Ethics Trickle Down, McCain

When the old warrior John McCain selected Palin -- who is the subject of bi-partisan investigations for ethics violations -- he sent a message that resonates all the way down the ticket. There are numerous examples, but the most indicative is probably in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Why there?

Have you noticed ongoing "gotcha's" against Congressman Murtha? The Congressman is a hero to his constituents and in no danger of losing his district. The real story came out last week in Pittsburgh. A leading Pennsylvania Republican admitted on camera that his party was losing, even in their Southwestern strongholds. I have said it before; electoral college math shows that the only way that McCain can win the White House is to win in Pennsylvania. If they cannot win the state's Southwest, they know they cannot win the state.

The candidate against Congressman Murtha is an individual calling himself, Lieutenant Colonel William Russell. Now just like Russell, I am a retired lieutenant colonel but I seldom go by that title and if I do use it, I always identify myself retired as required by regulations. A minor point but indicative of Russell's character. There is more. Apparently Russell is also involved in an Army Reserve Headquarter investigation into allegations that Russell operated his campaign against Mr. Murtha from Russell's Pentagon office using Pentagon equipment. So clearly, we have another ethically challenged Republican Candidate. But now, Russell totally casts his ethics aside in a desperate attempt to recover Southwestern Pennsylvania for McCain. Here is Russell's latest outrage.

Fisher House is one of my favorite charities. I quote from their website:

"Supporting America's military in their time of need, we provide "a home away from home" that enables family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time -- during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury."

They provide housing for the families of our military near military and VA medical centers when our troops are experiencing a medical emergency. Why do I mention Fisher House? Because they literally should be above the fray. No candidate of any party should "use" Fisher House for a political campaign. We members of the military family understand this completely. But now, I receive a copy of a letter sent to Russell by attorneys representing Fisher House™ . The subject was: "unauthorized use of Fisher House Foundation in Campaign Materials" and addressed a scheduled "Bill Russell's Hot Dog Day". The October 15, 2008 letter specifically demands that Russell and his campaign:

"...cease and desist using or referencing Fisher House, its logo or anything referring to Fisher House in any of its literature or communications... Fisher House further notifies you that it will not accept any proceeds resulting from this unauthorized event or from the campaign at any time."

The bottomline is that candidate Russell ignored the letter and had his " Bill Russell's Hot Dog Day" with Fisher House logo and all. He is willing to violate a tremendous agent for good, Fisher House, to accomplish his task of delivering Southwestern Pennsylvania to John McCain.

Clearly, Russell betrayed all military and civilian ethical standards for political gain. There is no doubt that Congressman Jack Murtha will defeat Russell but it remains to be seen if southwestern Pennsylvania will vote for Obama. John McCain, you must repudiate Russell's shameless use of Fisher House for political gain. Will you? I know the John McCain of 2000 would have and with a vengeance.

Comments

[LEOvet]

People who want to help Murtha should also go to www.murtha.org and contribute and put Mr. Russell back in Virginia on November 5th

[freedoms66]

Mr. Donahue,
I did get a question throught to Bill Russell regarding the cease and desist letter - on our local radio program on Friday. He denies there has been any such ban on his use of the logo or the Fisher House Name.
You can hear his response here: http://thinkwebworks.com/POLLING/RUSSELL.htm

NOTE: He seemed to think that I was part of the "Moveon.org crowd.

[ConcernedDoctor]

Fisher Houses and the Fisher Foundation do tremendous work and get well deserved support from every senior political and military leader I've known.
All of us need to constantly maintain a clean separation between our work for candidates and parties and our engagement in great nonpartisan causes like the Fisher Foundation.
One reason why I respect Jack Murtha and Hal Donahue is that even in the most partisan situations, they will never break that standard. Anyone who wants my support must meet it as well.

[freedoms66]

ConcernedDoctor,
Is there some distinction between Fisher House and the Fisher Foundation?
When I listened to him answer my question, Russell seemed to indicated emphatically that he'd been given specific approval to collect funds for Fisher.
Yet, Mr. Donahue's text above states that Fisher House would not accept any funds from political campaigns.

[catuskoti]

Great post, Hal. This story needs to get out more in the veteran community. The WaPo writes today that vets are still breaking for McCain 60-40%

With thanks and all best wishes,

Amy

[Christine Pelosi - Huffpost Blogger]

Great post Hal - great to see you on top of these issues. Sounds like Fisher House does great work - Murtha's opponent should have served up his hot dogs and hot air someplace else. Not that we expect a chastisement from the top of the ticket - as you rightly point out, McCain 2008 is but a mere shadow of McCain 2000.

