The Democratic Party is ready to lead and here is why. Ten days or so ago it became clear that Congressman Jack Murtha had an election fight on his hands. Not only is his district the heartland of Republican and hopes to win Pennsylvania, but the Republicans have to win Pennsylvania to win the White House. A Profile in Courage award winner and fearless backer of the military and veterans, Murtha is opposed by a recently retired, Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel from Virginia who came to the district to punish Murtha for speaking out against Iraq and needless civilian casualties. Millions of national conservative and Republican dollars flooded the district; Congressman Murtha was unprepared for the onslaught. He is now.
Two years ago, Senator Max Cleland led a rally chant,
we got your back, Jack.It was true then and even more true now. I saw it happen. The word went out across the Democratic world that Congressman Jack Murtha needed help. To a man and woman, everyone needed to be convinced that this was true. Once they realized that Jack could well be beat, the flood gates opened. The stream of diverse talent from and into the district was incredible. The flood of money, the ammunition of any political campaign, was awe inspiring. I watched living proof that the Democratic Party is ready to lead.
From Senator Obama to the youngest Democratic voter, all factions melded well together to accomplish the goal of putting in place the best possible campaign to reelect Jack Murtha and deliver Pennsylvania for Obama. This is huge. Conservatives and Republicans could not rule effectively because of their inability to compromise and achieve goals. Even with the long hours, short suspenses and strong egos, Democratic Party leaders of all factions delivered for Congressman Murtha and did so with little friction or drama.
Will Pennsylvania vote for Obama and his fellow Democrats? I hope so and I will spend today doing my best to make it so. BUT I am now certain that the Democratic Party is fit and ready to lead this nation. I have seen it in action and it works and works well!
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Eyck Freymann: John Murtha and the Culture of Corruption
Murtha is a crook, and if the House Democrats were serious about fighting corruption, they would have expelled him from the caucus when the first definitive corruption stories broke.
