Murtha Overcomes 'Racist' Gaffe to Win Re-Election in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Democrats can sigh with relief tonight, and not just because their state went to Barack Obama: Congressman John Murtha has been able to overcome a bout of foot-in-mouth disease and win over Republican William Russell.
Whether Murtha would win his 18th term representing his southwestern, staunchly Democratic district hadn't even been a question in this election. Until, that is, the 76-year-old powerhouse and close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called his area "racist." He quickly apologized for the gaffe, which was made while explaining why he thought Obama might have a tough time winning western Pennsylvania. But he made a similar one a week later, calling the area "redneck."
In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee bought more than $400,000 in television ads showing Murtha making the statements. Even NBC's Saturday Night Live caught on to the gaffe, parodying it in one of its skits.
But even those statements couldn't catapult voters into the camp of 46-year-old Russell, who supports constitutional amendments protecting fetuses as people and defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
That's one more good sign for Democrats in what's shaping up to be a champagne-filled night.
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Reader Comments
Wake up!
Unions are good. Wake up They created the middle class that Republicans have destroyed.
People against unions are in denial as to just what has happened to US workers since Reagan.
From Michigan
Murtha re-election
It is sad that so many of the people in that area of PA think it is ok to take money from else ware in the country and have it spent in the heavily unionized (overpaid) area of PA. Murtha is an embarrassment to me as a lifelong PA resident, vet and father of a Marine. Shame on you narrow minded western Pa people who just can't seem to get out of the past and retire a guy whose only redeeming value is that he can bring home other peoples money to your area. That is the main problem with the country right now is that people are spending too much of other peoples money. Also, Murtha has yet to apologize to the “cold blooded killers” that he convicted on TV all by himself. He is a disgrace and so are the money grubbers that have reelected him.
murtha re-election
To send an ignoramous like Murtha back to Congress, after he offende (maybe), a large portion of his voting public, speaks volumes about our American voters understanding of what is important. Murtha is a thug with a license,seniority. Limitrd terms must prevail. But how?
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