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The Swiftboating of an American Soldier

I spent this past weekend buried in an avalanche of student papers (I’m still picking a few dangling modifiers out of my hair). When I did take a break to watch some Eagles football, my enjoyment was marred not only by the inability of the Eagles coaching staff to count to twelve, but also by a number of Republican attack ads.

More than one of them came from the campaign of Mike Fitzpatrick, a loathsome Bucks-county congressman trying to hold on to his seat against the wildy popular campaign of Patrick Murphy. Faced with increasingly disturbing poll numbers, Fitzpatrick has taken the ultimate low road: he has attempted to “swiftboat” Patrick Murphy’s military service.

Have they no shame?

Don’t answer that.

Patrick is not one to take such insults lying down. On his blog, he responds:

There is nothing that I hold more pride in than my service to our country. From the halls of West Point to the streets of Baghdad, I served honorably, and my record reflects my service. There is camaraderie among veterans - we understand that everyone who wears the uniform of the United States military has sacrificed, some much more so than others. That is why I was so shocked that Congressman Fitzpatrick, who never wore a military uniform, would hold a press conference to question my service.

Murphy’s campaign has just released a new commercial that manages to convey Patrick’s positive, winning attitude, while also condemning Fitzpatrick’s slimy tactics:

(via Brendan)

As John Kerry, who knows a thing or two about swiftboating, said when he defended Murphy against these charges:

I won’t stand for the “swift boating” of Patrick Murphy. It disgusts me that a congressman who has never worn the uniform of our country stands there in silence as a veteran home from Iraq has his service disparaged. . . . What is it these Republicans who never served have against Democrats who did? . . . .

You know why Mike Fitzpatrick is engaged in the lowest form of smear and fear politics? Because he’s afraid of actually debating Patrick Murphy about the disastrous war in Iraq. He’s afraid to debate a veteran who lives and breathes the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor. He’s terrified of actually leveling with the American people about the way the administration misled America into war, and admitting their stay the course slogans just guarantee more Americans die for a stand still and lose strategy.

It’s time to kick out of office the kind of lowlifes who smear the honor of our nation’s soldiers. You can help by donating to Patrick Murphy’s campaign today. Or, if you’re low on cash, donate your time.

Previously: Patrick Murphy: my kind of peeps.