By FITSNews || U.S. Rep. John Murtha – one of the most corrupt, liberal members of Congress and an outspoken critic of the War in Iraq – died Monday of complications from gall bladder surgery.
The 77-year-old lawmaker had represented Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District for thirty-five years.
Murtha is perhaps best remembered for being involved in the Abscam scandal in the early 1980′s, an investigation in which FBI agents posed as Saudi nationals and attempted to bribe federal officials for favorable immigration treatment. Murtha was recorded by the FBI passing up a $50,000 bribe – but left open the possibility that he might be interested in accepting future bribes.
He later testified against two Congressmen who were also implicated in the scandal.
Scandal followed Murtha throughout his career. In 2009, he became embroiled in controversy related to his role as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense.
According to the Washington Post, a Pennsylvania defense research center regularly consulted with two “handlers” close to Murtha while it received approximately $250 million in federal funding from Murtha’s earmarks.
The center then channeled a significant portion of the funding to companies that were among Murtha’s campaign supporters.
Quid pro quo, anybody?
Anyway, Murtha’s death means there will be a special election in the Pennsylvania 12th – which went for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election but flipped to John McCain in 2008.
By No Name February 8, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Well not exactly a “Ron Brown” but telling all the same.
Never go near a hospital when you know as much as he did.
McCain should watch this special election very closely.
By Genomic Repairman February 8, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I know its pretty low class but I have to ask if he qualifies for stimulus money since he is a shovel ready project?
By Liberty For Me February 8, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Genomic…You are a class act.Too funny
If any of you missed this guys actions..check this.what a scumbag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgUCdefSW8
By Ynotfirst February 8, 2010 at 4:46 pm
RIP Congressman Murtha
By countryboy February 8, 2010 at 7:18 pm
A-M-F
By Old Bike Dude February 8, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Volunteered for Viet Nam, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, DSM, most of you turds aren’t qualified to wash his dirty skivvies. He took a lot of heat for Haditha but I think if you check the record, yes, he was correct. Service members and especially Marines, who would piss on a fellow service member for political gain can kiss my old white ass.
By madcock February 8, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Love the Republicans making cracks about a decorated Vietnam war veteran who just passed.
I’m sure if he was a real patriot like Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Paul Wolfowitz or Rush Limbaugh, all who dodged the draft during Vietnam then gleefully supported sending other people’s sons and daughters to die for a lie in Iraq while they let Osama Bin Laden run free had just died, these great Americans would be waving the flag and gnashing their teeth in grief.
And nothing says “I’m corrupt” like turning down a bribe offered by an undercover agent.
Love the crack too about the earmark in his district. One earmark. How evil.
Still waiting to hear a negative word about GOP Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama who is holding up over 70 adminstration nominees in the Senate, including many in national security posts, because he can’t get a couple of earmarks approved for his home state, only valued at a billion dollars.
But, of course, that’s different, he’s a Republican.
BTW, Fits, I trust no one in your family will object to media reports of your death concentrating on your domestic violence arrest and conviction while your corpse is still warm.
By fitsnews February 8, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Madcock-
First, regarding the notion that we are in any way partisan around here …
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/01/30/a-note-to-our-democratic-commenters/
Second, we’re pretty sure that Sic won’t care what’s said about him after his death – as long as they bury him ass up, per his request.
-FITS
By madcock February 8, 2010 at 10:36 pm
My FITS, getting touchy aren’t we.
Still waiting for a word of criticism of Shelby. Or do you have hope of getting a whoring, I mean consulting job from him?
By Genomic Repairman February 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm
First off Bitchpants McCrabby, I make fun of everyone. republicans included. I don’t judge someone by their party affiliation but rather by the dumbass things they do and say. You know like assuming that I only make fun of democrats.
By standing by February 9, 2010 at 1:24 am
A decent man has passed. Unfortunately, it’s all a big joke to some people. He died after serving his country for so long and maybe some of these commenters dissing will get a taste of their own medicine when someone they love dies, if they love anyone other than themselves. Turning down a bribe doesn’t make you corrupt. Saying you would be open to the possibility of future bribes might mean the same as a girl telling a boy she doesn’t want to date that she is busy that night. He might have been trying to see what their next move was. Murtha was castigated by an empty-headed woman because he was wrongly accused of wanting to cut and run. Such a corrupt person who actually supports the troops. He wanted to bring them out of harm’s way and he was called all sorts of names. Supporting the troops means trying to save their lives, not sacrifice them for scrub and company’s greater glory. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told. Old Bike Dude, keep on turning and madcock, keep up the good fight.
By Bobby February 9, 2010 at 1:39 am
Congratulations to the Conservative hate machine for rounding up a few people to talk trash about an American hero hours after his death. Show us all your Vietnam battle scars and we’ll listen to your shit.
By Liberty For Me February 9, 2010 at 6:28 am
You morons would defend Hitler because he was in the military..What the hell does that have to do with him being a crook,that shit on the Constitution that soldiers are supposed to defend…The good news is he is dead.Now maybe Thomas Jefferson can Take a stick to his ass
By fitsnews February 9, 2010 at 7:50 am
To all the Murtha whiners on this post;
If you want to eulogize the man “your way,” then by all means start a website, build up a ton of credibility with independent readers (and readers of both parties) and then speak your piece.
Easy as 1-2-3.
-FITS
By Old Bike Dude February 9, 2010 at 7:54 am
LFM, care to share with the rest of us your evidence of Mr Murtha’s disdain for the Constitution that he supported and defended, or of his life of crime. Take your time, I understand that the Wingnut Hotline is often busy for hours at a time.
And no I wouldn’t defend Hitler, he was the enemy. However I will likely support all those who fought for and served these United States. These veterans possess loyalty, patriotism, integrity, courage, and unselfishness. If you ever get out on your own and no longer sleep on your mom’s couch you’ll understand these things, maybe.
