Janice Schakowsky: “my colleagues, there is nothing-- nothing--more serious that we will do in our lives as well as our careers than to send…”

“my colleagues, there is nothing-- nothing--more serious that we will do in our lives as well as our careers than to send young American men and women to war. And there is no one in this body who understands the consequences of that decision more than Jack Murtha who served 37 years in the Marines, won two Purple Hearts in battle, and loves without reservation our soldiers in uniform. Over 2,070 Americans and tens of thousands of civilian Iraqis are dead, thousands more are horribly injured in this war that many of us believe to be completely unjustified. Yet the House Republicans are so morally bankrupt that they would turn to cheap political stunts in order to undercut Congressman Murtha's conscience-driven call for an end to the Iraq war, which he calls ``a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.'' But there is not a person in this House who is man or woman enough to ever undercut the credibility of Jack Murtha, no matter how many accusations they may throw at him, no matter how many names they call him, and no matter how many ``clever'' tactics they try. Shame on the Republican leaders for thinking it's ok to turn this war into a game and Representative Murtha into a political football. Shame on the Speaker for accusing Jack Murtha of insulting and demoralizing our troops. Mr.…”