Ohio GOP Congresswoman Jean Schmidt became an unending video sound-bite loop when she read a message she said was from someone in the military calling Rep. John Murtha a “coward” for calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Anyone but someone who fell off a turnip truck could see that Schmidt had absolutely no problem delivering this message, which was couched in enough “plausible deniability” so she could theoretically insist it wasn’t hers. Except: the GOP leadership, seeing how it nearly sparked a riot among Democrats, insisted she recant. Which she did…but the video loop of her reading the statement and searing rage from Democrats will likely be played for years to come.
Not if Schmidt has anything to do about it. She went on TV (watch the video HERE) to try and make amends and indulge in massive crow-eating and political damage control. Watch it yourself and read the transcript (same link as video) for all of the details. Here’s a small part of what she says:
My good friend Representative Bubp called me to discuss this plan during the House debate on the issue of immediately removing troops from Iraq.
I relayed our conversation with Representative Bubp on the House Floor.
Since that moment I have been attacked from across the country by the left.
I never meant to attack Congressman Murtha personally. I sent him a personal note of apology on Friday evening moments after my words. While I strongly disagree with his policy, neither Representative Bubp nor I ever wished to attack Congressman Murtha. I only take exception to his policy position.
I am amazed at what a national story this has become. It was never intended.
Read the rest yourself but this must be said:
- This is CYA damage control. Does ANY reader of this site think that she would be making this statement about not intending to attack Murtha if there had not been this massive outcry?
- Even President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney (who is now beating Democrats over the head with an olive branch) distanced themselves Monday morning from Schmidt’s comments.
- Watch the video of her delivering the remarks. She clearly is happy delivering them and you don’t need to work for a psychic hotline to see she agrees with them.
- But maybe we’re wrong here. Perhaps saying that someone is a “coward” is not wanting to attack them. So what would she and Bubp (a name that sounds like the result of eating too many radishes) have said if they had WANTED to attack him? (“You’re a pooh-pooh head!”)
Schmidt has a problem. Clearly, Bush and Cheney wouldn’t have suddenly done all but twist themselves into pretzels to try and change their position enough to try and defuse the Murtha controversy unless they discovered they were suddenly facing big problems. Evidently, they got some very negative feedback and had to shift gears — fast. Polls? Calls from other Republicans? Expressions of dismay from members of the first Bush adminstration?
But voters do have long memories on some things — and Schmidt’s video-taped speech will be there, rerun when she runs for re-election. Many thoughtful voters might not agree that calling someone a “coward” isn’t an attack. And they may, in fact, be more insulted by the transparency of this apology than by the act itself.
On the other hand, maybe her performance and Pinocchio-like explanation perfectly qualfies her for a new job — as White House press secretary.
UPDATED: It gets WORSE for Schmidt:
WASHINGTON – Three days after Rep. Jean Schmidt was booed off the House floor for saying that “cowards cut and run, Marines never do,” the Ohioan she quoted disputed the comments.
Danny Bubp, a freshman state representative who is a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, told The Enquirer that he never mentioned Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., by name when talking with Schmidt, and he would never call a fellow Marine a coward.
“The unfortunate thing about all of that is that her choice of words on the floor of the House – I don’t know, she’s a freshman, she had one minute…Unfortunately, they came out wrong…”
Her prospects for White House press secretary are looking brighter and brighter..
UPDATE II: The Washington Post reports the firestorm and the reporter seems truly dumbstruck with Schmidt’s reaction:
Judging by her words yesterday — the first after avoiding the public for three days — Schmidt doesn’t understand what the fuss is about, and sees herself more as victim than villain. “I am amazed at what a national story this has become,” she said in a statement. “I have been attacked very personally, continuously since Friday evening.”….
….Yesterday, Schmidt said she hoped the hubbub will have faded by the time Congress reconvenes next month. Asked if she would change anything if she could do it over again, she replied: “I wouldn’t have used Congressman Murtha’s name.”
No. She’ll next time just say “a certain grey haired guy whose name ryhmes with Bertha…” But, no matter. We suspect enough non-lock-step voters from ALL parties will assist Ms. Schmidt to move in a new direction come election day.
LINKED TO California Conservative, Stop the ACLU, Stuck On Stupid. The Political Teen.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.