Jack Murtha

Today we have reason to be pleased and proud that we in North Carolina's 10th Congressional district overwhelmingly voted to send Pat McHenry to Washington.

Only his world-class sanctimonosity would have inspired this wonderful speech by Pennsylvania Congressman Jack Murtha:

When I hear someone stand here sanctimoniously saying: "We're gonna fight this out . . . " We're not fighting at all. It's the troops who are doing the fighting. The families are doing the sacrificing. A very small proportion of the families in this country are doing the sacrificing. That's why I get so upset when they stand here sanctimoniously saying "we're fighting this thing." It's the troops who are doing the fighting, not the members of Congress.

Click here for the video. You'll have to listen to Pat's initial comments like:

I am proud that the majority of this house will stand to fight and win this war.

But it's well worth the slog through a minute or so of debate-school hand gesturing to get to Murtha's response. Good job, Pat! Thank you.

Jack Murtha is one of my heroes and has been for a while. I'm thrilled to find out that Pelosi is taking control already and has backed his bid to be Majority Leader.

Read Pelosi's letter to Murtha below the fold...