I assume you all saw the other day when Representative Jean Schmidt (R-OH) slammed Representative John Murtha with a letter from a former serviceman saying "Cowards cut and run. Marines never do."
I almost felt sorry for Ms. Schmidt. First, other Republicans pounced on her and made her retract her comments. She had to go to the mike, deny that she was referring to Murtha and ask that her comments be stricken from the record. Then other Republican Congressfolks went out and "defended" her by claiming she was unaware Murtha had been a decorated Marine. This is known as the "not rude, just ignorant" defense. Given the choice, I think I'd rather have people think I was rude. Finally, a spokesperson for the gentleman who wrote the letter she was quoting is now saying, "He did not mention Congressman Murtha by name nor did he mean to disparage Congressman Murtha…he feels as though the words that Congresswoman Schmidt chose did not represent their conversation."
In other words, everyone around this lady has opted to cut and run.
But you know what's really wrong with her statement? It's the introduction of the issue of "cowardice" into this whole discussion. It's a phony issue, first of all because it's irrelevant. If it's right for the U.S. to have an occupation in Iraq and to be doing whatever it is we're doing there, it's right. It's not a matter of anyone's bravery. God help us if we're only staying there to prove we're tough…or that our soldiers are tough…or that someone's tough.
Which brings us to the big question: Who's the alleged coward here? John Murtha because he doesn't want someone else to get killed? The man may be wrong but either way, it's kind of unlikely that he's going to die as a result of the U.S. staying or not staying in Iraq. Throughout history, a lot of very craven people have been perfectly happy to send others off to war. If anything, Murtha was showing a certain amount of bravery for taking a position that, he must have known, would have caused him to be attacked and insulted and investigated. (It also would not be an act of cowardice for our Marines and other troops to leave Iraq if that's what their leaders decide. Most deserters could be called cowards but I don't think that's who anyone was talking about here.)
It's arguments like this that make me agree with whoever said Politics is just high school with human lives on the line.