In New Comments, Murtha Describes His District as “Redneck”
In controversial remarks made last week, Rep.John Murtha (D-PA) described his region of western Pennsylvania as a “racist area”, causing a whirlwind of criticism. Murtha apologized for that comment, but yesterday in attempting to explain his description, may have re-ignited the situation with new inflammatory remarks made to a a local Pittsburgh station when the long-serving congressman described his district as “redneck”.
From Pittsburgh’s channel 4 Actions News
Murtha took a step back from those comments, albeit a small one.”What I said, that indicted everybody, that’s not what I meant at all. What I mean is there’s still folks that have a problem voting for someone because they are black,” Murtha said.Murtha said the history of southwestern Pennsylvania is rife with racism.”This whole area, years ago, was really redneck,” Murtha told Channel 4 Action News.
Pennsylvania while strongly leaning towards Sen. Obama, is one of the battleground states where both campaigns have entrenched themselves to fight for their crucial electoral votes. Therefore, any notable development, even this small one created by Murtha about its more conservative western region may have reverberations that could affect the outcome. Maybe.
Tags: Western Pennsylvania, Murtha, Redneck
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McCain ought to pay this guy to keep running his mouth! LOL!
OUT OF TOUCH!
IAM Hispanic . This is the reason why I don’t vote democrat because they are always playing the race card against the republicans. to all my Latino brothers go and check the history of this country and you will see which party is racist. i will vote republican again this election. And I mean republican from top to bottom.
Google ‘Bill Russell candidate’ to investigate the quality Iraq war veteran who is running against Murtha for his seat in congress. I sure hope that the constituents of District 12 do so and wake up to the opportunity for CHANGE. Murtha has certainly lost touch to show such disrespect for the very people who have placed him in Washington so many times.
Hopefully the voters will bring him back home to Pennsylvania for a few years, or better yet permanently, to get back in touch with reality.
what a oaf!! I say all of you racist rednecks in PA vote this washed-up American troop hater out of office! 17 terms is LONG ENOUGH!!!!!!
You would think John Murtha is running unopposed in District 12. He isn’t.
The great Pennsylvanians from that district who have given him the privilege of representing them for a quarter of a century can vote for a CHANGE in congress. I think it would be good to bring Murtha back home to Pennsylvania where he can spend some time with the REAL people who live there.
From deep inside, I think Murtha is the real racist and the real redneck.
Foot in mouth disease.
Thank you Rep Murtha! You’ve shown your true colors and are helping McCain to WIN PA!
Doesn’t really matter what Murtha says. Its an unfortunate truth, albeit sounds wrather offensive. As a staunch Obama supporter I would have preferred he be a bit diplomatic. But it doesn’t matter…Obama is going to trainwreck McCain in PA with or without this oaf spouting inappropriate problems….oh no RUN REPUBLICANS THE SOCIALISTS ARE COMING AHHHH! I would pay any amount of money for a reporter to ask Sarah Palin what a socialist is…and have her site 3 countries in history with “socialist” political platforms. She would probably fake a stroke to get out of that one.
The only reason I will vote for McCain is. Hilary Clinton .yes Hilary Clinton if obama wins Hilary wont be able to run for president in 2012 and 2016 she be to old to run . I will ask all democrats to vote for McCain and if McCain wins Hillary will have a chance to run again for president in 2012 and she will win.
Rep. Murtha’s comments are embarassing for the whole country! Remember Pennsylvania - he can be replaced!
Rep. Murtha’s comments are embarassing to the whole country. Remember Pennsylvania - He can be replaced!
I don’t understand why he did it, but truer words have probably never been spoken.
The people of Pennsylvania should be thoroughly embarrassed that this man represents them in any way. It’s time Murtha finds a state where the people are not so objectional to him and promptly leave.
this is change not the change i want we are going backward 40 years and saying reverse racism is ok but this is only a comment from according to obama a Typical white person that clings to his guns and religion drinks to much beer and thumps a bible…….sorry to tell you obamanators i guss i had better buy a gun first and get a bible any sugestions on the gun obamanators
Murtha just proves that the rupubs don’t have an exclusive lock on racists and fascists…
I dout Sarah Palin would have a problem with it, all you have to do is look at France, Cuba, and we use to be able to say China but that’s right it did not work and they went capitalist. As for Obama, he has never held a job where he had to make a budget work, do payroll, or pay their bills. He is clueless as to how companies run much less a nation. I find his comparison of community organizer and running a state humorous. Just what does one do that compares to the other if all you are at one is the employee and the other the boss? Palin balanced a budget and created jobs and managed to bring Alaska’s profit to the point that all the people there get a check for the excess in her state, the dems in just 2 years have detroyed our nation and put us in an economic crisis.