[freedoms66]

Mr. Donahue,
Although Mr. Russell's web site still has a page devoted to "Bill Russell's Hot Dog Day."
While he does put a disclaimer at the bottom of that page, which indicates: "this event be interpreted as an endorsement from the Fisher House," it still leaves one with the impression that the event (s) were being put on through the auspices that organization.
I'm also a bit concerned because he appeared on a local radio show in my hometown of Uniontown, Pa. - the morning after he'd supposedly gotten off duty. Yet, he'd already had a web site up that was fully functional.
I'm sure there must be questions about his conducting political activities while still in uniform.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

I hear that Fort McPherson is investigating Russell but of course no result will be out before the election. I hear he was also on active duty and on some whacko fringe talk show. What you say won't surprise me. Ignoring an institution like Fisher House which is a wonderful organization just displays an arrogance the is amazing

[freedoms66]

I'm not sure if the "whack fringe talk show" may have been WMBS-590 in Uniontown.
The SECOND time he was on that show (I didn't call in the first time) it was the very day John Murtha made his comments regarding racism in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Russell bought an hour of air time, but accepted calls.
He not only knocked Murtha, but he spent most of his time knocking Barack Obama.
That's fair, BUT he made some very, very incendiary and off the wall comments about him.
So, I called into the show and proceeded to challenge him point-by-point.
He got ruffled and eventually hung up the telephone on me.
I guess my "tipping point" was when he claimed Obama "palled around" with Louis Farrakhan!

[jeffy921969]

good one hal
what the hell is the matter with murtha saying out loud that sw pa is raciest
if mccain has to win pa then he and the republicans are in trouble
it is funny how the term republicans has become a pejorative

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

They are mining everything the man, known for speaking his mind, has ever said. Remember, the Republicans MUST HAVE southwestern Pennsylvania to win the presidency. Congressman Murtha stands smack in the middle of their way.

[John Bruhns - Huffpost Blogger]

Hal,

Another great piece. Keep em coming.

- JB

[jimpwhite]

Aloha from all your fans in Hawaii!! As always great writing and direct! Jack Murtha is and has always applied ethics and truth in his governing & campaigning!! I make a call that his district will pull Obama/Biden and Murtha. v/r jim

[NationalTreasure]

what the heck has happened to all of the moral conservative republicans? All of these republican canidats are full of hypocrisy.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

LOL moral conservative republicans are the ones called RINOs by the majority of the Republican Party.

[skrets]

Former army captain here... if this guy was recently retired and couldn't get above the rank of LTC after 20 years, he's obviously a joke. I didn't find anything in my two minute's worth of google research, but I believe the promotion rate is currently somewhere around 60% for LTC to COL, which is about 30% above the historical average. It's obvious from this article that he doesn't embody the principles that a senior officer and (presumably) commander should to set the example for his soldiers.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

His last tour was the Pentagon and by many reports he still lives in northern Virginia. Considering his huge fundraising and huge costs, I suspect he really is a political type guy who happens to have been in the Army. His mission appears to be to raise money and to help McCain.

[tinsldr2]

Skrets shows his ignorance of Army promotions. While he claims to have got out of the Army as a Captain apparently he forgot the time in grade requirements for promotion boards.

Officers are selected for promotion by centralized promotion boards with a typical time as an offcier of 16-17 years to pin on LTC. Then the "in the zone" promotion when the best officers are selected for promotion is at 22 years of Commisioned service. The Current rate for COL is about 50% promotion but if an officer takes the promotion that usually commits them to longer service.

The promotion rates and timelines are publicly available at http://usmilitary.about.com/od/promotions/l/blofficerprom.htm

Most Officers without prior enlisted service will retire as a LTC.

[e-mail]

[LeftRight]

Well, I don't know if anyone ELSE will feel comfortable about blasting this bastard, but speaking as a veteran, F*** YOU lt. colonel russel!

I served under four CO's at the same rank (though they were all Commanders, not light birds....) and the WORST of them wouldn't have EVER done something like this!!!!

[pons1595]

And I as a resident of this area will surely not vote for him. Obama/Biden '08

[LeftRight]

Thank you!! I will not be able to vote against him, being in IL, but we will be able to share our votes for Obama!!!

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

Great but tell your friends and call Murtha for Congress and get involved. It appears to be time to push voter contact. Hmmm I may even pack my bags for a few....