John Murtha Quotes: Democrat Congressman from Pennsylvania on Racism, Rednecks, Corruption and Murderous Marines

Congressman John Murtha, Democrat, Pennsylvania Quotes

Born June 17, 1932, in New Martinsville, West Virginia, Murtha, a former Marine Corps officer, was the first Vietnam Vet to be elected to the House of Representatives. Murtha, a Democrat, has represented Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district since 1974.

Democrat Congressman (PA) John Murtha on Racism

“There is no question that Western Pennsylvania is a racist area and when I say racist I mean the older people are hesitant. They are slow in seeing change, real change.”
October 15, 2008

“What I said was, that indicted everybody, that’s not what I meant at all. What I meant was, what I mean was there’s still folks that have a problem voting for somebody cause they’re black. This whole area years ago was really redneck. Particularly older people. Hesitant. They want change but they don’t want to see things go too far.”
October 20, 2008

Murtha on Corruption

“If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district.”
March 29, 2009

Murtha on the Draft

“I voted against the volunteer army because I felt if we ever had a war we wouldn’t be able to sustain this war.”
March 30, 2007

“I think everybody ought to be able to serve in this country. I think we ought to, not just have a select few who volunteer, I think everybody ought to be obligated to serve. We do it by lottery and we call everybody up. I think we have a citizen’s army is what it ought to be. Not just the volunteer professionals.”
March 30, 2007

On the Gitmo Detainees

“I don’t have a federal prison. I have a minimum security prison but sure I’d take em. I mean, why they’re no more dangerous than in a prison in my district than they are in Guantanamo.”
January 21, 2009

On the Iraq War

“I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agrees, Iraq can not be won “militarily.” I said two years ago, the key to progress in Iraq is to Iraqitize, Internationalize and Energize. I believe the same today. But I have concluded that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is impeding this progress.”
November 17, 2005

“In Vietnam it took 500,000 troops and that didn’t solve the problem. So we have to take a different approach.”
September 14, 2009

“Look how long it took us to get 22,000 more troops, it took 18 months! Jesus Christ!” said Murtha, “When they talk about more troops they act as if you can send them in immediately.”
-September 14, 2009

On the Marine Haditha, Iraq War Incident

“There was no firefight. There was no I.E.D. that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”
May 20, 2006

Image – John Murtha

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