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Congresswoman Jean Schmidt just made waves on the House floor attacking Representative and decorated Marine John Murtha. Tim Saler @ No End But Victory has been live blogging the debate:

5:19 PM Eastern: Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) says the resolution tonight is a “mockery” of Murtha and admits that tonight’s resolution looks nothing like Murtha’s position. The Republicans, of course, never said that the Hunter resolution was intended to be the same as Murtha’s.

5:21 PM Eastern: Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) is shouted down by the Democrat caucus upon quoting a Marine colonel speaking indirectly to Murtha on the suggestion that cowards cut and run, not U.S. Marines.

5:23 PM Eastern: All members ordered to take their seats after the chair suspends and reviews Schmidt’s remarks to determine their fitness for delivery. The shouting has continued through Schmidt’s remarks up to the present.

5:29 PM Eastern: The House is in stand-still right now while things calm down. Regular updates will resume when the proceedings restart.

5:33 PM Eastern: Schmidt apologizes and asks unanimous consent that her statements be withdrawn; unknown Democrat(s) object. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) says he accepts the apology and wishes that this resolution could be taken up instead at another time under other circumstances.

5:35 PM Eastern: McGovern says that the Republican Congress is only interested in covering up for the Bush administration. Makes reference to “pathetic smears” against Murtha and says that Murtha isn’t afraid of the Republicans. Says that if you support the troops, you’ll oppose this rule.


Here’s also an unofficial transcript from The Stakeholder:

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The gentlelady from Ohio is recognized for one minute.

Ms. Schmidt: Yesterday I stood at Arlington National Cemetery attending the funeral of a young marine in my district. He believed in what we were doing is the right thing and had the courage to lay his life on the line to do it. A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. Danny and the rest of America and the world want the assurance from this body - that we will see this through.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The gentlelady will suspend. And the clerk will report her words. All members will suspend. The gentleman from Arkansas has demanded that the gentlelady’s words be taken down. The clerk will report the gentlelady’s words.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The house will be in order. Members pleas take seats. The gentlelady from Ohio.

Ms. Schmidt: Mr. Speaker, my remarks were not directed at any member of the House and I did not intend to suggest that they applied to any member. Most especially the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania. I therefore ask for unanimous consent that my words be withdrawn.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: Without objection. The gentlelady’s words will be withdrawn.


Trying to find a USABLE video capture of the speach. VIDEO

UPDATE 2:

Congressional Record article 35 of 36
MAIDEN SPEECH BY THE HONORABLE JEAN SCHMIDT — (House of Representatives - September 06, 2005)

(Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in the same shoes, though with a slightly higher heel, as thousands of Members who have taken the same oath before me. I am mindful of what is expected of me both by this hallowed institution and the hundreds of thousands of Americans I am blessed to represent. I am the lowest-ranking Member of this body, the very bottom rung of the ladder; and I am privileged to hold that title.

This House has much work to do. On that we can all agree. We will not always agree on the details of that work. Honorable people can certainly agree to disagree. However, here today I accept a second oath. I pledge to walk in the shoes of my colleagues and refrain from name-calling or the questioning of character. It is easy to quickly sink to the lowest form of political debate. Harsh words often lead to headlines, but walking this path is not a victimless crime. This great House pays the price.

So at this moment, I begin my tenure in this Chamber, uncertain of what history will say of my tenure here. I come here green with only a desire to make our great country even greater. We have much work to do. In that spirit, I pledge to each of you that any disagreements we may have are just that and no more. Walking in each other’s shoes takes effort and pause; however, it is my sincere hope that I never lose the patience to view each of you as human beings first, God’s creatures, and foremost. I deeply appreciate this opportunity to serve with each of you. I very much look forward to getting to know you better, and I humbly thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to address this humble body.


UPDATE 3: Kos has got it frontpaged.

UPDATE 4: Lost the video link

UPDATE 5: AP’s got the story:

The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.

“He asked me to send Congress a message - stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message - that cowards cut and run, Marines never do,” Schmidt said.

Democrats booed and shouted her down - causing the House to come to a standstill.

Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., charged across the chamber’s center aisle screaming that it was an uncalled for personal attack. “You guys are pathetic. Pathetic,” yelled Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.



UPDATE 7: Georgia10 is also liveblogging with action items!

UPDATE 8: Hackett is calling DeWine out on Schmidt’s remarks. (via DKos)

UPDATE 9: The Democratic Party has a page up where you can send your support to Rep. Murtha.

UPDATE 10: Reactions coming in from all over the place…

Andrew Sullivan:

She later withdrew her remarks from the record. But those words linger as a reminder of what these Republicans have become. For the record: Murtha served 37 years in the Marines, and has Purple Hearts to his name. He visits wounded soldiers at Walter Reed every week. Three years ago, he won the Semper Fidelis Award of the Marine Corps Foundation, the highest honor the Marines can confer. Every time you think these Republicans can sink no lower, even after their vile smears against Kerry’s service last year, they keep going. They make me sick to my stomach.


Steven Kelso:

Hurray for Jean Schmidt!!!

Why are the only conservatives with gonads women? Shall we have the women do all of our fighting for us? Shall we leave them alone in a time of need?

After Democrat Rep. John Murtha called for a quick withdrawal of our troops from Iraq — for all intents and purposes surrendering to the terrorists — some in the GOP are actually using their backbones!

UPDATE 11: Here’s SNL’s sketch on Schmidt’s speech.