and he was sitting down, and the whole reason this process dragged out for so long was precisely because there was this very long, extended set of negotiations with republican senators ultimately at the same time those negotiations were happening, you had charles grassley back in his home state going around talking about death panels. and eventually, i think democrats wisened up and realized the republicans had no intention of helping them pass any legislation. capitol hill is remembering congressman jack murtha who died yesterday at 77 years old from complications following gallbladder surgery. the pennsylvania democrat and former marine was known as an outspoken leader on defense issues. he was the first vietnam war combat veteran elected to congress and wielded considerable influence over pentagon spending. although murtha voted to authorize military force in iraq, he grew deeply critical of the war famously calling for the immediate withdrawal of u.s. forces. it s a flawed poli
hospital. there are reports this morning suggesting that the congressman died after his intestine was damaged during gallbladder surgery and that that caused a serious infection. he checked into the hospital on january 31st, after he had gone home and the surgery was performed days earlier at the national naval medical center in bethesda, maryland. he had long been considered a moderate democrat in his career on the hill and made huge headlines during the iraq war when he became a vocal critic of the car. murtha was 77. gregg: we re just hours away from what is sure to be a very heated hearing on capitol hill, all over a rather controversial labor department candidate nominated by president obama the u.s. senate will consider craig becker for a spot on the national labor relations board, that board, supposed to be objective, oversees union elections and helps resolve labor disputes. the critics say that becker, who is a former attorney for the afl-cio and
but work with them. right now the republicans are painting themselves into a bit of an obstructionist corner. ezra klein of the washington post , great thanks. thank you. the first vietnam war combat veteran elected to congress was ultimately a prominent and potent voice in opposing the war in iraq and has died today. congressman jack murtha passed away due to complications from gallbladder surgery. the democrat of pennsylvania s 12th district earned broad bipartisan respect over the course of his 18 terms particularly on military issues. in november of 2005 his stats against a war he had once voted to authorize may have been pivotal in forming public opinion or galvanizing it at least. quoting him then, the war in iraq is not going as advertised. it is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. just this past saturday jack murtha became pennsylvania s longest serving member of congress. john patrick murtha jr. was 77. the four top republican politicians on counterterror caught eith
today, a decorated vietnam veteran and later an outspoken critic of the war in iraq, the long-time pennsylvania congressman jack murtha has died after a lifetime of service to this nation. he was 77 years old. the outspoken democrat was one of congress s most powerful players. but he also saw his share of controversy over the years. we re told the congressman died in a hospital in virginia following complications from gallbladder surgery. for more let s go live to james rosen in d.c. tonight. james? shep, good evening. in recent years john murtha s outspokeness became less of a virtue as when, for example, in 2008 he called western pennsylvania home to his own district a racist area. but measured in full murtha s career was extraordinary and beyond the call of duty. first elected to represent his western pennsylvania district in early 1974, the pugnacious former marine emerged as one of the capital s best friends of merge s fighting men and women. he was their advocate in the
behalf of this problem? remember when scott brown was elected there were massive polls showing people wanted him to work with the democrats on the health care bill. didn t mean sign that bill but work with them. right now the republicans are painting themselves into a bit of an obstructionist corner. ezra klein of the washington post , great thanks. and great thanks for getting through that cumbersome question i just asked you. thank you. the first vietnam war combat veteran elected to congress was ultimately a prominent and potent voice in opposing the war in iraq and has died today. congressman jack murtha passed away due to complications from gallbladder surgery. the congressman, the democrat of pennsylvania s 12th district earned broad bipartisan respect over the course of his 18 terms particularly on military issues. in november of 2005 his stats stance against a war he had once voted to authorize may have been pivotal in forming public opinion or galvanizing it at least. q