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NEW YORK (CNN) - Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha has won re-election to his District 12 seat. He beat Republican challenger William Russell.
Murtha, serving his 16th term, recently fired up controversy after saying this about some of his own constituents: "There's no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area."
Murtha made those comments in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The video of that interview was posted on the internet. Murtha apologized for his words the next day.
But days later in an interview with a local television station, Murtha said his district, years ago, was "really redneck."
Former President Clinton recently campaigned on Murtha's behalf.
Murtha is an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's and a vocal critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war.
He's well known for steering federal dollars to his state for projects and staunchly defends that.
Thank God !!
I tip my hat to you for being a great American and truthful.
If the people of PA are stupid enough to re-elect this toad after what he said, then they deserve what they get. Idiot rednecks
This is one guy that should go away
Murtha represents everything that is wrong with politics today. I'm a Democrat and even i hope he loses next time out.
yaaaaaaay!!!! Obama won!! Woooo hoooo!!!
It is hard to beat an incumbent even when he bad mouths his own constituents. Good luck to murtha,Pres elect Obama and our country
Are you kidding me! Murtha was right, the people that live in that part of the state are red necks. He stabbed our troops in the back over and over again, and yet you re-elect him. You deserve what you get.
Americans has show the world that their is hope for every body living in the USA by the election of OBAMA as the next American president. LONG LIVE OBAMA LONG LIVE THE USA
As a person raised in Western PA, I find the guy disgraceful. He's an old and obviously senile jerk that needs to hang up his hat.
What really amazes me, is the people he offended voted for him.
congrats to MURTHA for he is one to speak the truth. Martini in Playa del re california
if he can win why not obama
Congratulations Mr. Murtha. I hope that you use all of your experience to avoid future problems.
the comment about Murtha trafficing money into western Pa is true. He also uses his connections to bring jobs to the area. Even though he is not well liked the general population will continue to vote for him. Once he is gone, so are the jobs that he has brought to the area!! So can you really call the people of western Pa stupid rednecks for wanting to stay employed?
shaking my head as to why he won after calling us racists rednecks and then asking for our vote.
He's not afraid to speak the truth. I grew up in southwestern PA, he didn't lie, it's an incredibly racist area.
What's really amazing here is that most of you think it's an insult to be called a redneck. I consider it an honor.
If you lived in murtha's district you would want him to win as well. Research the area & understand the economics that have been significantly boosted by him. We all say things we wish we could take back, but sometimes the truth hurts. For people who know that area racism boils under the surface. It may not be obvious but murtha's statement wasn't far off
ANew dayhas come,finally we have shownthe world what democracy really means and a good model for the whole world congrats America and GOd bless USA