Tim Murphy's undoing: A legacy realized

It was only a matter of time — too long for his critics — before the hypocrisy that defines the “Republican” tenure of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy would eventually bury him. Now up to his neck in allegations that the pro-life lawmaker asked his mistress to get an abortion, Mr. Murphy has announced his resignation, effective Oct. 21.

And conservatives misrepresented by Murphy for 15 years in the primarily Republican 18th District can breathe a sigh of relief that the reign of this RINO is over. Anyone who knows Mr. Murphy's legislative record knows he's no stranger to glaring political inconsistencies.

The representative from Upper St. Clair, who normally swings to the left but inevitably creeps back to the right before each election cycle, initially supported “card check” to curry favor with Big Labor in 2007 until doing so became politically inexpedient. He has opposed limiting the cost-inflating Davis-Bacon Act on public works projects. On prevailing-wage laws, project-labor agreements, minimum wages and even the absurd Obama-era Cash for Clunkers escapade, he's been a lock-stepping, union-toadying liberal.

And Big Government Murphy, who says he's anything but, has voted consistently against legislation to cut pork-barrel spending, according to his critics.

So anyone following along shouldn't be the least bit surprised by Murphy's flair for saying one thing — and doing another. Given these latest appalling allegations, he simply sealed his own pathetic legacy.