Rep. John Murtha Dies

Rep. John Murtha, a war hero who then turned on fellow Marines and was a king of pork, died today at age 77. "Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha, the first veteran of the Vietnam war to enter Congress and one of the House's most powerful lawmakers, died Monday afternoon at Virginia Hospital Center after complications from gallbladder surgery. Murtha was 77.
"Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va. At his bedside was his family," read a statement from his office." http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/08/rep-murtha-dead/?test=latestnews
While in the Marines, he won 2 Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star and was a drill instructor at Paris Island. He continued to be in the Marine Corp Reserve, retiring as a Colonel.
also from Fox News: Nicknamed "The King of Pork," Murtha also faced scrutiny for earmarking federal dollars for projects in his district. Numerous news reports lambasted the congressman for steering money to the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. The facility received $150 million from Washington for upgrades despite limited commercial use. But the airport is also used for military purposes.
The congressman also faced scrutiny for campaign contributions he and other appropriators received from the now defunct PMA lobbying firm. Murtha scored nearly $2.5 million in donations from PMA and its clients over a nearly 20-year period. The feds continue to scrutinize PMA. The Office of Congressional Ethics asked the House ethics committee to drop any inquiries into the dealings Murtha had with PMA.
He also unfairly attacked the Marines: "Murtha's criticism of the Iraq war intensified in 2006, when he accused Marines of murdering Iraqi civilians "in cold blood" at Haditha, Iraq, after one Marine died and two were wounded by a roadside bomb.
Critics said Murtha unfairly held the Marines responsible before an investigation was concluded and fueled enemy retaliation. He said the war couldn't be won militarily and such incidents dimmed the prospect for a political solution. "http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9DO6O4G0&show_article=1
For this act of cowardice, is what I remember Murtha for. I remember the anger that was brought about because of these comments and how the Marines were later cleared. He caused a lot of hurt and for that, is why I didn't care for the man. He was an American hero but later on in life, turned out differently.
Update: It turns out that Murtha died because of a botched surgery performed in a government hospital. The irony. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/08/murthas-intestine-damaged-surgery/