Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

UPDATE III: The entire piece is cross-posted here.

UPDATE II: Christy from firedoglake did a wonderful post on the piece and the issue of smearing vets. I can't thank her enough for her kind words and drawing attention to the article.

UPDATE: The piece is now up at Huffington Post.

artistry by Benson

It's the anatomy of a smear.

The swiftboating of a decorated Marine veteran.

A very important piece is up at the Patriot Project, which I wrote for them
exclusively. I hope you will take the time to look at it. Here is an excerpt:

Everything was okay until November 17, 2005. But then all hell broke loose. Scott McClellan kicked it off. \”Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. ..\” – Press Secretary Scott McClellan (November 17, 2005) Never mind that on November 15, 2005, the Senate voted 79-19 that 2006 “should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty.” Free Republic ran with GOP Lawmakers Float Ethics Probe of Murtha on November 18, 2005, not wasting a moment's time, which was taken from Roll Call, both of which ran the day after Murtha announced his Iraq withdrawal plan. The ethics probe dealt with matters going back to 2004 and 2005. Why now? The Swiftboating of John Murtha, by Taylor Marsh EXCLUSIVELY for the Patriot Project

Bob Geiger, one of our many Democratic veterans, had this to say today for
Alternet: If you only have time to read one thing this week, Taylor's article
has got to be it. I'm grateful for it because people need to know what's
happening. It's now on the front page of Democratic Underground, which is terrific.

I've been told that important senators have seen it, loved it and it will be given to Congressman Murtha. As I told his press secretary last week, I want Rep. Murtha to understand that this issue is bigger than just on congressman. If all veterans don't push back at the swiftboating techniques of conservatives it will never stop.

The news of this important story will also be posted on Huffington
Post later today.

The people at the Patriot Project have been generous enough to let me also
post the piece on here, which I'll do later today. It's been quite a Monday
for me so far, with the morning not over yet. Please do whatever you can to
get this piece out into the public. Conservatives need to know they can no longer
get away with swiftboating a veteran.

And just in case you think this is about partisan politics, you couldn't be
more wrong. I've been on the case of Pfc. John Jodka from the start, even interviewing
his father on his son's situation. I continue to hope to help the Jodkas.

Please check out the piece I did for the Patriot Project.
It was a labor of love, commitment and rage.