed someone else’s comment to her .
Note that Murtha voted like the kind of person she characterized–publicly saying he wants immediate withdrawal and then voting against immediate withdrawal. If the shoe fits…..
Comment by TBlumer — November 19, 2005 @ 6:28 pm
As long as we’re discussing Schmidt the public official, her entire public record is up for debate. Just because her tax-hiking record makes it more difficult for you to do as you’re told and be a Schmidt Apologist doesn’t mean it’s not a valid topic for debate.
As for this cowardly attack against a Marine, I’m not going to be a hypocrite and defend a Republican for doing something that I condemn liberals for. When the unpatriotic DailyKos, vicious MoveOn.org, and Michael Moore use cheap personal attacks as a substitute for debate, we conservatives roundly condemn them. When Jean Schmidt stoops to their level, we should be no more supportive of it.
Rep. Murtha’s proposal was totally irresponsible and not in our country’s best interests. Any intelligent person could have articulated the opposition view and soundly trashed his motion. Instead, Schmidt embarrasses the entire Republican Party by her use of MoveOn.org tactics. Shame on her.
Comment by CincyJeff — November 19, 2005 @ 11:49 pm
#6, Nobody tells me what to say about Schmidt, and you should know it. If you don’t you do now. If you don’t believe it, too bleeping bad (if you bothered to look, you’d know I voted for Brinkman in the primary). I’m entitled to an opinion that she gets a clean slate to start with in Washington, you’re entitled to disagree.
Your 2nd and 3rd paras were asked and answered in #4 and #5.
Comment by TBlumer — November 19, 2005 @ 11:59 pm
BizzyBlog cartoon sums it up
Help For RINOs
Trackback by Project LOGIC — November 20, 2005 @ 3:16 pm
Don’t get me wrong, your coverage of the primary was tops. It was original, independent, and in far more depth than anything the mainstream media produced. But since Schmidt got the nomination, it’s been Talking Points, as if we should forget everything we’ve ever known about her.
And yes, a Congressman is fully responsible for everything they say on the House floor. Everything. Whether she was relaying a message or not, she is responsible for saying those words. If a Marine sent a message to Hillary Clinton asking her to tell George Bush that he’s a murderer and deserter, and she read those comments on the Senate floor, don’t tell me you wouldn’t condemn her for it. These people are responsible for everything they say.
Comment by CincyJeff — November 20, 2005 @ 6:22 pm
Since you didn’t name specifics, I did a search of this blog on Schmidt. After the August election posts and before Friday, I did two posts about her. Other posts mentioned her, but only peripherally.
Yes, I openly supported her in July and August instead of Hackett–I intended to stay out of it completely, but Hackett’s deceptions were so brazen I felt compelled to get back in the fray.
The posts are:
- Criticizing Joe Braun (Schmidt campaign manager) for criticizing blogs.
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=619
- Telling her and everyone else that ethanol is a loser:
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=738
- Then the series of the past few days on the comments, where we disagree on what she did.
So I don’t know where you’re reading Schmidt “talking points,” but it’s not here, Jeff.
Comment by TBlumer — November 20, 2005 @ 7:02 pm
Reading “CincyJeff” criticize you for so-called “Talking Points” is incredibly hypocritical, given that he has been notorious for repeating Brinkman’s talking points verbatim.
Comment by Mike Henderson — November 23, 2005 @ 2:21 pm
#11, I wouldn’t know, but thanks for the heads-up.
Comment by TBlumer — November 23, 2005 @ 4:24 pm
Mike, the voices in your head don’t count for much when claiming to represent other people’s opinions.
BTW Mike, what do you think of Jean Schmidt being caught in a lie regarding Col. Bubp’s comments? He says he never referred to Rep. Murtha by name, and would never call a fellow Marine a coward? It’s all over the papers. See if you can address that without borrowing someone’s talking points.
Comment by CincyJeff — November 23, 2005 @ 6:38 pm
I’d like to see more of Bizzy’s take on the developing rift between Bubp and Schmidt. Clearly there is a significant discrepancy between the two accounts.
I encourage all concerned to check out WKRC’s interview of Jean Schmidt – they posted the raw, unedited interview. All I can say is that she comes off as less than honest, unprepared, and woefully inadequate to be our Representative. But hey, I’m a partisan hack, and I voted for someone else in the primary, so take it for what it’s worth.
Comment by Murtha's Ghost — November 30, 2005 @ 4:45 am
#14, Bubp-Schmidt–Got links?
WKRC Interview–Got a link (couldn’t find it where it was last week)?
Comment by TBlumer — November 30, 2005 @ 11:59 am