Rumsfeld Defends Rep. Jean Schmidt’s Attack

Appearing on CNN, Donald Rumsfeld defended Rep. Jean Schmidt’s personal attack on Rep. Jack Murtha from the House floor:

BLITZER: Well, the — one of the Republican Congresswomen, Jean Schmidt of Ohio, basically called him [Murtha] a coward.

RUMSFELD: I don’t think that’s correct. I think she quoted somebody.

BLITZER: She quoted a letter that — she got a letter. But she read it…

(CROSSTALK)

RUMSFELD: It didn’t even refer to Congressman Murtha.

As Wolf Blitzer noted, Schmidt’s comments referred directly to Murtha. Here’s what she said:

A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do.

Even Jean Schmidt eventually figured our her smear wasn’t worth defending and asked for her remarks to be struck from the record. She’s a step ahead of Rumsfeld.

UPDATE: Rumsfeld also defended Schmidt on Face the Nation, again claiming she didn’t mention Murtha’s name. No one corrected him:

SCHIEFFER: Well, do you think he deserves an apology?

RUMSFELD: Who?

SCHIEFFER: Murtha.

RUMSFELD: I don’t know why. I haven’t heard…

SCHIEFFER: He’s being called a coward (inaudible)…

RUMSFELD: Oh, he was not. He was not.

SCHIEFFER: Well, that was certainly the implication, Mr. Secretary.

RUMSFELD: Well, I don’t believe he was called a coward. I’m told that the person apologized who quoted somebody else, not even mentioning Murtha. So I think your characterization is (inaudible) not fair.