February 22, 2007
John Murtha: Caving In To Arabs Since 1980
Printer FriendlyBy: Ann Coulter
Rumored ex-Marine John Murtha, Democrat congressman from Pennsylvania, has become the darling of the cut-and-run crowd for trying to place absurd restrictions on our troops, amounting to withdrawal from Iraq. Were Arab sheiks whispering into his ear?
In case you missed the video on "I Love the '80s," Rep. Murtha was caught on tape negotiating bribes with Arab sheiks during the FBI's Abscam investigation in 1980. The Abscam investigation was conducted by Jimmy Carter's Justice Department, not right-wing Republicans.
On tape, Murtha told the undercover FBI agent: "When I make a f***in' deal I want to make sure that I know exactly what I'm doing and ... what I'm sayin' is, a few investments in my district ..."
It is a profound and shocking fact that Murtha even showed up at this meeting, knowing he was going to be negotiating bribe money with Arabs.
Murtha added that he wanted the investment in his district to look like it was done "legitimately ... when I say legitimately, I'm talking about so these bastards up here can't say to me ... 'Jesus Christ, ah, this happened,' then he (someone else), in order to get immunity so he doesn't go to jail, he starts talking and fingering people and then the son of a bitch all falls apart."
For those of you just joining us, no, this isn't a scene from "The Sopranos." It's an actual conversation between a U.S. congressman and an FBI agent posing as an Arab sheik offering a bribe.
Murtha further said that although he was not prepared to accept cash at that time, "after we've done some business, then I might change my mind." You know, just what you or I or any American might say when offered a cash bribe by an Arab.
The ever-helpful media exposed the Abscam investigation before it could be completed, and consequently we were deprived of the possibility of seeing Murtha on tape stuffing cash in his trousers like the other Democratic congressmen (and one "moderate" Republican) convicted in the Abscam investigation. Or, as Al Gore used to call such a fund-raising procedure, "community outreach."
But Murtha was willing to trade favors in return for investment in his district — and suggested he might take cash down the line. In other words, Murtha wasn't calling for an immediate surrender of his scruples and principles, but rather a phased withdrawal of them.
In fact, according to a co-conspirator's affidavit, it didn't take long for Murtha to warm to the idea of a cash bribe.
About a month after the taped meeting with Murtha, the co-conspirator, lawyer Howard L. Criden, wrote in his affidavit: "Yesterday, Feb. 1, (Democrat Congressman Frank 'Topper') Thompson called and told me that Murtha was ready to go," adding that Murtha had indicated "during January that he was not ready to do business but would be willing to do so in the future."
Criden said: "Congressman Murtha of Pennsylvania would be willing to enter into an agreement similar to that of the other congressmen" — i.e., taking $50,000 cash from the sheiks for legislative favors.
Criden's affidavit went unsigned, according to his lawyer, Richard Ben-Veniste, solely because of the resulting publicity when the press blew the investigation, leading Criden to believe the prosecutors had broken the deal.
Criden was later convicted and sentenced to six years in prison, along with seven members of Congress (six of them Democrats). Murtha was an unindicted co-conspirator. (Would that Patrick Fitzgerald were prosecuting the case!)
As an attorney, let me give you the technical legal description of what occurred: John Murtha was as guilty as O.J. Simpson.
Now Murtha issues high moral pronouncements on the war and denounces our troops, calling the U.S. military "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth." Gee, too bad there aren't any Arab sheiks offering them cash bribes. Sounds like they could really use the money.
Murtha accuses Marines of killing "innocent civilians in cold blood" during an ongoing investigation. Semper Fi, Mr. Dirty Congressman.
Instead of toppling brutal dictators and spreading democracy in the Middle East, Murtha apparently prefers the old way of doing business with Arabs, where he gets juice from the sheiks.
The Democrats' cheat-sheet on Murtha demands that it be shouted out: "He didn't take a bribe on tape!" That's their defense. There is not even a pretense that he didn't talk to Arabs about a bribe.
He negotiated with a prostitute at the bar, but never consummated the deal. He's a saint! Let him be my congressman!
It's the Clintonian "incompetency" defense: Murtha was willing to be bribed; he just never got his act together enough to pick up the cash. I may not be honest, but I'm way too disorganized to actually take bribes!
Fine, Murtha was never convicted. Neither was Nixon. Venal hack John Murtha was willing to sell his country's interests to Arab sheiks. This is the man Democrats have put up to lead the anti-war charge today, demanding that the commander in chief stop deploying troops against his Arab friends.
If only this whole war thing would blow over, maybe that Arab is still waiting out there with a deal for him.
Posted by redguy at February 22, 2007 08:39 PM
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Comments
Right again, Ann!
This shows the liberal Democrat and main stream media double standard at work again!
When it comes to liberal Democrats caught on tape brokering bribery deals, even future bribery deals, that gets excused away as "he didn't take any money, now did he!"
Yet, to convict Republicans of anything, all you need is "the seriousness of the charge". Not evidence; not proof positive - just "the seriousness of the charge".
