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Bin laden comments draw GOP ire { December 21 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/100835_murray20.shtmlhttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/100835_murray20.shtml
Saturday, December 21, 2002
Murray's remarks on bin Laden draw GOP ire
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Patty Murray intended to be provocative when she told a group of high school students terrorist leader Osama bin Laden is popular in poor countries because he helped pay for schools, roads and even day care centers.
"We haven't done that," Murray said. "How would they look at us today if we had been there helping them with some of that rather than just being the people who are going to bomb in Iraq and go to Afghanistan?"
Murray's remarks, to a group of students in Vancouver, Wash., started even more discussion than she expected after they were published Thursday in The Columbian newspaper of Vancouver and then picked up by The Associated Press.
By Friday, the Murray story was the lead item on the "Drudge Report" Web site and a main topic for talk show host Sean Hannity and other conservative pundits.
Murray's comments sparked national debate on talk radio and prompted readers to bombard the Web site of The Columbian, the Vancouver newspaper that first printed Murray's remarks.
"Between (Murray) and Baghdad Jim (McDermott) I'm surprised the rest of the country even lets Washington send reps to DC anymore," wrote one e-mailer, identified only as robertb.
Another e-mailer, identified as Truthspeaker, said that if Murray "does not like the way President Bush is running the government, then by all means, she is free to leave."
Several readers said Murray should resign and pointed out that Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott lost his post when he made comments widely considered improper.
GOP state Chairman Chris Vance called Murray's comments offensive and urged her to retract them.
"It is absolutely outrageous and despicable to imply that the American government should learn a lesson from the madman who murdered thousands of American citizens," Vance said.
Murray's comments "sent the message to these students that the United States somehow deserved or brought on the September 11 terrorist attacks," Vance said. "I think all decent people can agree that we most certainly did not, that this was an unprovoked attack of terrorism."
Murray said in a statement Friday that Vance and other critics were twisting her words.
"Having a challenging and thoughtful discussion about Americas future reflects the best values of a free democracy; to sensationalize and distort in an attempt to divide is not," she said.
Murray's spokesman, Todd Webster, called the senator a victim of a right-wing media machine.
"This is being turned into a circus by the right-wing media outlets and fed by right-wing haters," Webster said.
Asked if he included Vance in that category, Webster said, "Absolutely. I include Vance and the right-wing media and the right-wing establishment."
Webster said Murray's comments, to an honors class at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, were intended to get the students to think about America's role in the world and why bin Laden is popular in many poor countries.
"This was not a dossier of the great works of Osama bin Laden. This is about how do we secure a better and stronger future for this country?," Webster said. "Do we close our doors and hunker down, or do we engage the rest of the world?"
In her statement, Murray called bin Laden "an evil terrorist" who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.
"While we continue to search every corner of the globe to destroy Osama bin Laden and his al-Quaida network, should we also consider the longer-term issue of what else can be done to improve relations with all nations including the Arab world?" Murray asked. "How else can we bring America's values to those who do not understand us?"
Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., a potential Senate opponent in 2004, called Murray's comments "bizarre" and uninformed. "You have to wonder what country Sen. Murray has been living in since September 11th," he said.
Murray "seems to know more about Osama bin Laden's generosity and kindness than she does his hatred for America and his vow to destroy our country," Nethercutt said.
Nethercutt, who is also talked about as a possible candidate for governor, said he welcomed a chance to debate Murray on bin Laden and other topics.
"I'm sure Washington state voters would like to hear more of Sen. Murray's very strange view of America and the world," Nethercutt said.
Michael Swetnam, co-author of a book on bin Laden and al-Qaida, said Murray's comments were mostly on the mark. He said bin Laden since 1988 has been on a mission to build schools, roads and homes for widows of those killed in the fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
On the Net:
The Columbian issues forum: http://forums.columbian.com/hotissues
Murray's response to critics: http://murray.senate.gov/~murray/releases/02/12/2002C20843.html
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