House Rejects Dem Plan to Cut and Run

The House of Representatives overwhelming rejected last night a proposal to immediately withdraw troops from Iraq, after two days of over-hyped media coverage of Democratic Rep. John Murtha's call for a U.S. pullout.

In a lopsided 403 to 3 vote, Democrats showed they were unwilling to back Murtha's pullout proposal - even though many voiced support of his anti-war announcement earlier this week.

Though the American media ballyhooed Murtha's comments as an indication that support for the war was collapsing at home, Friday night's vote showed there was almost no backing in Congress for such a move.

Only three left-wing radicals voted for Murtha's plan - Reps. Cynthia McKinney, Jose Serano and Robert Wexler.

House Republicans said the proposal was giving aid and comfort to the enemy during a time of war. Fearing that coverage of Murtha's comments was undermining troop morale and encouraging U.S. enemies, they began to craft a resolution to test the pullout plan with a full floor vote.

Friday morning Arizona Rep. J.D. Hayworth began lobbying for a vote on a "statement of clarity" on where the House stands on the war.

"J.D. came up with a great idea, and took it to the (GOP) conference, and then was persistent to take it to leadership," Hayworth's Republican colleague, Rep. Rick Renzi, told the Arizona Republic.

"Saddam Hussein has been disposed, he is behind bars, that is an unqualified success," Hayworth argued. "Dare we now snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, plagued by poll-driven self-doubt of those who embrace surrender. I don't believe the American people will stand for it."

Realizing they were cornered, Democrats decried the move as a political stunt.

War opponents were further enraged when Ohio Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt stood to announce that she'd just taken a call from a Marine colonel.

"He asked me to send Congress a message: stay the course," Ms. Schmidt said. "He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, Marines never do." She later withdrew the remarks, saying she meant no insult to the Pennsylvania Democrat.

Democrats erupted in anger - and at one point, Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford had to be physically restrained.

In the end, however, even their rejection of Murtha's pullout plan was nearly unanimous.

After the vote, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said the failure of Murtha's proposal "sends a resounding message of support" to the troops in Iraq.