Then, we need a special prosecutor to spend billions of tax-payer dollars on an investigation to see if they can turn up any evidence. There was no evidence to level the charge in the first place - but "the seriousness of the charge" is enough to begin a "witch-hunt" for anything to charge anyone with - even if it had nothing to do with the original charge.
Our framers and all those that have fought and died to create and maintain this country must be rolling over in their graves at what America and its politicians have become!
Posted by: LynnJG
at February 23, 2007 07:37 AM
Perhaps that Murtha-foulker can be the poster boy for the left’s seemingly insatiable appetite for malfeasance.
As you said, Ann my one true love, Murtha is wearing street clothes instead of a stylish and slimming orange jumpsuit because the liberazi blew the whistle on him. But, in his defense, Al $harpton has also been caught on tape in a similar in flagrante delicto. Not to be out done, BJ Clinton has also been caught with his pants down. Neither seemed to have made guests of the state for those actions.
(Yes, and the list goes on and on and every once in a while some is sacrificed to the gods so the left can say that they do eat their own. But, a Dem takes a job making license plates about as often as the ACLU takes up a Pro-Life case.)
The fact that Murtha is still on the street and surprisingly enough still employed is a testament to the resiliency of the liberazi to turn lemon-ade into lemons and still make a buck on citrus subsidies.
This also explains why Reid is not cracking rocks behind some high concrete, concertina bedecked walls somewhere.
But seriously, I would give Murtha, Reid and all the rest of the larcenous and duplicitous liberals a pass for their past and possible on-going indiscretions as long as we can have them ALL up on charges found in Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution.
(I am sure that this will come as a shock to many on the left. I am certain that most of them are not aware that there are provisions in the Constitution regarding treason. I am equally certain that these same good Americans are not aware that only the President has the power to declare war. A fact lost on those who are looking to un-declare the actions that that big, bad, evil Geo. Bush did with their consent. Bastards, all of them!)
God Bless and God Speed
John
Posted by: Jaksavin
at February 23, 2007 08:00 AM
Good Morning! As always, Ann, you find the EXACT words to describe our media-protected congressmen (and women!) "Mr. Dirty Congressman" fits Murtha to a T - and how I wish he would quit using his USMC service to justify his treasonist words and deeds - he does such a disservice to those Marines who have served (or are currently serving) their country with honor.
Another congressman we don't hear much about is our Louisiana "freezer man" - and Harry Reid gets NO media coverage at all concerning his land deals - the list goes on and on. Even when Ms. Pelosi tried to opt out her major corporate backer from the minimum wage increase, NO coverage from the MSM. And then we wonder why many Americans have become ho-hum about politics...what good does it do to be concerned...okay, I'll write my congressional reps to voice my concerns. You know Ted Kennedy and John Kerry and William Delahunt are just waiting to toss my emails and letters right into the circular file...THEY know best, no need to listen to or respond to their constituents!
Posted by: CapeConservative
at February 23, 2007 09:51 AM
Cape:
I feel sorry for you with your list of people who represent you. Here in New York we have wonderful and camera shy senators. Why Senators Clinton and Schumer are most agreeable to our needs and respond immediately to our concerns and furthermore…
what… hang on…. they don’t?….. huh?….nevermind.
OK, this just in, I was mistaken, I am up the same creek as you with the same need of a paddle.
But, therein lies the rub. Someone must be voting for these people as we are both kvetching about the same thing. Is the left doing a better job of getting the vote out or have we become too complacent?
But there may be hope yet. It is being reported that Sen. Lieberman is considering changing his party affiliation. That would make it 50 Reps, 49 Dems with 1 Ind caucusing with the Dems, creating a virtual tie and with a Rep VP, ta da! We are back in the driver's seat.
Ahhh… I'd love to see the look on Reid’s face when the moving company comes to help him vacate his office!
God Bless and God Speed
John
Posted by: Jaksavin
at February 23, 2007 11:03 AM
Thanks for your empathy, John. I have CA friends who are also distraught with their Pelosi/Boxer combination. Guess it helps a little to know we are not paddling alone in this creek of liberalism. (cleaned that one up, didn't I!)
GO JOE!! Jump that aisle!!!! I'll be glad to donate a few hours packing up the good senator from Nevada's office "stuff"
Posted by: CapeConservative
at February 26, 2007 09:02 PM
Cape:
"this creek of liberalism"
Er, if we are citing the same reference, I dare say old chap, that is redundant.
Sadly there has been little more speak of Sen. Joe’s alleged defection so offers to help future indictee Reid are unneeded at the moment. But, we shall not give up hope!
God Bless and God Speed, my friend!
John
Posted by: Jaksavin
at February 27, 2007 01:59 PM
Sorry for this but I am cracking myself up. It would be terrible if Hillary got elected but if Barrak Hussein did, it would be......
AN OBAMA-NATION!
Stop it, I'm killing me!
Posted by: Jaksavin
at February 27, 2007 04:52 PM
Great piece, Ann. I continue to love your honest, no nonsense approach. Keep exposing these wishy-washy spineless excuses for politicians.
Posted by: coachb
at November 11, 2009 07:10 AM
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