Tuesday, November 22, 2005

That’s a Good One

From Blogoland comes this little bit of news: Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) had no idea that John Murtha had been a Marine when she called him a coward on the floor of the House last Friday.

Jean Schmidt, poor girl, had no idea that John Murtha was a decorated Marine veteran, a fact that had somehow escaped her notice despite being the lead story of nearly every news outlet during the 24 hours that preceded the House vote:

Several Republicans who were on the House floor said afterward that Ms. Schmidt did not appear to know she was referring to a much-decorated veteran.

“The poor lady didn’t know Jack Murtha was a Marine – she really just ran into a hornet’s nest,” said Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia.

Representative David Dreier of California said, “Very clearly, she did not know that Jack Murtha was a Marine.”

Officer, I had no idea smoking crack was illegal. Honest!

As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter whether or not Mr. Murtha was or was not a decorated Marine; calling someone a coward on the floor of the United States House of Representatives is beneath contempt, and covering yourself with ignorance — which in her case seems to be redundant — just makes it worse.

(HT to TPM)