The Media Are Shocked, Shocked I Tell You, To Discover That Murtha's a CrookOf course, back when it might have mattered to the voters in his his district, like two weeks ago, they were doing the "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" routine with Murtha. But now that he's been reelected and was up for a leadership position, they suddenly realized that it matters. Consider:
The LA Times:
NEWLY MINTED House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is off to a rocky start. On the same day she was formally elected to lead the new Democratic majority, party colleagues refused to endorse her bizarre choice of Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), who was investigated but not charged in the Abscam scandal more than two decades ago, as her second-in-command.The New York Times:
But Ms. Pelosi’s damage to herself was already done. The well-known shortcomings of Mr. Murtha were broadcast for all to see — from his quid-pro-quo addiction to moneyed lobbyists to the grainy government tape of his involvement in the Abscam scandal a generation ago. The resurrected tape — feasted upon by Pelosi enemies — shows how Mr. Murtha narrowly survived as an unindicted co-conspirator, admittedly tempted but finally rebuffing a bribe offer: “I’m not interested — at this point.”Howard Fineman:
It also didn't help Murtha that he was the star of FBI surveillance tapes in the ABSCAM influence-peddling case two decades ago. He wasn't charged with a crime, but the video inevitably became a YouTube hit in recent weeks. Here's another rule for the successful Boss: don't back someone for leadership who is a lead player in FBI tapes.Boy, it's amazing what crack investigative work these liberals can produce when it's not going to result in a Republican beating a Democrat!
Update:
Thanks to Pam who dubbed this the quote of the day.
