by Mark Silva
Rep. John Murtha, decorated Marine and powerful veteran of Capitol Hill, was the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress, a force to be reckoned with in the House, and he was, when all is said and done, an imperfect and longtime servant.
Murtha, a "tough-as-nails'' Democratic hawk and for two decades the ranking member of his party on the House subcommittee that controls defense spending, also had become an outspoken and influential critic of the war in Iraq.
He died today at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., a spokesman for the congressman said. Murtha was 77.
Murtha was first elected from Pennsylvania in 1974. On Saturday, his office said, he had become Pennsylvania's longest-serving member of Congress.
. He had been among the members of Congress who voted in 2002 to authorize then-President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq. But by November 2005 he was calling for a withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised,'' Murtha had said at the time. "It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.''
Murtha had sweeping control over defense spending, as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and he would face questions for the influence over spending that he wielded on the behalf of campaign contributors.
"He understood the misery of war," said Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "Every person who serves in the military has lost an advocate and a good friend today."
"Jack was a devoted husband,'' President Barack Obama said in a statement issued today, "a loving father and a steadfast advocate for the people of Pennsylvania for nearly 40 years. His passion for service was born during his decorated career in the United States Marine Corps... Jack's tough-as-nails reputation carried over to Congress, where he became a respected voice on issues of national security.''
Murtha's great-grandfather had served in the Civil War, his father and three uncles in World War II, his brothers in the Marine Corps.
He left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines and became a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C. Moving to Johnstown, Pa., he remained in the Marine Reserves until volunteering to go to Vietnam, where he served as an intelligence officer from 1966 to 1967. He received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
IThe late Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania is pictured above in a July 2006 file photo by Cheryl Senter / AP)
Murtha graduated from the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill with a degree in economics. He served in the Pennsylvania House from 1969 until his election to Congress in a special election in 1974.
In 1990, he retired from the Marine Reserves as a colonel.
"Ever since I was a young boy, I had two goals in life -- I wanted to be a colonel in the Marine Corps and a member of Congress," Murtha had written in a 2004 book, From Vietnam to 9/11.
Murtha's own criticism for the war in Iraq included an accusation that Marines had murdered Iraqi civilians "in cold blood" at Haditha. He was accused of incriminating the Marines before an investigation. His words were used against him in the 2008 election. He won an 18th term.
Murtha also suffered criticism for ethical lapses ranging from his entanglement in the Abscam corruption many years ago to more recent criticism for a connection between "earmark'' spending and campaign contributions. He maintained that his constituents benefitted.
In the Abscam probe, in 1980, the FBI captured Murtha on videotape in a sting operation turning down a $50,000 bribe offer while holding out the possibility of taking money in the future.
In 2007 and 2008, Murtha and two fellow Democrats on the subcommittee directed $137 million to defense contractors who were paying a lobbying firm to get them government contracts. Between 1989 and 2009, Murtha collected more than $2.3 million in campaign contributions from the firm's lobbyists and corporate clients, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political money.
"We do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested and maybe I won't," Murtha had said on the tape.
Six congressmen and one senator were convicted. Murtha was not charged, but the government named him as an unindicted co-conspirator and he testified against two other congressmen.
Comments
R I P - John Murtha
Posted by: xena | February 8, 2010 5:28 PM
This is sad news.
May he rest in peace.
My thoughts go out to his loved ones.
Posted by: Mick Hendrix | February 8, 2010 5:31 PM
This is a time to simply say condolences to his famliy. Save any policy or personal issues for later.
Posted by: David J | February 8, 2010 6:09 PM
While it is a sad day for his family and friends and my condolences do go out to them, I am a little shocked by this write-up.
There is no doubt that Mr. Murtha at one time had served his country honorably. But the fact remains that he had become a politician gripped by scandal, greed and graft. While Silva does note that Murtha did say a bunch of Marines killed Iraqis in "cold blood," there is no mention that that was wrong and the charges largely dropped against them. The scandals surrounding Mr. Murtha the past couple of decades are almost treated as an afterthought in this piece. There is no doubting that if Murtha was a Republican, those problems would have been front and center.
It is a shame that he didn't serve this country as honorably as a congressman as he did a Marine.
Posted by: John D | February 8, 2010 6:38 PM
No worries he is enjoying a lovely BBQ with Teddy and Hitler now. good riddance
Posted by: ChiTown | February 8, 2010 7:19 PM
I lost all respect for the man when he called Marines murderers. And it was proven he was wrong. I can care less that he passed away because of all the pain he has caused. And he most likely would have ended up in court over his payoffs that he received from defense contractors in his district. And yes I can say this even after his death because I have the DD 214.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 8, 2010 7:26 PM
=============================
I lost all respect for the man when he called Marines murderers. And it was proven he was wrong.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 8, 2010 7:26 PM
===============================
Of course, that's just your twisted right wing version of what Murtha actually said, but that's besides the point tonight.
