Archive: Opinions

Washington changes people.  Some people come to Washington and make a positive change.  In the early 1980’s, Mother Theresa, now St. Theresa of Calcutta, visited and established a community of nuns who ministered to the large population of AIDS victims.  AIDS was ravaging the DC Gay community.  In the early years of the disease, there were no drug therapies to treat the disease in an effective way.  Thousands were suffering from the ravages of the disease.   The work her sisters performed in the community provided thousands of victims with a sense of dignity and self-worth while they waited for the inevitable end to their life.

Others arrive in our nation’s capital, and make a less than positive change.  Last week, two colorful members from the House of Representatives died, Charlie Wilson and John Murtha.  The deaths of these two congressmen, having occurred coincidentally in the same week, demonstrates how their lives were bound together in representing much of the way the U.S. House used to operate, and sometimes still does.

Charlie Wilson, dubbed “Good Time Charlie”, was from Texas.  He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and fought hard for everything in life.  He won his claim to fame for turning the tide in the War between the Soviet Union and the Afghan rebels in the 1980’s. He joined ranks with others like John Murtha, a senior member of the defense subcommittee that oversaw CIA covert operations.   Their influence helped to funnel arms to the Afghan rebels, humiliating the Soviet Union and hastening their unexpected retreat from that country.

Wilson enjoyed Washington lavishing friends and constituents with Roman style bacchanals complete with young women, plenty of alcohol, opportunities to help sustain his ideals, and most importantly his campaign treasury.  When asked why he had such beautiful, buxom women on his staff, he replied that you can teach women to type, but you can’t teach them to grow big bosoms.

John Murtha was the symbol of the American Ideal.  Born into a blue collar American family, Murtha left college in his junior year and entered the Marines serving as an Officer in the Korean War.  He fought valiantly earning two purple hearts, a bronze star, and the respect of his fellow soldiers.

Murtha arrived on Capitol Hill in 1974.  As a politician, he learned the inner workings of Washington very quickly.  He made friends with lobbyists and enjoyed their working relationships especially during election years.  He had become a symbol of pork-barrel projects linked to campaign contributions bringing billions of dollars to his hometown of Johnstown, PA.  He feastedon pork products for 36 years while in the House.

In 1981, Murtha was named as co-conspirator in Abscam, an FBI sting operation in which agents offered members of Congress bribes. A tape showed Murtha describing "the secret" of how a public official can take a bribe and get away with it. He told the undercover agents he was turning them down for now promising them he might change his mind after he’s done some business with them in the future. That investigation, which was brought to a halt by the late Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neil, did not deter Murtha.  His highly questionable behavior continued unabated.

Last May, reporters again questioned Murtha on criminal activity replying, "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district." The FBI eventually raided the offices of PMA Group, a lobbying shop founded by a former Murtha aide, and two defense contractors located in his district. Corruption, bribery, covert operations, and immoral behavior are blemishes against our country.  The cost of Wilson’s and Murtha’s service to our country continues to take its toll on the economy and ultimately U.S taxpayers.  Following the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan, a power vacuum was created and civil war erupted.

Thirty years later, our men and women are paying the price for Good Time Charlie’s missiles for the Muhajideen.  Murtha’s fondness for lobbyists and pork barrel projects weaken the democratic process and lower public opinion of elected officials in Washington creating an atmosphere of distrust for all member of Congress.

I am neither a member of the “Tea Party,” nor am I a tree-hugging liberal.  I voted for President Obama hoping he would be different, but he is slowly becoming a real politician just like so many who arrive in Washington with high ideals, but are transformed by the political machine.   I am simply an American tax payer, and I am mad as hell.  Incumbents beware.  Elections are approaching and my vote is not for sale.  And that is to the point.

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