Rep John Murtha Dead at 77

[Cousin Cletus]

Quote: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.

A native of New Martinsville, W.Va., voters first elected Murtha to Congress in a 1974 special election that spelled impending doom for President Nixon and congressional Republicans. That fall, Democrats wrestled away 49 House seats from the GOP, reeling from the scourge of Watergate and a presidency in shambles.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/...rtha-dead/

I'm not sure if this is where this belongs, but it is definitely a significant political event. I know there are quite a few Marines who are not saddened by this man's death, considering the choice words he had for our Marines risking their lives over in Iraq.