By James A February 9, 2010 at 9:25 am
Bobby,
We have been trying to see John Kerry’s battle scars ever since he ran. We also have been waiting on him to release his military records as promised. I am not for putting Murtha down at this time but I cant forget how he called our Marines in Uniform murderers. If this is a real American Hero we are in trouble.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' February 9, 2010 at 9:31 am
Benedict Arnold also was a decorated veteran and war hero, but became corrupt at the expense of his nation. Ditto Murtha.
By Brian February 9, 2010 at 9:34 am
Old Bike Dude,
Alas, you need to check your facts regarding Haditha. Mr. Murtha was as wrong then as he was the day he died. And the sad thing is that he knew it and still stuck with his slanderous story. Eight Marines were originally charged. Of those, charges against six of the Marines, to include the Bn CO, LtCol Chessani, have been dismissed, and the one case that actually went to trial, the case against 1stLt Grayson, ended in a full acquittal. The only remaining case, that against SSgt Wuterich, is currently on an indefinite hold while some evidentiary issues are cleared up on appeal; the chances of successfully prosecuting that case are slim at best, as they should be. While Mr. Murtha should be commended for his service in Vietnam, his actions later in life involving the ABSCAM scandal, “pay-to-play” politics, and, most importantly, slandering the Haditha Marines, overshadow anything he did back then.
By Rick February 9, 2010 at 10:17 am
OBD, As a Marine, this man started down an honorable path, when he chose to deviate from that path in subsequent years, while not negating his earlier accomplishments, he became one of the problems for the American people. When he accused Marines of being murderers, he passed well beyond the pale. When he failed to apologise to these same Marines after the court findings, well to this Marine….he’s no one to mourn. One more scumbag gone, 500+ left. Once a Marine, Always a Marine is not just a slogan….when you bring shame to the Corps, you dishonor all of us that wore the EGA. Sorry you’re not capable of getting past the VietNam War issue and look at a man that lost his ability to act honorably.
By scooter February 9, 2010 at 10:23 am
This man was a decorated vet. He turned down the bribe. He will be missed. He was a good man, and I am sorry he has died. Those who make fun of him are pitiful.
By JustMeee February 9, 2010 at 10:41 am
Problem is, Fitsnews, you don’t have any credibility.
By Old Bike Dude February 9, 2010 at 12:29 pm
As a former Marine I know just a little about such investigations. So all the Marines were innocent, nahh they weren’t looking for a little payback. They were exonerated. But the Marine Corps was quick to pay off the families of those killed. Was that part of the Bush war doctrine, that is, pay off all the families of all enemy killed? Or maybe they just decided to do a little extra nice PR work in Haditha. Yeah right.
By Liberty For Me February 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm
OBD…hERE YOU GO.I know it wont change your mind nothing will
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and the rest of the PMA Seven: Rep. John Murtha made headlines in 2009 for all the wrong reasons. The Pennsylvania congressman is under federal investigation for his corrupt relationship with the now-defunct defense lobbyist PMA Group. PMA, founded by a former Murtha associate, has been the congressman’s largest campaign contributor. Since 2002, Murtha has raised $1.7 million from PMA and its clients. And what did PMA and its clients receive from Murtha in return for their generosity? Earmarks — tens of millions of dollars in earmarks. In fact, even with all of the attention surrounding his alleged influence peddling, Murtha kept at it. Following an FBI raid of PMA’s offices earlier in 2009, Murtha continued to seek congressional earmarks for PMA clients, while also hitting them up for campaign contributions. According to The Hill, in April, “Murtha reported receiving contributions from three former PMA clients for whom he requested earmarks in the pending appropriations bills.” When it comes to the PMA scandal, Murtha is not alone. As many as six other Members of Congress are currently under scrutiny according to The Washington Post. They include: Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-VA), Norm Dicks (D-WA.), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), C.W. Bill Young (R-FL.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-KS.). Of course rather than investigate this serious scandal, according to Roll Call House Democrats circled the wagons, “cobbling together a defense to offer political cover to their rank and file.” The Washington Post also reported in 2009 that Murtha’s nephew received $4 million in Defense Department no-bid contracts: “Newly obtained documents…show Robert Murtha mentioning his influential family connection as leverage in his business dealings and holding unusual power with the military.”
By Old Bike Dude February 9, 2010 at 4:28 pm
LFM, I don’t doubt what you write but I must ask, how does this makes him different from Joe Wilson, Jim Clyburn, Jim Demint, and Bohonkey Pimpstick? Evidently PMA is democratic for Haliburton.
By Liberty For Me February 9, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Didn’t say it did…Out of those,I slightly trust DeMint…
The only people I trust are Ron,Rand Paul,Gary Johnson and Jeff Flake.
As far as I am concerned,the rest have to prove they are not progressive,socialist or whatever phrase you want to use for socializing our liberty into slavery
By No Way! February 9, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Murtha just didn’t have the best interests of the country in mind in his stance on many issues before congress
By Sabbatoge February 9, 2010 at 11:00 pm
The funny thing here, to me, is a dude named “Liberty for Me” who would be lucky to outhink my 8-year old daughter on a dry, very non-humid, day.
By Dick F.Cheney February 9, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Liberty,
GD…its going to get down in the high 20′s tonight here. Maybe it’s Satan…or the wrath of gawd.
PS: Gotta luv Palin’s cheat sheet
By Liberty For Me February 10, 2010 at 7:07 am
Sab(b)atoge,Dick F.Cheney…Comments left by people with no substance to defend issues…Why don’t you guys go bag some more groceries
By martha washington February 11, 2010 at 12:08 am
Murtha served his country then turned on it. Simple.