Murtha: “If I’m corrupt, it’s just because….”

In a stunning interview today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) inadvertently stumbled over the central ethical quandary surrounding earmark legislation:

“If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district,” Mr. Murtha said. “My job as a member of Congress is to make sure that we take care of what we see is necessary. Not the bureaucrats who are unelected over there in whatever White House, whether it’s Republican or Democrat. Those bureaucrats would like to control everything. Every president would like to have all the power and not have Congress change anything. But we’re closest to the people.” [emphasis added]

Murtha has come under fire for his connections to the PMA Group, a DC lobbying firm which helps secure earmarks for its clients. The head of PMA is Paul Magliochetti, a former Murtha aide.