What do you expect from him….he represents his District and he knows his peeps. Don’t Hate because they won’t Associate. The Repugs should be happy that there are more votes in Penn. for them. There are plenty of Dems that will vote for Mcpain because he represents their ideals and idealogies. I respect him for advising Obama’s campaign where to save his money. We can now put more money in Florida and MO to win this election. Thanks Old Murtha. Obama/Biden 08
I don’t vote democrat because they are always playing the race card against the republicans.
tainopower
Excellent reasoning! Nevermind that the republicans have Destroyed the economy. Nevermind that McCain is an old feeble man and Palin is next in line. Nevermind that Palin has PROVEN herself to be dumb as a stump AND easily managed. Nevermind that McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time. Nevermind that McCain CAN NOT explain how his policies are different from Bush’s. Nevermind that McCain has displayed his anger contol issues to the world, in a fairly benign setting, so cannot be counted on to be reasonable in an international stress situation. Nevermind his flip flops or Lies and distortions.
You keep truckin along with your reasoning, it seems to have worked well for you in the past.
Does the truth hurt?
Shame on you all. But you’re still voting Republican?
Let’s see how many in Eastern Pa who have suffered during the past 8 years, are willing to choose the same failed policies of Bush vs the successful programs of the Clinton years. As Bill Clinton said, “Heck, most all of Obama’s economic team worked for me”.
I am a 54 year old white male who lived in Johnstown (Murtha’s District) for the first 27 years of my life. I was born there. I really don’t remember Johnstown being racist but rather very ethnic. I remember my grandparents referring to people as ” that Italian, or those Russians, or the German neighbors”.
I think the older people clustered together by ethnic group, because they came here from other countries to work the mines and mills. They would say the Polish, Slovak, or Black instead of Catholic or Baptist Church.
I regret Murtha used the term racist, but I can see where he is coming from. I know members of my family and friends still there who voted for Hillary, but are having a problem with Obama.
I would agree that Johnstown and surrounding areas are mostly “Rednecks”, but I don’t feel that is anyway an insult to the people there. We are what we are. My God, they filmed “Slapshot” there because the real hockey team, and fans, behaved like the movie characters.
I am not for McCain or Obama. I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. I don’t know John Murtha, but he has done a lot for his district. I did not serve in the military, but I know Murtha did and respect him for that, as I do any of our veterans. I am not sure about some of his comments, but as a vet, I think he carries more weight than us who have not served.
I was born and raised in Pennsylvania and still make my home there. John Murtha has the respect of PA Residents….. and always will. He had the nerver to stand up to Neo-Con Gov. Bush (He will always be Gov. Bush- He never really won a presidential election) to get us out of Iraq. Get used to saying it….. “President Obama”. The man that has helped the Obama campaign more than anyone is Gov. Bush…. Jobs Gone, People Losing thier Homes, War all over the World, Nations Hate Us, Spending out of Control. You people better open your eyes… It’s over!
To Lisa
Better bush then the socialist obama. : I would have voted for bush 100 times then vote for a socialist American hater, friends of terrorist , liar , take my money to spread the wealth around. Love whit the media , friends of Hollywood elite and much more other reasons. the democratic party is racist they only want our vote every 4 years then they stuff us back in there trunks . I voted democrat all my life until 2004 elections wen they play the race card. And obama is using the same play book.
Let’s be honest here. Generalizing is generally a bad thing to do (I crack me up), but this comment just shows a lack of respect for his constituency. Even if it’s true (which, generally speaking, it is), Murtha should never have made this statement.
You can’t tell me that racism still doesn’t exist. Hes speaking the truth
some people will not vote Obama because of his skin tone. Luckily most
of those voters are as pro-republican as they came, no loss to democracts
there. Also the people that this will offend are mostly racist, rednecks so again
not a hit to the dems. Thanks god racists rednecks are a minority now or Obama
really would lose the election.
Obama tries to help out the little guy and all of sudden hes a socialist.
Obama is the lifeline the U.S needs and you guys are too stubborn to
accept it. If he losses the election can you please send him to Canada
to run in our liberal party, we also need to kick the right out of power
as the conservatives are running us into the ground. If
Obama ran up here it would be the biggest landslide in Canadian political
history, or any other country for that matter.
I’m also aware that most people in the states couldn’t care less about your neighbor
to the north, our election, our history and culture are all pretty much a joke too you
guys. (Funny how were one of your biggest allies) Personally i love the U.S but think
about what countries that aren’t your allies think of you.
western PA is full of rednecks, who are you guys kidding. say it loud, say it proud.