OUTSOURCING SMEARS

Many people – even those who disagree with him – believe that U.S. Rep. John Murtha is a courageous, patriotic citizen. Some quick-on-the -trigger Republican members of Congress found that out when they tried to portray him as a coward and a traitor after he said it was time to bring the troops home from Iraq.

A White House spokesman initially said that Mr. Murtha had advocated surrender and likened him to “Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party.” And a freshman Republican congresswoman assailed Mr. Murtha, a former Marine and decorated combat veteran who had voted for the use of force in Iraq, saying that “cowards cut and run; Marines never do.”

Naturally, there was a backlash. It included a blast from Former Secretary of State Colin Powell saying the White House attack “was disgraceful and was not worthy.” President Bush and Vice President Cheney soon muted their criticism, calling Mr. Murtha “a fine man” and “a Marine, a patriot.”

But while the administration halted its direct attacks, a conservative Web site with close Republican ties picked up the ball. The Cybercast News Service published a report suggesting that Mr. Murtha had been exaggerating his Vietnam War injuries that were the basis for his two Purple Heart medals. The controversy was an old one, used often by rival candidates in his 16 successful elections to Congress, just as Democrats once doubted the World War II valor of President George H.W. Bush.

James Webb, a secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, defended Mr. Murtha in a recent New York Times article. He likened the recent attacks to the “ugly insinuations” leveled against Sens. John McCain, Max Cleland and John Kerry. The pattern is the same for these attacks on military combat records, both in the past and now more recently of those who have opposed Bush policies and actions: Rather than debate substantive issues, question their character and the details of their military service to the country.

The smearing has gone on for too long. It hurts both the courage these veterans displayed in time of war and the level of discourse in Washington.