Schmidt-ty words

It appears that Rep Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) may have put her foot in her moth in more than one fashion, at least according to a story in the Cincinnati Inquirer of 10/22/05:

She first did it by referring to Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) actions as "cowardly," in an apparent quote from another elected official, Ohio State Rep Danny Bubp (R-West Union). Bubp is himself a long term marine (27 years in reserve, 3 years active duty), and says that he did *not* give the quote of "cowards cut and run" to direct towards Murtha; Bubp says he never mentioned Murtha by name at all.

According to Bubp,

"There was no discussion of him personally being a coward or
about any person being a coward," Bubp said. "My message to the folks in Washington, D.C., and to all the Congress people up there, is to stay the course. We cannot leave Iraq or cut and run - any terminology that you want to use."

//snip//

"I could just imagine how nervous she must have been on the floor with everyone watching," Bubp said. "I don't want to be interjected into this. I wish she never used my name."

I'd bet money on *that.*

Schmidt's office says that they have received over 3,000 e-mails, and that they have been "75% positive." Of course, Barry Bennett, Schmidt's Chief of Staff also claims that they only read "e-mails from the district."

(I imagine you can screen them if someone is using the House e-mail system to *send* the mail, but how do you "read only from the district" for mail that is sent directly? -- does the house e-mail system refuse direct inbound e-mail?)

Murtha can afford to be gracious about this, and he is --

Murtha, a lawmaker since 1974 and a Vietnam veteran who received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he doesn't hold Schmidt responsible

This is a new member, and sometimes they give her something to say that ... they get out of hand. I try not to take this stuff personal," he said .

Unfortunatly for Schmidt's "legacy," her remarks, when she was first sworn into the House on Sept 6 of this year, are also a part of the permanent record, and can be retrieved -- she said:

"I pledge to walk in the shoes of my colleagues and refrain from name-calling or the questioning of character," Schmidt said then. "It is easy to quickly sink to the lowest form of political debate. Harsh words often lead to headlines, but walking this path is not a victimless crime. This great House pays the price."

She still has her supporters, who are glad that she "took a stand," but I wonder how many are shills and how many are kool-aid drinkers.

Much of the GOP establishment are trying to distance themselves from her, and her remarks. It appears that they certainly are "eating their young." And you can't get 'em much younger than three months in office.


Thanks to Holly In Cincinnati at The Moderate Voice for the link to Julien's List, who spotted the article.