Perspective

Republican Congresswoman Jean Schmidt called Jack Murtha a coward [Friday] afternoon, unworthy of the Marines, on the House floor. Money quote:

The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel. "He asked me to send Congress a message - stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message - that cowards cut and run, Marines never do," Schmidt said.

She later withdrew her remarks from the record. But those words linger as a reminder of what these Republicans have become. For the record: Murtha served 37 years in the Marines, and has Purple Hearts to his name. He visits wounded soldiers at Walter Reed every week. Three years ago, he won the Semper Fidelis Award of the Marine Corps Foundation, the highest honor the Marines can confer. Every time you think these Republicans can sink no lower, even after their vile smears against Kerry's service last year, they keep going. They make me sick to my stomach.
The outraged party? Conservative Andrew Sullivan.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Sully’s willing to abide a lot of bullshit. I’ve seen him contort himself into outrageous positions trying to defend the indefensible—he’s a gay Republican and a Bell Curve apologist, for crying out loud. When the GOP has gone so far that even he’s sick to his stomach, they’ve gone so far beyond the pale as to be little more than an evil joke.

Think Progress has the video of Schmidt’s embarrassing performance. What a nut. I was watching it live, and almost shit my breeks when she called Murtha a coward. Apparently, donning a putrid stars-n-stripes jumper passes for bravery in her circle.

And finally, since their spectacle on the floor of the House backfired, the GOP is seeking an ethics probe of Murtha. Shameless gits.

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