HARRISBURG, Pa. – Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77. The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.
In 1974 Murtha, then an officer in the Marine Reserves, became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. Ethical questions often shadowed his congressional service, but he was best known for being among Congress' most hawkish Democrats. He wielded considerable clout for two decades as the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending.
Murtha voted in 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, but his growing frustration over the administration's handling of the war prompted him in November 2005 to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion," he said.
Murtha's opposition to the Iraq war rattled Washington, where he enjoyed bipartisan respect for his work on military issues. On Capitol Hill, Murtha was seen as speaking for those in uniform when it came to military matters.
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Rest in Peace.
ReplyDeleteOut with the rest of the garbage. Sleep well....
ReplyDeleteThat was sure a rosey picture of old Jacks' life. His condemnation of our Marines BEFORE they were given a fair trial, were they were acquitted, will always be what I think about when I hear his name. He did not even apologize when the trial was over. He skated on a technicality and by testifying on others over ABSCAM. He was responsible for so much pork that he would squeal at times.
ReplyDeleteWhile I offer condolences to his family, I wish him good fortune helping his good friend Teddy Kennedy shovel coal for eternity.
I believe he's with Ted Kennedy right now shoveling pitch!
ReplyDeletehe was a liar and he enriched his family at the taxpayer expense with no bid contracts, on top of causing a number of honorable marines immense harm with his lies!
ReplyDeletegood riddance!
Pennsylvania just got a little nicer!
He was a Socialist crook but I feel sorry for his loved ones .
ReplyDeleteso is ur voice the final one? i dont think so. Have fun with teddy!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how even in death you guys will trash a Dem. (and the criticism may be valid). But lets see if you'll be equally as harsh of a judge when the next conservative kicks the bucket
ReplyDeleteAs a former service person, I know he was not liked at all. He said one thing then went another way. While he may have been a US Marine at one time, he did not act like one in the last years of his life. They say that once you are a Marine, you are always a Marine. Well there are exceptions to every rule. I pay my respects tot eh family, but he has already dug his hole.
ReplyDeleteOn a future note, I wonder who will replace him. Of course it will be a dem that is appointed by the governor I assume. But there should be a special election to replace him. Maybe your president will get another message from the voters.
dogg
I bet the paper shredders are going like crazy in Johnstown PA right now.
ReplyDeleteP.O.S.
ReplyDeletehe fleeced the taxpayers of this country...good riddance. by the way 4:48am...you may be right but dems do the same thing...