Who voted for Murtha?
Posted: Thursday, November 16, 2006 6:54 PM by Jen Brown
By Beck Schoenfeld, "Hardball" producer
Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez of California told Chris Matthews today how Congressman Jack Murtha could figure out who voted against him for Majority Leader.
“It might be secret ballot,” she said, “but the reality is that we know who voted yes and who voted no.”
She said the score-keeping is like “counting cards in Vegas.” There are approximately 10 boxes in the room where the vote is taking place, and they’re in alphabetical order by last name. After you’ve eliminated those who’ve overtly supported Congressman Murtha or Congressman Hoyer, the field becomes narrowed. As Congresswoman Sanchez explained, “You have the A’s and B’s in one [box], so you know what the vote total is for the A’s and the B’s. And if the vote total is off, you know who was really in your camp.”
Another way of identifying those who didn’t follow through on their pledge to Congressman Murtha is to watch who in the caucus talks to him now that he’s lost. “Usually the people will just not come around,” she said.
