Rep. Matsui - CA has passed away

[Jack Bone]

I just read a bullet scroll on CNN's Late Edition that said he's dead and that he was a strong opponent of SS Reform...

more to follow..hopefully..

[Lenape85]

1. Can't find anything on CNN.com

Guess they do not care when dems die

[autorank]

8. Matsui's the best of the best, of course they won't cover it.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Was Matsui a Dem?

[Lenape85]

3. Obviously, if he was an opponent of gutting SS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_T._Matsui

[Cheswick2.0]

4. I don't think that necessarily follows.

I think we will find that a few conservatives will oppose SS reform too.
The poster asked a fair question.

[Cheswick2.0]

5. here's a link

http://www.house.gov/matsui/

His wife, Doris; his son, Brian; his daughter-in-law, Amy; and his granddaughter Anna survive Matsui.

One of the most senior and highly respected Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Matsui was first elected to Congress in 1978. He has been overwhelmingly returned to office in every election since, most recently by over seventy-one percent to his 14th term.

“Bob wanted me to express his most profound gratitude to all of those he had the honor to serve and who made his life so extraordinary,” said Doris Matsui. “Thank you to his constituents, his friends, his staff, and his colleagues. Brian, Amy, Anna and I will forever be grateful.”

Matsui was the third ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the Ranking Member on the Social Security Subcommittee, and was elected two years ago by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee - the National Party Committee responsible for electing Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.

In recent months, Matsui had been battling Milo Dysplastic Disorder (MDS), a rare stem cell disorder that causes an inability of the bone marrow to produce blood products, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The disorder leaves the patient at a heightened susceptibility to illness and compromises the ability to fight illness when it occurs.

[Lenape85]

6. We will always remember him...

...condolences to his family, Matsui was a true fighter.

[autorank]

7. This was a very fine man, politician.

Matsui represented a great district, down town Sacramento. He was a liberal's liberal, a humanist, and a man who had been through tragedy in his life and used it to build understanding and compasion. There is no one here who would have argued with any of his positions. He would get 100% from DU.

In addition, he was a man of real character. My daughter interned for him as a senior in high school. His office respected all staff and his aids made sure that the high school interns had a positive experience and were given everything they needed to learn and grow. I remember going into his offie for the first time. Right behind the reception desk, he has a 3-6' black and white picture of his little league team. You knew this was a special guy once you saw that and found out just a little about his history and office.

RIP Rep. Matsui!