A collection of the most interesting statements and actions (“Morantics”) of our favorite congressman.
Moran’s Greatest Hits Playlist
– Moran accuses eight-year-old boy of attempted carjacking
– Moran blames the Iraq War on Jews
– Moran says Israeli PM wants to “kill at will”
– Moran calls the GOP the “Taliban ticket”
– “I’m going to earmark the s*** out of it.”
– Moran claimed the U.S. ethnically cleansed Baghdad
– Jim Moran, walking financial disaster
– Moran goes “ballistic” at a Catholic church
– Moran tries to cover up anti-Catholic remarks in House speech
– “I like to hit people”
– “I realized I was looking into the eyes of a madman”
– Moran shoves fellow congressman on House floor
– “I’ll break your nose!”
– Moran receives campaign contributions from terrorist suspects
– Moran returns contributions from anti-Israel terror supporter
– “Show some respect!”: Moran blows up in the halls of Congress
– Moran: Military service isn’t public service
– Moran screams at disabled Navy veteran at town hall
– Moran implies everyone who voted against him in 2010 is racist
– Moran explodes and storms off when asked about socialism
– Moran leaves his own taxpayer-funded event
***
Moran accuses eight-year-old boy of attempted carjacking
In April 2000, Jim Moran accused an eight-year-old boy at a recreational center parking lot of trying to take his car keys and of threatening to shoot him and steal his campaign-subsidized car (since he apparently couldn’t afford his own despite the $141,300 congressional salary for 2000-2001 he received, not to mention the lifetime health benefits Congress has given itself).
According to the boy’s parents, the boy was merely admiring Moran’s car, a 1999 Toyota Avalon, and told him he liked it. The boy told the Washington Times, “He choked me and then cussed at me. I thought he was going to kidnap or kill me…All I told him was that I liked his car.” Moran responded, “It’s all lies.”
Several witnesses reported seeing a “beet-red” Moran yelling and cursing at the boy as he escorted him into the recreational center.
The boy’s mother said he was a straight-A student at school. His mom filed an official complaint against Moran. Moran responded by criticizing the mom’s parenting: “I had hoped that this boy would learn that this is not acceptable behavior…But if the parents are not going to teach him that this is not acceptable behavior, then maybe the courts will.” (Taking an eight year old to court for something he probably didn’t do?!)
The episode became national news, with NBC’s Today show picking up the story. Moran was accused of racial profiling because the boy was black.
When it became a national story, Moran quickly changed his tone, saying, “I just wanted to hug him. I wish I could adopt a child like him.”
Who gets the benefit of the doubt? You decide.
(Sources: Washington Times, April 12, 2000 || Washington Post, April 13, 2000 || Washington Post, April 14, 2000 || CNS News, April 12, 2000; CQ Politics, Aug. 2000 || National Review, March 12, 2003 || Jewish World Review, July 5, 2000)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#carjacking
Moran blames the Iraq War on Jews
Two and a half weeks before American and international forces invaded Iraq in March 2003 to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, Jim Moran told an audience of anti-war constituents in Reston, VA that “If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this. The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going, and I think they should.”
Moran came under heavy fire for the comment.
The Jewish Community Council of Washington (JCC) wrote a letter to Moran saying, “The Jewish community is deeply offended…Besides being patently untrue and foolish, your poisonous remarks are reminiscent of age-old vicious canards that have been hurled against Jews for generations.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who is Jewish, said the comments were “deeply offensive and morally wrong.”
Six Jewish Democratic members of Congress said in a joint letter that they would not support Moran’s 2004 re-election bid, calling the statement “grossly irresponsible.” Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), who is also Jewish, said the remarks were bigoted.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was House Minority Leader at the time, issued a statement saying, “Congressman Moran’s comments were not only inappropriate, they were offensive…His comments have no place in the Democratic Party.” He was also condemned by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), then-Senate Minority Leader, who said they were “unfounded, baseless, and way out of line.”
Moran’s campaign pollster accused Moran of using other anti-Semitic language, and Moran’s denial of doing so led to the pollster’s resignation.
Moran tried to apologize after coming under fire, but it didn’t satisfy anyone. Ronald Halber, executive director of the JCC, called his apology “woefully inadequate” and called for him to resign, as did many others.
Then-Gov. Mark Warner (D) said, “Perhaps Congressman Moran should remember that the first thing you do when you find yourself in a hole is to quit digging.”
Moran stepped down from his leadership position as a House Democratic regional whip.
