Freshman Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has finally surfaced from her fall-out bunker after her remarks towards Congressman Murtha.
She would have been better off to have stayed.
[HT to Josh @ TPM]
Rep. Jean Schmidt says her comments Friday on the floor of the U.S. House have been misinterpreted and that she has been made a scapegoat by a media disappointed that Congress didn't vote to withdraw troops from Iraq.
...
"I have become the lightning rod because they don't like the message," said Schmidt, R-Loveland, who was elected to Congress in an August special election.
"Had the vote been closer, or had it gone down, they would not be talking about me, they would be talking about Congress being less than enthusiastic about this war. We had Democrats and Republicans alike pressing that button, saying basically, 'Don't pull out,' " she said.
The plot thickens, almost in SNL fashion, after the jump.
A statement from Col. Danny Bupb recalls his conversation with Schmidt:
"Our conversation was based strictly on the proposal to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq and the consequences of such a proposal. We never discussed anyone by name, and there was no intent to ever disparage the congressman or his distinguished record of service for our nation."
...
"I don't want to be interjected into this. I wish she never used my name."
...and according to the Dayton Daily News, it was Schmidt herself who had the grand idea that she should "tell that congressman -- whatever his name is -- you tell him, you know, cowards cut and run."
Better still, she had no idea he was a Marine.
She's since written Murtha a letter, apologizing for her conduct.
Fittingly enough, Mean Jean might not even make it out of next year's GOP primary:
The hullaballoo has spurred talk of next year's elections, when Schmidt will be up for re-election. At least two Republicans who opposed her this year have indicated they are considering opposing her again.
State Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, said he wasn't surprised to hear Schmidt, a former state representative, had drawn a fire storm. "She has that reputation," he said. "We kind of just figured -- when would it occur?"
But Brinkman said he isn't sure yet if he will challenge her. "We should pick the best one of all the people who want to oppose her," he said.
Former U.S. Rep. Bob McEwen, a Republican from Hillsboro, said he also is now considering the race, but he would not comment on Schmidt's floor speech, nor on whether he has been encouraged to run more since she made it.
"I have received strong encouragement," he said. "And I will give a response shortly."
Enjoy the stay in Washington while it lasts, Jean.