Murtha Resorts to Extortion
by Big Dog on Feb 8, 2007 at 12:13 Political
It is no secret to anyone who reads the news that there is a big uproar going on about the size of military aircraft that the new screecher of the house wants. After 9/11 the Speaker has been allowed to use a military aircraft to travel to and from the home district. Pelosi happens to live in California so she wants a plane that is capable of reaching that state without stopping to refuel. The problem is that she also wants to be able to take her family and a lot of other people on the trips with her and this is a violation of the law (immediate family can go if they pay for the flight). It also raises ethical issues that Pelosi was so hard on Republican about.
The Pentagon and Pelosi’s office are working out the details of this issue and we have heard many things about it. It should not surprise anyone that the corrupt Congressman Jack Murtha has resorted to extortion with regard to the plane the screecher will get:
But he denied pressuring the Pentagon. “I don’t need to pressure them. I just tell them what they need to do,” Murtha said.
~snip~
Murtha said he is convinced the Pentagon has been leaking information about the possibility that Pelosi would use large military planes to make her look bad. But he said, “They’re making a mistake when they leak it because she decides on allocations for them,” referring to the Pentagon budget. SF Gate
Murtha is saying that he just tells them what to do (and like good little peons they jump) but that they are foolish to release information (and in effect deny her request) because Pelosi will decide on their budget. The Democrats are holding the budget as a bargaining chip to get Pelosi a plane that allows her to fly in comfort with catered meals and an open bar. This is very unethical and amounts to extortion.
I do not believe the Pentagon is trying to make her look bad. they are trying to follow the rules and they are trying to accommodate her, within reason. Instead the Democrats are playing a heavy handed game and resorting to using the Pentagon budget as a bargaining tool. I think they should look at what their past budget is and see if the Democrats cut it. if so, there should be charges filed for extortion and we can use Murtha’s words against him, though that did not keep him out of jail when he was caught trying to take a bribe.
If I were running the Pentagon and they used this I would tell them to go ahead and cut my budget. Then when they did I would eliminate the VIP plane program as a measure that was unaffordable. Then Pelsoi and the rest of them can do like all other government employees and fly commercial. If they absolutely have to have a military airplane a C-130 can make it across the country and that plane is good enough for our troops so I know it is too good for members of Congress.
Tags: Political