Does no one understand?

I wondered how long it would take.

The Washington Post reported today that a "right-wing" website, part of Cybercast News Service, questions the circumstances under which Representative John Murtha (D-PA) won his two Purple Hearts in Vietnam, inferring he did not deserve them. Murtha, as you will recall, is a conservative Democrat who has always supported the Bush administration on the Iraq War (and other military isues) but was turned on by them as being another Michael Moore.

The latest issue shows total ignorance of military regulations and the rules for the award of decorations, including the Purple Heart. The award of the Purple Heart does not specify the severity of the injuries incurred by the receipient... only that the injuries are a result of enemy action. Allegedly, Murtha's wounds were on his face and did not require medical evacuation to the rear. Modest, as most true soldiers are, Mutha reportedly had a conversation in the 1980's with a former member of the House (Don Bailey [D-PA]) who had won the Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. During this conversation, Murtha allegedly said, "Hey, I didn't do anything like you did; I just got a little scratch on the face."

Probably a true report. But, so what? Murtha earned his Purple Hearts and is entitled to wear them with pride and honor.

I came home from Vietnam in 1972 with a Bronze Star for "Meritorious Achievement In Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces." Its still hanging on my wall, signed by Secretary of the Army Stanley Reasor and BG John Hill (Commanding General of the 1st Brigade of the 5th Mechanized Infantry). My father asked what I did to earn it and I told him "nothing special." He refused to believe that, but as far as I'm concerned, its true. And, like Representative Murtha, I'm entitled to wear it with pride and honor. And, like Murtha, I have no obligation to explain to anyone the facts behind the awards.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Marine Corps. records show Murtha was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered due to hostile action near Da Nang, Vietnam. According to those records, one of the injuries was on the right cheek and the other above the left eye. He is, by military regulations, entitled to the Purple Heart for each of those wounds.

But, in attacks similar in nature to those by the "Swiftboat Veterans" against John Kerry, the TRUTH of an issue isn't important. What is important is to denigrate the service of anyone who believes differently than they. As I pointed out in a previous post, we have a President of the United States who hid behind an Air National Guard Uniform and who refused to be considered for overseas service; a Vice-President who has never worn his country's uniform; and a Speaker of the House who has never seen the need to serve in our country's military. Those are FACTS. Murtha, who always supported Bush earned his Purple Hearts and his Bronze Star. That is a FACT.

Adolf Hitler once was supposed to have remarked, "if you tell a big enough lie, no one will dare disbelieve you." Apparently, someone in the Bush White House has been reading Mein Kamph and is taking a page from Hitler's ideas. The TRUTH of an issue doesn't matter. Only that you can attack your opponent and distract the public from the issues. And what is truly sad is that many of those who believe Bush can do no wrong will now pick up on this issue and attempt to distract the people from the issues of Iraq.

It is now January, 2006. For the next 10 months, we can expect to hear this type of attack against every Democratic candidate running for office. Its the way things are now being done by the GOP. And it casts a cloud over every honest patriotic person who runs for office under their banner. Because they are letting their party be used this way.

Does no one understand how this Administration works?