Congressman Jim McDermott has quite a track record. Whether he's violating Federal Law and House ethics standards by leaking illegally taped telephone conversations, or traveling to Baghdad during the run-up to war, "Baghdad Jim" continues to astonish us with his deft ability to undermine our nation's interests.

At a May 3rd meeting at the Rainier Community Center, McDermott referred to our troops as "mercenaries" and said, "The American people are sitting asleep at the switch." He also stated, "we're losing in Afghanistan."

McDermott's Republican opponent in the November election, Steve Beren, was in attendance and took the opportunity to challenge the congressman, in an open letter, to a series of broadcast debates.
 
If the debates happen, Congressman McDermott will have to find time between all the side-jobs he will be working to pay off the $700,000 he was recently ordered to pay, by a federal appeals court, in the taped telephone call matter.