[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 20, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CONGRESSMAN MURTHA

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, one of the reasons I love and respect my 
wife Teresa Heinz Kerry so very much is because she has always 
maintained the strength of her convictions. She speaks her mind, and 
she speaks the truth. I am especially proud of her passionate defense 
of her fellow Pennsylvanian--the decorated veteran and respected 
military expert, Representative Jack Murtha. In a recent essay, 
Teresa's powerful words spoke of Jack Murtha's courage and integrity 
rose above the disparaging and unconscionable words of those who 
smeared him. As I read what she wrote, I realized why this issue had 
struck such a chord with her--and why she was able to speak with such 
incredible clarity--because, as someone who grew up under a 
dictatorship, Teresa believes deeply in the freedom of every American 
to speak their mind without fear of condemnation.
  The characteristics we all admire in Representative Murtha--honesty, 
compassion, strength and patriotism--are the characteristics that make 
Teresa such an incredible citizen. I am glad she spoke out, and for 
that reason, I ask that her words be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                        [From CNHI News Service]

                        (By Teresa Heinz Kerry)

                 Assault on Murtha Should Alarm Us All

       ``Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons 
     and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our 
     obligation, to speak out for them. That's why I am speaking 
     out.''
       U.S. Rep. John Murtha, Nov. 17, ``War In Iraq.''
       U.S. Rep. John Murtha completely changed the public debate 
     in our country by calling for an immediate redeployment of 
     our troops in Iraq. Whether you agree or disagree with his 
     specific proposal is not the point--but his critics' words 
     demand a response. Murtha speaks with special authority.
       His national security credentials are impeccable. His 
     patriotism is unwavering. His influence on national defense 
     is unsurpassed. None in Congress spends as much time as 
     Murtha with the wounded from the Iraq war. His voice on 
     matters of national defense deserves--indeed, commands--great 
     respect. This is why his political opponents think him so 
     dangerous. The orchestrated assault on Murtha should alarm us 
     all. Just when you thought the debate could sink no lower, 
     the politicians committed to staying the course in Iraq 
     turned the fire hoses of smear and intimidation on this icon 
     of national security. Listen to what they said:
       They said he had given aid and comfort to the enemy. They 
     accused him of abandoning the troops. And one rookie 
     representative, the most junior member in the House, so lost 
     any decency or sense of decorum that she called Murtha a 
     coward.
       I think they smeared the wrong representative. Murtha's 
     history is one of heroism and leadership. He served in the 
     Marine Corps from 1952 to 1955. He served as a Marine Corps 
     drill instructor and a reservist. He re-upped so he could 
     serve in Vietnam. He was wounded twice while serving as a 
     Marine intelligence officer, and then went back into the 
     reserves from 1967 to 1990. He was the first Vietnam veteran 
     elected to the Congress, where he has served with honor and 
     distinction as a bipartisan advocate of national defense ever 
     since.
       How bipartisan? When President Reagan wanted to build the 
     MX missile, Murtha broke with his party to fight for what 
     Reagan called the ``peacekeeper.'' Reagan sent him to El 
     Salvador and the Philippines as an election observer and, as 
     an official representative of the United States, to Pakistan 
     to attend President Zia's funeral. When President George H.W. 
     Bush said of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, ``this will not 
     stand,'' Murtha stood with him and voted to use military 
     force to drive Iraq out.
       His credentials on national defense are unimpeachable. He 
     has been named Minuteman of the Year by the Reserve Officers 
     Association of the United States. He has been honored by the 
     Blinded American Veterans Foundation. He is a winner of the 
     Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award, and an honoree 
     of the Association of the United States Army. When Murtha 
     received the distinguished public service award from the 
     American Legion, he was praised by the national commander as 
     a veteran, supporter of a strong national defense and holder 
     of an outstanding track record on veterans' issues.
       That is Jack Murtha's history, and the summer soldiers and 
     the sunshine patriots who attack him cannot rewrite it. 
     That's why they resort instead to the most reprehensible type 
     of personal attacks. We've seen this before. I know and love 
     another Vietnam veteran who served our country with 
     distinction and honor--who suffered the slings and arrows of 
     distortions, half-truths and falsehoods.
       Scoundrels who would stifle debate and smear dissenters 
     weaken our democracy and diminish our Nation's ability to 
     make decisions and change course when circumstances demand.
       This war is hard--hard to win, hard to support, and for 
     most, hard to figure out. We all want the best for our 
     troops, our country, the Iraqi people and what is best for 
     the Middle East. Much is at stake.
       But if we want the best outcome, the best minds we have 
     must be free to express their strongest beliefs and best 
     advice. Murtha has earned our respect. His right to speak out 
     is an intrinsic component of our democracy. It should be 
     honored--we should hold that right sacred--even if his words 
     deviate from the party line, the president's talking points, 
     or public opinion.
       I think Murtha did our country an enormous public service 
     for speaking out as he did, and I support for him for 
     exercising his right. A courageous person is always to be 
     admired.

                          ____________________