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Cracks in the positive media spin of Democrat Anti-War spokesman Representative John Murtha have started to appear in a number of places, including mainstream and online news outlets.

There are sources, however, such as the Independent Media Center that maintain the anti-war stance of most reporting entities. In its "The Corner" editorial column on January 14, IMC praised the meeting between the leadership of anti American "Code Pink" activists, Representatives Jim Moran (D-VA) and John Murtha (D-PA)

Code Pink, which has given financial support to terrorists and called upon American soldiers to kill their leaders, is also known for displaying protest signs at the funerals of fallen American heroes. At this meeting they gave Murtha a "pink badge of courage" and thanked him for his courageous stand on Iraq. The leadership also said, "They will be working with Representative Murtha to deliver kindness and support to the wounded soldiers."

As reported in the Independent Media Center account, "A minority of pro war voices, along with many varying degrees of protest and criticism of the Bush administration were heard from the audience questioning the Democratic congressmen, both known for their support of the military..."

A more important Murtha/Moran story would be the dressing down these congressmen took from a soldier recently returned from Afghanistan. Sergeant Mark Seavey served there until last month as an infantry squad leader.

As reported by columnist Michelle Malkin, the soldier confronted Democrat Reps Jim Moran and John Murtha at a town hall meeting in Arlington, Virginia. She reports his comments left them speechless when he talked about their actions hurting the troops. He also asked them where they were getting their information about morale issues, finishing his statement saying, "If I didn't have a herniated disc now I would volunteer to go to Iraq in a second with my troops, three of which have already volunteered to go to Iraq. I keep hearing you say you talk to the troops and the troops are demoralized, and I really resent that characterization. The morale of the troops I talk to is phenomenal..." He concluded saying, "I don't know who you two are talking to but the morale of the troops is very high."

Others are also starting to question Murtha, and making it into print or online with their comments. Cybercast News Service ran a column on January 13 questioning the war hero status of the congressman. It reports that Murtha's accounts of his war wounds "may also conflict with the available U.S. Marine medical records obtained by the media." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that casualty records show Murtha was injured in hostile actions near Danang, Vietnam on March 22 and May 7, 1967. "In the first incident, his right cheek was lacerated, and in the second, he was lacerated above the left eye. Neither injury required evacuation," the Post-Gazette reported.

However, Murtha has given a number of different accounts about how he was wounded. He claims to have been "wounded in the arm with shrapnel"... "My knee and my arm were banged up when a helicopter was shot down"... He was "struck in the ankle by a shot that ricocheted off a helicopter".

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