Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha dead at 77

By
Feb 8 2010

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Rep. John Murtha, the 77-year-old Pennsylvania Congressman who spoke out for veterans but opposed the Iraq war, died Monday of complications from gall bladder surgery.

Elected to Congress in 1974, Murtha was the first Vietnam war veteran elected to Congress and was known as a rare Democratic hawk when it came to military issues.

He also skated around ethical issues through much of his Congressional career, escaping indictment in the Abscam scandal and was recently under srutiny for intervening in the defense department contract process on behalf of campaign contributors, a role he could play as the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that overseas Pentagon spending.

Although he voted in 2002 to authorize America’s invasion of Iraq, he grew frustrated with President George W. Bush’s handling of the war and — in November 2005 — called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. military forces.

“The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion,” he said.

Yet despite his opposition to the war, Murtha became known as an advcoate for veterans.

“He understood the misery of war, said Rep. David Obey today. “Every person who serves in the military has lost an advocate and a good friend today.”

Posted on Feb 8 2010 Filed under Congress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Comments for “Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha dead at 77”

1. 

   Anti-Fascist

   February 8, 2010 - 5:02 pm

   God thing the headline did not say The Biggest Crook in Congress is Dead or we would have 535 to choose from. ALL flags at the MIC are at half staff forever
2. 

   griff

   February 8, 2010 - 6:30 pm

   Yeah, in 1974 a Democrat hawk was a rarity. Today true anti-war Democrats are drummed out by their own party.
3. 

   woody188

   February 8, 2010 - 11:06 pm

   Just 3 years ago when Pelosi backed Murtha for Majority Leader he was described as one of the most corrupt MIC puppets in Congress.
4. 

   Carl Nemo

   February 9, 2010 - 1:12 am

   There’s a bit of good in the worst of us as well as a bit of bad in the best.

   I personally was not enthused with his life as a politician relative to many unanswered questions and questionable MIC connections.

   He’s an example of a guy that simply couldn’t face the prospect of retirement in order to enjoy the roses while sipping a good cup of joe. He’s surely been retired now.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murtha

   RIP John Murtha…! : |

   Carl Nemo **==

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