In 2004, Moran’s campaign distributed 40,000 copies of the Falls-Church News Press‘s endorsement of Moran. In their endorsement editorial, the newspaper wrote, “This election is not about Moran’s ability to lead, or about news headlines accusing him of questionable public statements or personal finances. It’s about a cabal of powerful Washington-based interests backing the Bush administration’s support for right-wing Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s handling of the Middle East conflict trying to upend an outspoken and powerful Democratic opponent.”
Moran’s distribution of such “hate literature” (as described by the American Jewish Committee’s Washington director David Bernstein) brought a new round of condemnations from the Jewish community.
You would think that, after being condemned not only by Republicans but all the Democratic leaders, Moran would have learned his lesson. But in 2007, Moran blamed the war on the Jews AGAIN!
In an interview with Tikkun magazine, Moran said the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is “the most powerful lobby and has pushed this war from the beginning. I don’t think they represent the mainstream of American Jewish thinking at all, but because they are so well organized, and their members are extraordinarily powerful — most of them quite wealthy — they have been able to exert power.”
He also said that AIPAC and its supporters believe “that if you have people who are hostile toward you, it’s okay to kill them, rather than talk to them.”
The Jewish community was again deeply angered. Sixteen Jewish House Democrats signed a “blistering” joint letter to Moran, saying the comments were “irresponsible and have absolutely no basis in fact…The idea that the war in Iraq began because of the influence of Jewish Americans is factually incorrect and unfortunately fits the anti-Semitic stereotypes some have used historically against Jews.”
“As Jewish colleagues, we don’t understand your hostility to AIPAC or your determination to embarrass yourself with this series of inaccurate, illogical, and inflammatory comments,” the letter said. “But we find them deeply offensive and call on you to retract your statements. They have no place in the House Democratic Caucus.”
The letter was signed by such prominent Democrats as Henry Waxman, Rahm Emanuel, and Barney Frank, among others. Waxman, who organized the letter, said, “if I lived in his district, I wouldn’t vote for him.”
Halber said, “He uses several age-old canards that have been used throughout history that have brought violence upon Jews. He uses clearly anti-Semitic images such as Jewish control of the media and wealthy Jews using their wealth to control policy.”
Moran’s remarks were so extreme that former Grand Wizard of the KKK David Duke used them to back up his claim that “powerful Zionists drove the USA into a mid-East war for the sake of Israel”.
“The 8th Wonder” by Clay Jones, Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star
Sources: Washington Jewish Week, June 17, 2004 || Washington Jewish Week, Sep. 26, 2007 || Washington Post, Sep. 15, 2007 || Washington Post, June 17, 2004; Washington Post, June 5, 2004 || Washington Post, June 4, 2004 || New York Times, March 13, 2003 || Associated Press, April 13, 2003 || CNN, March 12, 2003 || CNN, March 14, 2003 || CBS News, March 14, 2003 || Fox News, March 14, 2003 || Politico, Sep. 19, 2007)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#antiSemitic
Moran says Israeli PM wants to “kill at will”
In 2001, Moran upset Jewish groups again when he said in an appearance before the American Muslim Council that then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was coming to Washington “probably seeking a warrant from President Bush to kill at will with weapons we have paid for.”
(Source: Washington Post, September 15, 2007)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#Israel
Moran calls the GOP the “Taliban ticket”
At a 2009 rally, in reference to the Virginia Republican ticket of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli, Moran said, “I mean, if the Republicans were running in Afghanistan, they’d be running on the Taliban ticket as far as I can see.” Moran’s hysterics were not heeded, as McDonnell, Bolling, and Cuccinelli won in landslides.
(Source: Washington Post, Nov. 2, 2009)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#Talibanticket
“I’m going to earmark the s*** out of it.”
In 2006, Moran was talking about the Democrats’ chances of taking the House in that year (which they did) when he exclaimed, “When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I’m going to earmark the sh*t out of it.”
(Source: Sun Gazette, June 10, 2006 via Lobbying Reconsidered: Politics Under the Influence)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#earmark
Moran claimed the U.S. ethnically cleansed Baghdad
In 2007, Moran took to the house floor to speak against the Iraq War and said, “Sure, there’s less violence, but that’s because we’ve ethnically cleansed most of Baghdad”:
The statement is disturbing, to say the least. It’s almost unbelievable – surely he wasn’t accusing our troops of genocide, right? – which is probably why the media didn’t cover it. But if he really meant what he said, why he is still representing the district that houses the Pentagon is the question of the century.
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#ethniccleansing
Jim Moran, walking financial disaster
Moran’s financial disclosures showed in 2004 that he had lost nearly $320,000 in the stock markets as of that time. His financial disclosures also showed that he had as much as $165,000 in debt. When asked how he planned to pay off his debts, he responded, “I have no plans.” Priceless.
