You may or may not have seen this video being placed on various news outlets:
A reporter, Jason Mattera with Young America’s Foundation, confronts Rep. Murtha regarding two Marines who about to have the charges dropped against them in reference to the Haditha case. Rep. Murtha took great pride in branding these young men murderers in a rush to increase his political profile and to advance his political party’s agenda. I think Rep. Murtha was clearly wrong in making his comments branding them as cold blooded murderers without their being convicted and he’s just as wrong for not standing on the integrity so many on the left claim Rep. Murtha has and admit that he rushed to judgment when it came to these two soldiers.
However, this video brought two thoughts to my mind. First, I have an issue when Rep. Murtha defends himself against Mr. Mattera’s claim he was besmirching by talking about his service in the military. While I have great respect for what Rep. Murtha did in serving our country in the military it doesn’t give him a blank slate to smear military members in any way. Regardless of your political position, we should hold our elected officials to a higher standard in terms of their accusing people of capital crimes. Just because Rep. Murtha served in the military it doesn’t mean it’s OK that he branded these men cold blooded murderers.
“Well, I served…” is the stock response of Rep. Murtha when someone confronts him on smearing military members. It’s not valid in this case and Rep. Murtha needs to stop playing that card just to get himself out of hot water.
Second, I really dislike the manner in which Mr. Mattera turned the tone of his confrontation with Rep. Murtha. Mattera could have easily questioned Rep. Murtha and ended it when Rep. Murtha entered the elevator. His point was made when that happened…Rep. Murtha was going to avoid the issue and not apologize to the men he falsely branded murderers. However, Mr. Mattera went further and compared Rep. Murtha’s comments to something said by Al-Jazeera. The arrogant smirk that Mr. Mattera flashes at the very end of the video shows the real intention of this “reporter.” Of course Fox News was all over this and had him on Hannity and Colmes to smear Rep. Murtha.
Why can’t someone from the right…when they have a legitimate point against a liberal Democrat…just make your point and let it go without dragging up the “just like Al-Jazeera” crap?
“The arrogant smirk that Mr. Mattera flashes at the very end of the video shows the real intention of this “reporter.”
Gonzo journalism at its worst
Re: “just like Al-Qaeda”
Mattera said “just like Al-Jazeera” not just like Al-Qaeda.
My mistake…I typed that last night when I was rather tired.
It doesn’t make a difference, however. The implication is still there because Al-Jazeera is supposedly sympathetic to the terrorist causes according to the hard right.
Jason, did you hear what Joy Behar said about the Republican candidates who turned down an all-black college debate?
She said “maybe they all had Klan meetings that night”. Not a verbatim quote, but close.
Not that I don’t enjoy the verbal food fights between the left and right… it’s great theater, and it shows America that the two-party-only system will eventually be part of our downfall. But sometimes, a line can be crossed - and it isn’t just one side that does the crossing.