Congressman, combat veteran Murtha dead at 77
Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. John Murtha died Monday at age 77. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
(CNN) - Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a longtime fixture on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending, died Monday following complications from gallbladder surgery, according to a statement from his office.
He was 77.
The veteran Democratic congressman recently underwent scheduled laparoscopic surgery to remove his gallbladder.
Murtha was hospitalized in December and had to postpone a hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the administration's strategy in Afghanistan.
The congressman returned to work after a few days in the hospital and helped oversee final passage of the 2010 defense appropriations bill.
Murtha represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the House since 1974, making him the chamber's eighth most senior member. According to his biography on the House Web site, Murtha was the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress.
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Some of the posts here from the right are absolutely disgusting. A man is dead and you only have vile, hateful things to say..
the repubs who r u happy about his death r very sick and very evil people which is 65 percent of the repub party not all of them .35 percent r good people.
Glad he's gone.
Funny how so many here are suddenly singing the praises of Murtha's service in the military during Vietnam. How many of you leftards where were alive then were spitting on our soldiers as they came back to this country from fighting? How many of you called them "baby killers"? (Ironic that Murtha would accuse our soldiers of the very things that he was probably accused of when he came back from Vietnam.) But now, suddenly Murtha has earned his angelic wings just because he fought in Vietnam, when just a few years ago he would have been declared a baby-killing monster.
Murtha was trash, if for no other reason than turning his back on his brothers-in-arms.
A war vet and the biggest military back stabber known to man.
If he gets a military funeral it would be a disgrace to our armed forces.
RIP, Rep. Murtha. For those of you here who complain about the negative comments of the dead, please refer to the previous article on the (living) Haley Barbour for some truly despicable lib comments.
It's funny how so many here are suddenly singing the praises of Murtha's service in the military during Vietnam. How many of you leftards where were alive then were spitting on our soldiers as they came back to this country from fighting? How many of you called them "baby killers"? (Ironic that Murtha would accuse our soldiers of the very things that he was probably accused of when he came back from Vietnam.) But now, suddenly Murtha has earned his angelic wings just because he fought in Vietnam, when just a few years ago he would have been declared a baby-killing monster.
Murtha was trash, if for no other reason than turning his back on his brothers-in-arms.
RIP
RIP for a veteran Who died.
Having said that as a politician he was horrible and corrupt. Do not try to rewrite history.
And for the Bush Bashing, Remember Bush was the one calling for reform on Fannie and Freddie and the Democratic Congress refused. Ask Barney Frank, In addition I hate to break it to you but Iraq is looking up. Hate to ruin your day.
Keith in Austin: I live pretty close to you. Come on out and take your best shot.
mjm – That ain't what I would call manning-up. Needs a bit of work. I'll start you off: Bill Clinton did some nasty stuff while he was president. Now you say, "Yeah, Bush is a criminal, and he did trash the country." You know it's the truth, so just admit it. Feel better?
Rest in peace Congressman Murtha.
Buh bye
God rest your soul. While I didn't agree with you, I respect you for stansing up for what you believe. If you are wondering, I am a conservative Independent.
The comments here by republicans are the reason why I will never vote for a republican again.
They are cruel, disgraceful, racist people who approve of tortuiring other human beings. Nothing but spreading hate and division while obstuctiong everything that may help Americans.
From keeping the health insurance companies from ripping you off to holding those who break international law accountable to anything related to civil rights. They do nothing but spread hate.
They seem to truely hate Americans.
On a side note; 100 percent of all white supremacists polled prefer Fox News over any other news organization.
The same was true for the westboro baptists and Neo Nazis polled.
hmm...go figure......
JEE! ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS GUY AND JOHN McCAIN?? I GUESS HE IS BETTER THAN McFLIPFLOP!!
@Ignorant Rabid Republican Right Wingnut, who's posing as Ignorant Liberal
Liberals would never say "Glad he's gone". Your mother raised the true idiot, and I'm so I'm sorry she bore you.
Maybe Limbaugh is next,but he was nothing more than a chicken little coward like most republicans on this post
CNN wouldn't print my first comments, truth hurts doesn't it CNN. May John Murtha, a good human being rest in peace. He served his country well. Republicans are pretty predictable, hateful, mean spirited, like shadow people.
Yeah there...the Republican Taliban are out in force to cheer and set-up signs to celebrate the death of a great American like they did to Kennedy. Only lunatics cheer and celebrate the death of their own people. Go get your heads checked out and take some meds to fix your insanity.
Its a shame he didn't do better for his country and the Marines in the last years of his life.