Do us a favor tough guy, quit playing politics with a mans death on the day he dies, would ya?
Posted by: HHH | February 8, 2010 8:46 PM
No worries he is enjoying a lovely BBQ with Teddy and Hitler now. good riddance
Posted by: ChiTown | February 8, 2010 7:19 PM
Hope they invite you!
Posted by: bill r. | February 8, 2010 10:23 PM
HHH, there is no right wing spin to reporting the truth that Murtha WRONGLY said Marines killed in "cold blood."
Here is the quote in question:
"there was no firefight, there was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
This comes from NBC News on the MSNBC website, with the link here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12838343/
Now, as reported in that item, Murtha says he was basing his comment on reports he received from the military. And the military orginally did charge those Marines, so on that I will cut Murtha some slack, some. I will not excuse him for what he said about the Marines that they killed innocent people in cold blood.
I also will not excuse Murtha becuase the evidence proved these Marines did not kill innocent people in cold blood. Murtha never retracted his statement nor did he ever apologize for it, that I am aware of.
And, in the past when a conservative has died and the loons on the left were mean-spirited and callous about it, I called them out.
So, ChiTown's comments are not appropriate. Murtha was no Teddy Kennedy and certainly no Hitler. Regardless of his failings later in life, he did serve this country admirably when in the military, and still has friends and family that love and care for him.
Posted by: John D | February 8, 2010 11:35 PM
"Marines killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
~Murtha~
Abscam investigation and hundred of millions in Earmarks.
Say no more.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | February 8, 2010 11:43 PM
John D,
Three words: Shut your piehole
Quit playing politics with a man's death, you moron.
Posted by: janet | February 8, 2010 11:44 PM
This is so typical of Little Johnny D....
He comes on here flapping his jaws about how we shouldn't be playing politics with John Murtha's death today......and then he proceedes to play politics with John Murth's death, twice.
You and Bible Spice Palin should run for office Johnny D, you could call yourselves: Dumb & Stupid 2012.
Posted by: Carl | February 8, 2010 11:54 PM
I wonder if his airport, funded by taxpayers, will remain open since its only flights were to DC?
Posted by: Steve Lobber | February 9, 2010 12:01 AM
John Murtha wasn't perfect, and some of the charges that he strongarmed pork projects for his district were difficult to see any other way. Still, I'll never forget his irascible bitch-slapping of Dick Cheney following another of Cheney's wild claims to know everything about things military; "I like that - a guy with five deferments...". Or the chorus of boos that greeted Jean Schmidt's infamous "only cowards cut and run" speech. Back then, it was still possible to hope that America hadn't completely lost its sense of decency.
Posted by: bariatric surgery | February 9, 2010 12:48 AM
===================================
I wonder if his airport, funded by taxpayers, will remain open since its only flights were to DC?
Posted by: Steve Lobber | February 9, 2010 12:01 AM
==================================
Stevie Lobster,
Yeah, because airports are just a waste, "real American" Teabaggers ride horseback on the dirt trails whenever they need to go somewhere. They don't depend on any of that fancy flying stuff at those tax payer funded airports and they definitely don't drive those new fangled car machines on those tax payer funded roads.
And where did you get the dim bulbed idea that that Pa airport only has flights going to and from DC? Is that something that those right wing high school dropouts Bobby Mobbie and John D told you or something?
Posted by: Owen | February 9, 2010 1:53 AM
HHH no that is what he actually said on the floor of the House of Representatives and in newsclips. They are over on YouTube so please can you stop the liberal claptrap. And like I said before I have a DD 214 I've earned the right to say what I want and served so that you can to. He barely made it off the hook back in the 80s in a FBI string (Abscam) involving Saudis making payoffs to government officials and he was about to be indicted for payoffs from companies in his district. I do feel sorrow for his family but that's about as far as my feelings go towards this disgrace that this man has become. After he made the rounds on TV calling Marines murderers and never once apologizing to any of them after a was proven he was wrong. And really I do not care what a liberal loon thinks about me when I have most of the Marine Corps agreeing with me. I am still in touch with a lot of the guys I was in the service with and some of who are still in and they wish they could strip him of any medals received while he was in the Corps. Just go to any military forum and bring up his name and you see what happens. That's right, you would have had to had served your country to get on those boards.
Steve Lobber I have thought about that too. What is funny about that is that he had a advanced ground radar installed for an airport that handles two flights a day. Yet he was really looking out for the people in his district. He would have been indicted before too long and he would never have won reelection again.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 9, 2010 2:03 AM
I don't care much about John Murtha, condolences to his family. At least he did not get the kind of send off that Charlton Heston got from the hateful liberals on the day he died. That was a disgusting display of the worst that humanity has to offer, similar to how Sarah Palin is treated.
