Take Action: call your member now to vote Murtha.
When the new Congress convenes in January, the first big battle won't be with Republicans, but with themselves. As expected, Congressman Jack Murtha announced that he will challenge current Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for the Majority Leader role. Unexpectedly, incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi has decided to test-drive her newfound influence by backing Jack, setting up a real battle for the second-most powerful position in the House of Representatives.
There are a lot of reasons to like Murtha for the role, and not so many to favor Hoyer.
First, the obvious. Jack Murtha had the foresight to challenge the President strongly on Iraq, when too many in his party tried to blur the lines with wishy-washy proposals, including Hoyer. Late last year, Murtha observed that the current course in Iraq is not working, and since the President seemed uninterested in setting forth a new course with achievable and measurable goals, troops should begin a modified redeployment following Iraqi elections that was consistent with their safety. Further, he said, while the US should continue to engage in a diplomatic policy to help Iraqis stand on their own two feet, a quick-strike force should remain in the region, and US Marines should maintain a presence just over the horizon, to ensure that the country does not destabilize.
In the end, this was not only good politics, as it opened the door to strongly oppose the Administration on Iraq, but now it seems that the non-partisan commission led by former Secretary of State Baker will propose, essentially, the same thing.
So, chalk up a point for Murtha for credibility on the most important issue in the nation.
But, Murtha offers so much more than that.
Steny Hoyer is the ultimate DC-insider. While being very open about his efforts to cozy up to big business lobbyists on K Street, Hoyer was less forthcoming about doing the bidding of corporate America in exchange for campaign donations. While soliciting multi-thousand dollar checks, Hoyer refused to do his job as Minority Whip, sitting out the battle over the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), voting for the credit card industry written bankruptcy reform bill, and the Cheney energy bill. To be sure, Hoyer is smooth on television - always keeping to his talking points.
This is exactly what Americans said they do not want, in the midterm elections. In the bellweather of Ohio, progressive firebrand Sherrod Brown won a Senate seat railing against unfair trade agreements and for more progressive economics. In red Montana, Jon Tester wasn't the choice of party insiders to carry the Democratic banner, but in the end it was his rough around the edges persona that endeared him to voters. The anti-politician, Jim Webb, was the choice of Virginians for Senate, over the slick career pol, George Allen. Webb was never measured in what he said about the war - he spoke his mind, and voters respected that.
When looking at Jack Murtha, he combines the best of all three. Watching him on television, no one can say Murtha is slick, or reciting talking points. He's emotional, he thinks on his feet, and sometimes, yes, he even stumbles over a word or two. It's called authenticity. Like Tester, he's a gruff man's man, who likes his guns and doesn't want to "take them away" from anyone. Like Webb, as a Marine, Murtha has the credibility to talk bluntly about getting out of Iraq. Like Brown, Murtha is unabashed in his support for blue collar workers.
If Democrats are smart, they'll follow the voters' desires and Nancy Pelosi's lead in supporting Jack Murtha for Majority Leader. It won't win them many fans in corporate America, who are banking on Steny Hoyer to carry their water. It won't win Democrats many friends among the chattering class which still won't say America needs to get out of Iraq. Political consultants who are always hung up on talking points won't like the freewheeling and honest Murtha. No, but electing Murtha to Majority Leader will win Democrats the only people who ultimately matter - the voters.
Take Action: call your member now to vote Murtha.