What is the connection between Murtha and the Keating Five? Nothing..
However the Keating 5 scandal happened AFTER ABSCAM. There is one important difference however, while Murtha was not indicted or censured by congress Presidential Hopeful John McCain was. Should Murtha get the votes EVERY DEM just needs to message John McCain's role in the KEating 5 and I suspect the MSM (and FOX news) will stop talking about 1980 ABSCAM. (By the way Murtha explicitly said "No" to accepting the bribe on tape.)
wikipedia
Keating Five controversy
Main article: Keating Five
In the late 1980s McCain was named in the embarrassing Keating Five scandal in which he and four Democratic senators provided help to Charles Keating, who was secretly manipulating savings and loan banks.[citation needed] The Senate ethics committee's special counsel concluded in 1991 that McCain was not substantially involved in the influence-peddling scheme, but criticized him and three others for questionable conduct.
What's more relevant a 1980 decline of a bribe or 1991 congressional criticism of McCain's involvement in the Keating 5 of which JOhn McCain is a member? Wouldn't it be great if every time on TV someone mention Murtha and ABSCAM the democrats mentioned McCain as one of the Keating five?
I would like nothing more than Jack Murtha - who had 2 purple hearts and volunteered for Vietnam at 35 - and Jim Webb with 2 purple hearts and a Navy Cross - to be the public face of the democratic party on Iraq. This contrast with the cut and run give me a deferrment please chickenhawks will do wonders for the party in 2008.
Iraq is not going away and it is critically important for 2008 that americans do not perceive Iraq as part of the democrats creation. Hoyer will blur the distinctions between democrats and republicans/Bush while Murtha would sharpen them.
People who don't think Murtha should be Majority leader don't understand 1) that Iraq is not going away and the last thing the dems need is to be part of the problem with Iraq 2) Murtha will take the heat that otherwise will be poured onto Pelosi's back (hoyer won't take it) 3) Majority leader is not a policy making position mostly the key loyalist to Pelosi to get her agenda through.
Contact your representative to support Murtha.. "hi I live in so and so's district, please tell them to support Murtha for Majority Leader".
Toll Free: 888-355-3588, 888-818-6641, 800-426-8073
Update: a third congressperson has posted on Huffingtonpost urging us to contact our representatives for Jack Murtha. what are you waiting for?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-hilda-l-solis/jack-murtha-for-majority-_b_34158.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoe-lofgren/the-2006-elections-are-no_b_34058.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-john-b-larson/why-i-support-murtha-for-_b_34093.html
Support Pelosi by contacting your congressperson.
(tips please)