A 2010 Washington Post article exposed Moran’s bizarre and risky trading, showing he had made over 500 options trades, worth up to $3 million in all. After Moran lost about $120,000 in two years, court filings from Moran’s 1999 divorce said that Moran had a history of “wasting the family assets on his stock market gambling.”
Mr. Moran, if you can’t control your own money, why in the world should we trust you to control our tax dollars?
(Sources: Roll Call, June 17, 2004 || Washington Post, May 25, 2010 || Washington Post, June 17, 2004)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#disaster
Moran goes “ballistic” at a Catholic church
In 2003, Moran, who is a Roman Catholic, “went ballistic” (as one parishoner put it) at Rev. Michael Dobbins at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.
Two days before Election Day 2003, Moran took then-Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine and non-Catholic Mayor of Alexandria Bill Euille, to church to “shake a few hands”.
Moran reportedly requested that Euille be recognized during the Mass, which the parish refused.
Rev. Bryan Belli gave a pro-life sermon which criticized Catholic politicians who ignore Catholic teachings, with two prominent pro-choice Catholics seated in front of him.
(Moran’s spokesman said later that it was “unethical” and “possibly illegal” for the priest to go after pro-choice politicians in his sermon. Honest people may disagree on this issue, but trying to silence the people who disagree with you is not any way to find common ground. So much for civility.)
After the Mass, a “red-faced” Moran screamed, “You priests don’t know anything about abortion!”
Fr. Dobbins responded by saying, “How can you reconcile yourself as a Catholic with your views on abortion?”
Fr. Dobbins went on to say, “Congressman, put away the talking points. Talk to me as your priest.” Moran responded that there was “not enough time” for the two to discuss all of Moran’s problems with the Church.
“Congressman, one day you will need me,” the priest said. “And I will be here.”
Moran screamed back, “You priests are closed-minded!”
(Sources: Roll Call, May 7, 2003 || Washington Times, May 14, 2003)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#ballistic
Moran tries to cover up anti-Catholic remarks in House speech
In 2000, following a reaffirmation of the Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality (that people with homosexual inclinations are persons to be treated with dignity and respect and are called to chastity) by Pope John Paul II, Moran said on the House floor: “Having been educated in Catholic schools my whole life…if I were a gay man, I would feel the same sense of frustration and disappointment that Councilman Jim Graham expressed on the D.C. Council. And that disappointment, and the intolerance, and yes, the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church as an institution towards homosexuality ought to be addressed.”
Moran’s press secretary changed the wording of the statement in the Congressional Record, the official transcript of all proceedings in the U.S. Congress, which is strictly forbidden by House rules. The secretary defended himself by saying it “happens all the time.” The Committee on the House Administration went after Moran’s office, forcing them to change the record back to the real wording.
Moran’s remarks were condemned in a joint statement by Bishop Paul Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington (which comprises over 400,000 Catholics in 21 counties in Virginia) and then-Auxiliary Bishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Washington (now bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut).
“Americans of all religious faiths and political persuasions should be profoundly disturbed over Rep. James Moran’s harsh remarks which were directed against the teachings of the Catholic Church on the floor of the House of Representatives,” the statement read. “It is not the role of lawmakers to be arbiters of religious doctrine. It is especially not their role to single out a particular religious faith, their own or someone else’s, for criticism while debating public policy,” it continued. “We call upon Rep. Moran to be conscious of his duty as a lawmaker not to engage in hostile rhetoric against any religious faith, even if he personally disagrees with its beliefs.”
(Source: Arlington Catholic Herald, Aug. 3, 2000)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#antiCatholic
Moran, a former amateur boxer, told Washingtonian magazine that had he not gone into politics, he might have continued in boxing. “I like to hit people,” he said.
Moran once challenged D.C. Mayor Marion Berry to a boxing match for charity.
(Sources: Capitol Hill Blue, Aug. 17, 1999 || New York Times, June 8, 2004)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#boxer
“I realized I was looking into the eyes of a madman”
As mayor of Alexandria, Moran got into a bar fight in 1988. Jay Armington, who was involved in the incident, said, “He and another guy went from arguing to shouting to fists in just a few minutes. One of my buddies pulled the other guy away and I grabbed the mayor.” Moran wheeled around and slammed him against the bar. “His cheeks were bulging and he was snorting like a bull,” Armington said. “I realized I was looking into the eyes of a madman.”
