A few days ago, Representative Jean Schmidt of Ohio called Jack Murtha a "coward" because of his criticism of the Iraq war (see our post 'Courage Under Fire'). Now Schmidt, without even a hint of irony, doesn't seem to understand why she, a freshman congresswoman who has never served in the military, can't go around calling a veteran of two wars a coward. Responding to the national backlash to her slanderous comments, she said with a straight face: "'I am amazed at what a national story this has become,' she said in a statement. 'I have been attacked very personally, continuously since Friday evening.'" (Washington Post, November 23) What, you mean freshman congresswomen can't go around throwing insults at a senior congressman who fought in two wars and is widely considered an expert on military issues?

Luckily, the good people of Ohio (from whence that piece of Schmidt hails) have responded appropriately, as the Post has it: "but the Ohio Republican's comments landed with a splat in her own Cincinnati district, where some supporters are backing away as she scrambles to explain what she meant."

Congresswoman Schmidt has tried to spin herself as the victim of misunderstanding in this debacle, but the truth is that the American people are getting tired of absurd and insulting Republican smear tactics ... stay tuned for 2006.