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 Rep. John Murtha Dies at 77Posted on Feb 8, 2010
After serving almost exactly 36 years in the United States Congress, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania has died. He had been in intensive care following gall bladder surgery. He was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to Congress. A mixed bag, politically, Murtha got failing grades from both NARAL and the National Rifle Association. Murtha was either chairman or ranking member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee for decades, overseeing a record expansion of the military-industrial complex. But he also broke with the hawks in 2005 when he demanded a withdrawal from the Iraq war. In 1980, Murtha became embroiled in the Abscam scandal. The FBI caught the congressman on tape considering a $50,000 bribe. He would survive the scandal to serve 30 more years in the House. —PZS Sources: AP, Wikipedia, Congress Advertisement Previous item: Palin: 'It Would Be Absurd Not to Consider' Presidential Run Next item: Google Working on Gmail's Social Skills CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
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By NYCartist, February 9, 2010 at 7:46 am Link to this comment
There’s a reason I call myself Cassand()a at times. New:
Report thisStory on HuffPo that Murtha died from surgical error -infection from cut to intestines during gall bladder surgery.
By idarad, February 9, 2010 at 4:46 am Link to this comment
If you can’t say anything good….... (guess I have to leave it there)
Report thisBy malek, February 9, 2010 at 3:21 am Link to this comment
“But he also broke with the hawks in 2005 when he demanded a withdrawal from the Iraq war.”
he advocated “withdrawing” across the Iraq border and wasn’t opposed to returning if things got out of hand. a modified version of this plan was adopted; moving the troops to isolated bases,safely away from violence in the cities.
during his tenure, many many american & foreign lives have been lost because of the likes of Murtha.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, February 8, 2010 at 7:01 pm Link to this comment
Just think, being operated on by the lowest bidder.
Report thisBy WBH, February 8, 2010 at 5:33 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
First, why do they always call highly paid political
Report thispositions “serving.” Volunteer firemen and underpaid
pastors “serve.” What politicians like Murtha do is
“self-serve.” Second, 30 years in Congress after
Abscam shows how corrupt the system is and how dull the
people of SW Pennsylvania are.
By William W. Wexler, February 8, 2010 at 4:26 pm Link to this comment
Not to pile on somebody who’s dead, but why was he allowed to serve in Congress for another 30 years after AbScam? Could it be because our standards for Congressional conduct have sunk so low that bribery and buggery are just another day in the life?
Yep. We have the best Congress that business lobbyists can buy.
Report thisBy NYCartist, February 8, 2010 at 3:58 pm Link to this comment
Health care can be bad for your health. Especially surgery.
Report this