Democrat Congressman John “Unindicted Co-Conspirator” Murtha says he made a mistake when he called western Pennsylvania a “racist area” last week. What he really meant to say was that the area was once filled with “rednecks” but is much less redneck-ish now. Not totally, though.
That clears it up.
Murtha, who issued a non-apology the day after the “racist” comment, followed up by ducking out on a debate with Republican challenger Bill Russell.
In explaining his comments about racism, Murtha told WTAE it’s difficult for many in the area to change. Murtha said that just five to 10 years ago the entire area was “redneck.”
Now Murtha said only certain segments of the population are holding on to those racist feelings.
Just days after classifying western Pennsylvania as racist, Murtha took a step back from those comments, albeit a small one.
“What I said, that indicted everybody, that’s not what I meant at all. What I mean is there’s still folks that have a problem voting for someone because they are black,” Murtha said.
Murtha said the history of southwestern Pennsylvania is rife with racism.
“This whole area, years ago, was really redneck,” Murtha told Channel 4 Action News.
Murtha believes there is one segment of the population which is holding on to its racist beliefs and he said it’s difficult for them to change. Murtha said it may be even more difficult for them to vote for Barack Obama.
“Particularly older people. They want change but they don’t want to see things go too far,” Murtha said.
It seems Murtha likes to smear. In addition to smearing an entire area of the state, he famously smeared US Marines as having committed “cold-blooded murder and war crimes” surrounding a now debunked charge that Marines massacred civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha in 2005.
Like That? You'll Probably Like These.
- Murtha: You’ve Got A Racist Friend In Western Pennsylvania
- Jennifer Brunner Extends Murtha ‘Racist’ Area Into Ohio
- Vets For Freedom Urge Murtha To Retract His Smears
- Murtha Doesn’t Think “Racist” Constituents Are Worth His Time
- ‘Racist,’ ‘Redneck’ Voters Drop Murtha In Droves