Arne Wilkens tended the bar while Moran was mayor from 1985-1990 and says Moran frequently got into fights there. “He was a bully and a thug,” Wilkens said. “We’d call the cops, but they wouldn’t do anything.”
Johnathan Schnapp, a former Alexandria resident, said he tried to file a criminal complaint against Mayor Moran after Moran threatened him following an argument at outside a city council meeting, but the police wouldn’t do anything to the mayor.
Several Alexandria police officers have admitted privately that if Moran was an “ordinary citizen”, his behavior would have led to arrests. “The mayor was clearly guilty of assault on one occasion,” one officer said, speaking anonymously out of fear for his job. “But the word came down. The mayor was off limits. Ordinary citizens go to jail. But not the mayor.”
(Sources: Capitol Hill Blue, Aug. 17, 1999)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#madman
Moran shoves fellow congressman on House floor
According to the Almanac of American Politics, “He jousted — literally — with … Republicans, shoving Californian Duke Cunningham off the floor and out of the House chamber doors in 1995 after Cunningham said that Moran had ‘turned his back on Desert Storm.’” He had asked Cunningham to step outside. Cunningham hesitated, then moved towards the double door on the Republican side of the House chamber. Moran shoved Cunningham from behind with one hand and then two. The incident also involved Reps. Bob Dornan (R-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). More than a dozen police officers had to break them up.
Moran and Cunningham later privately resolved their troubles.
(Source: Washington Times, Nov. 18, 1995 || Los Angeles Times, Nov. 22, 1995)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#shove
During a congressional hearing, Moran screamed “I’ll break your nose!” at Indiana Republican Rep. Dan Burton.
(Source: Jewish World Review, July 5, 2002)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#nose
Moran receives campaign contributions from terrorist suspects
In 2003, Moran received $11,450 in campaign contributions from three officers of Muslim organizations that were raided by federal agents in an investigation of terrorism financing. Moran originally refused to return them, but eventually did.
(Source: Washington Post, Nov. 1, 2002)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#terrorists
Moran returns contributions from anti-Israel terror supporter
In 2002, Moran received two $1000 contributions from Abdurahman Alamoudi, founder of the American Muslim Council, who expressed his support for the anti-Israeli terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Moran complied with a call from the American Jewish Committee to return the money.
(Source: Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2002)
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#antiIsrael
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#respect
Moran: Military service isn’t public service
In October 2010, RetireJimMoran.com broke the story of Jim Moran making outrageous remarks at a Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting. Moran said his 2010 opponent, a retired U.S. Army colonel who served in the military for 24 years in four different warzones, hadn’t “served or performed any kind of public service.” National outrage was sparked and numerous media outlets across the country picked up the story. Read about the remarks, the fallout, and the media coverage.
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#publicservice
Moran screams at disabled Navy veteran at town hall
In April 2011, Moran called an “emergency town hall meeting” about a possible government shutdown. It didn’t take long for Moran to make a fool of himself and shame his constituents – he screamed at the second questioner, a constituent and 28-year disabled Navy veteran who wanted an answer to a legitimate question from his congressman, telling him to sit down or leave the meeting. RetireJimMoran’s video went viral and was played on national TV on Fox News and MSNBC, and was covered on numerous national news sites and blogs. Maybe that’s why Moran hasn’t held a town hall meeting since – he always embarrasses himself in public meetings. Check out the other videos from the meeting and the veteran’s interview about the incident on Fox News.
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#townhall
Moran implies everyone who voted against him in 2010 is racist
In a January 2011 interview with an Arab TV network following the State of the Union Address, Moran said Republicans took control of the House in the 2010 elections because America is full of racists who don’t like having a black president. He also made a convoluted analogy to the Civil War that didn’t even make sense. His remarks implied that he thinks the 70,000 people who voted for his own Republican opponent in 2010 are racists too. Unbelievable – full story here.
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#racist
Moran explodes and storms off an interview after being asked about socialism
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#explodes
Moran leaves his own taxpayer-funded event
In April 2011, Moran sponsored an event with officials from Facebook about protecting children on social networks, and used the congressional franking privilege to send out mailers advertising the event, costing $2,000 in taxpayer dollars. That’s all fine – it’s a legitimate event for a congressman to sponsor, and it’s a legitimate use of taxpayer dollars.
At the event, Moran gave a five minute speech to open the event. Then he left. That’s right, he walked out of the building, got in his car, and drove off. He didn’t even stay for the event he used $2,000 in taxpayer dollars to advertise. Full story here.
Link to this story:
http://retirejimmoran.com/morans-greatest-hits/#leaves
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