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | February 9, 2010 3:43 AM
I have never agreed with him politically or personally. What with his involvement in so many scandals. The only service he did to this country was as a soldier for which i hold him in praise.
Posted by: News Script | February 9, 2010 4:12 AM
Wasn't this guy a leader of racists? Isn't that what he called his constituents?
Benedict Arnold went to West Point - that doesn't mean he wasn't a liar and could be trusted.
Posted by: worsethanbefore | February 9, 2010 8:48 AM
John Murtha was more of a patriotic American than this ignorant imbecile John D. will ever be. Hands down. Murtha volunteered to serve in combat in VietNam. He was one of the first VietNam veterans elected to Congress where he served 18 terms.
Compare him to a chickenhawk like Dick Cheney who was never elected to any public office and who received draft deferment 5 different times. The Communists had Cheney scared to death. He ran from them.
Murtha was a great American, John D, is a coward.
Posted by: Doug R. | February 9, 2010 9:11 AM
In my other post I did point out a lot of the dislikes of this man. But, he did serve the country in Vietnam and he did stand up for the veterans and their family's. As far as calling him a great American I cannot because how he tainted our military and in doing so handed our enemy a propaganda boom.
Owen your comments about the airport just show how ignorant of the facts you are about it. Even the majority of the people in his own district do not understand its need. $250 million to upgrade a runway that did not need upgrading. 100+ million dollars for a ground radar system that was not needed. A busy day at the airport is two take offs or two landings. And your use of teabagger is just plain childish.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 9, 2010 10:11 AM
Looks like the Republicans can put another house seat in their colunm!
R.I.P Johnny........
Posted by: Dave | February 9, 2010 12:23 PM
Why is commentor John D. being called a coward? When he writes that he has a DD 214, he is writing about his discharge papers from the military. His is pointing out that he also served. I myself served honorably in the Marine Corps. I appreciate John Murtha's 37 years of serive to this country as a U.S. Marine. He served far longer than I did and under more adverse conditions. However, I will never understand his condemnation of his fellow Marines as murderers of women and children. He condemned them without any proper investigation nor any trial. They were later aquitted and he never apologized. That is shameful regardless of your political views. John Murtha was correct that the war was mishandled. Many service members and Iraqis died because of this. However, that doesn't excuse John Murtha of jumping the gun and condemning his fellow Marines. As a Marine I find him so disheartening that words fail me. I appreciate his 37 years of loyal service as a Marine. I can not appreciate him as a member of congress. I hope that he is at rest. I hope his family finds comfort in his long life and dedicated military service.
Posted by: Jim O | February 9, 2010 1:05 PM
Owen:
"And where did you get the dim bulbed idea that that Pa airport only has flights going to and from DC? Is that something that those right wing high school dropouts Bobby Mobbie and John D told you or something?"
CNN is where I got my information - not exactly a right wing organization. It may behoove you to investigate before your rant. BTW, this is from the Murtha airport website: "Let our modern airport get you to your destination quickly and comfortably. We are only minutes away from your home or business. Three flights to Washington-Dulles Airport are offered each weekday, along with a weekend flight schedule for your convenience, with over 300 United Airlines connections around the world."
Plus, the multi-million dollar radar has never been staffed and is sitting idle.
Posted by: Steve Lobber | February 9, 2010 1:55 PM
Murtha leaves behind this very disturbing video showing the arrogance that comes from too many years in power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgUCdefSW8
If you like to do internet research, try to find out the wounds for which Murtha, a regimental staff officer for a year in Viet Nam, received his purple hearts. Murtha looks like the Marine Corps' version of John Kerry.
Posted by: Jim Latta | February 9, 2010 2:51 PM
Steve Lobber have you ever heard of the Southern Illinois Airport. This is a another liberal Democrat boondoggle. They had an airport built they could handle 747 jumbo jets but, is mostly used by the locals and their small planes. The Southern Illinois Airport has a world-class tower and terminal. The tower is barely used and the terminal sits near empty. They claim to be the busiest airport in southern Illinois, that is because they are the only large airport in southern Illinois. It only took 20 years after it was expanded to start making any money. Of which before it was built they had in airport that was just the right size. And if you also check a little deeper into Murtha's airport you will find out that before he poured all this taxpayers money into it, it was doing the same thing it is doing now.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 9, 2010 3:33 PM
VIDEO: That Was Quick... Dems Use Murtha's Death to Push for Obamacare
*
http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2010/feb/murtha_death_politicized.html
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | February 9, 2010 4:11 PM
A truly great American and patriot passed away today; Charlie Wilson. I would not even put Murtha in the same category with this great patriot.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | February 10, 2010 5:01 PM