Herald-Standard
Uniontown, PA
10/30/2008

With practically no dissension, the Herald-Standard editorial board enthusiastically endorses U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnston, for re-election. There is no denying that Murtha, one of the most influential congressmen in history, has been a big benefit to Fayette and Greene counties since his 12th District expanded into those areas.
Seeking an 18th term, Democrat Murtha has developed the seniority and stature to continue benefiting his district for years to come. In our view, he gained points rather than lost them when he spoke out against the strategy directing the war in Iraq, because he took a stand when more timid souls would have feared criticism.
Murtha continues to deliver for his district, as evidenced by the millions of dollars he's obtained in federal help for water and sewerage projects, and the many jobs created by defense-related industries that have opened up shop.

"I don't apologize for bringing money into the district to create jobs. I do everything I can," Murtha said when he met with us. It's hard to argue against that logic.

His opponent, William Russell, believes that Murtha's deftness at bringing federal projects to his district actually inhibits the development of small business. But we think you'd have a hard time convincing anybody - including Russell if he's elected - that an infusion of federal investment is a bad thing.

Incredibly, Russell also believes that Democrats like Murtha have blocked the development of the coal industry in congress. If that's so, why have United Mine Workers endorsed only one Republican for congress in Pennsylvania, while endorsing 12 Democrats - including Murtha, whom they describe as "a longtime friend of mining families in western Pennsylvania"?

Whereas Murtha also has a long residency in the district, Russell strikes us as a carpetbagger. The retired Army officer moved to Johnstown in August of last year, and says he and his wife decided to settle there because they liked the area when they traveled through Pennsylvania to visit her sister in the state of Indiana. But the area they liked, according to Russell, was the Carlisle/Gettysburg area, which is in the eastern half of the state.

Perhaps more than any other congressional candidate we've interviewed, Russell strikes us as the most partisan. He blames the current fiscal crisis on Democrats like U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, and says former President Bill Clinton rode a wave of prosperity created under the administration of the first President Bush. Russell says it was Clinton's policies that crashed the economy under President Bush II.

Murtha has already proven he can work both sides of the aisle, having been successful and respected under Republican administrations and in a GOP-led House of Representatives. He is perhaps the most influential member of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation -and turning him out to pasture would be a notoriously bad idea.

Murtha has taken some heat recently for comments that western Pennsylvania is a racist area. He was being brutally honest about the fact that some white people will be reluctant to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. But that's true in other parts of the state and nation, even if their elected officials don't have the moxie to speak frankly on that issue. In the overall scheme of things, we don't see this as a major issue - and certainly it's not one worth making Murtha walk the plank over.

While others talk, Murtha delivers. That's reason enough to keep him in office. He's the hands-down choice.

Quoted:
Is that the local redneck/racist newspaper?

Murtha has already proven he can work both sides of the aisle, having been successful and respected under Republican administrations and in a GOP-led House of Representatives.