Democrats Blast Limbaugh For Saying That Antiwar Troops Are "Phony Soldiers"
As we reported earlier today over at The Horse's Mouth, Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show that soldiers who favor U.S. withdrawal from Iraq are "phony soldiers."
The assertion -- reminiscent of MoveOn's attack on Petraeus, which generated enormous controversy when Republicans attacked the group -- has the potential to be equally explosive, since some troops who are currently fighting in Iraq, and a handful who have died there, have questioned the war in the media.
Now Dems are stepping forward to blast his remark. First up: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Here's the statement just released by DCCC chief Chris Van Hollen:
“Rush Limbaugh’s personal attack on our men and women in uniform is reprehensible. It minimizes the sacrifice our troops in Iraq and their families are making and has no place in the public discourse. Rush Limbaugh owes our military and their families an apology for his hurtful comments that minimize their service to our country.”
We have a feeling that more will be coming on this. We have lots more on Rush's radio appearance right here.
Late Update: Here's John Kerry's statement:
"This disgusting attack from Rush Limbaugh, cheerleader for the Chicken Hawk wing of the far right, is an insult to American troops. In a single moment on his show, Limbaugh managed to question the patriotism of men and women in uniform who have put their lives on the line and many who died for his right to sit safely in his air conditioned studio peddling hate. On August 19th, The New York Times published an op-ed by seven members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division critical of George Bush's Iraq policy. Two of those soldiers were killed earlier this month in Baghdad. Does Mr. Limbaugh dare assert that these heroes were 'phony soldiers'? Mr. Limbaugh owes an apology to everyone who has ever worn the uniform of our country, and an apology to the families of every soldier buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He is an embarrassment to his Party, and I expect the Republicans who flock to his microphone will now condemn this indefensible statement."
Note the reference to the dead soldiers who authored that Times Op ed against the war, as well as the demand that GOPers condemn Rush for his remark.
Later Update: Looks like the Dems are determined to make a major issue of this. Rep. Frank Pallone was just on the House floor blasting Rush. He asked whether all the GOPers who condemned MoveOn will hold Rush to the same standard, concluding: "Don't hold your breath."
Even Later Update: Here's Dem Rep Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war vet himself, in a statement sent to us moments ago:
“Someone should tell chicken-hawk Rush Limbaugh that the only phonies are those who choose not to serve and then criticize those who do. I served proudly, so did two of my fellow paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne who spoke out and died just weeks ago. Generations of American veterans have worn the uniform with pride and we know it is no contradiction to serve your country and still disagree with the Bush-civilian leadership that mismanaged this war.”
Comments (79)
Steve wrote on September 27, 2007 6:30 PM:Those fools in Congress who supported the resolution denouncing Moveon.org certainly better act with equal vigor in denouncing Rush, who was actually a heck of a lot nastier.
stemper wrote on September 27, 2007 6:33 PM:Yes, by all means: GOP, let's Support The Troops -- and not just the generals.
Greg wrote on September 27, 2007 6:34 PM:yep, agreed. looks like Dems are gonna try to make a major issue of this
js wrote on September 27, 2007 6:40 PM:Intro a bill to condem the cokehead please NOW !!!
JC wrote on September 27, 2007 6:51 PM:Let's see a bill condemning the remarks, just like the bill condemning MoveOn. It should be able to get a majority.
Rush is NOT a cokehead. He likes hillbilly heroin.
DaveW wrote on September 27, 2007 6:53 PM:Kerry blows it again. Limbaugh isn't an embarrasment to his party. He is the voice of the Republican Party. But of course Kerry has to make it sound like he's some kind of fringe. The GOP, being smarter, was no so kind in the case of MoveOn, which is far less party-line than Limbaugh and his flock.
DaveW wrote on September 27, 2007 6:55 PM:Rush? I thought he was talking about Bush.
CT Voter wrote on September 27, 2007 6:57 PM:has the potential to be equally explosive,
In what world? This isn't going to go anywhere, because mass media isn't going to pick up on it.
I'd love to be proven wrong, but it's not going to happen.
RichM wrote on September 27, 2007 6:58 PM:Where in the Hell was this Kerry 3 years ago? And I have to agree with DaveW, he is the voice of the party, not the fringe. Although, I think Kerry was right by calling him the fringe. It gives the Republicans room to condemn the act.
Tammy wrote on September 27, 2007 6:59 PM:Please Democrats, put Rush to a vote. Get the Gopers on record like you did for MoveOn.
Fred M. wrote on September 27, 2007 7:00 PM:Truth is definitely stranger than fiction. Rush Limbaugh ... the same guy who got a deferrment from the draft during the Viet Nam war for an anal cyst (even though it didn't bother him enough to keep him from playing high school football ... is now calling our soldiers who actually serve and fight "phonies!"
What sort of morons actually listen to this waste of skin?
corpus.juris wrote on September 27, 2007 7:06 PM:John Stolz from VoteVets.org has put up a post on the topic over at proctoringcongress.blogspot.com.
Here is a link. http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/09/so-im-phony-soldier-rush.html
EH wrote on September 27, 2007 7:10 PM:The Dems are on the case, now. I expect a strongly-worded letter to be put in a mailbox any moment now.
unpoetaloco wrote on September 27, 2007 7:11 PM:What Lush Rimbaugh wants is an army like the one firing on monks and democracy protesters in Burma: a robotic force of thugs who blindly carryout death sentences against innocent people.
RB wrote on September 27, 2007 7:14 PM:Looks like OxyBoy is skating close to the edge.
That bloated armchair cheerleader is the perfect definition of a coward.
Derek wrote on September 27, 2007 7:26 PM:I doubt we will see the Dems condemn Rush in the Senate and the House. They limit those sorts of things to the evil netroots.
jeffgee wrote on September 27, 2007 7:30 PM:Rush is a pilonoidal cyst.
Jim Selby wrote on September 27, 2007 7:37 PM:Rush Limbaugh has the right to say (almost) anything!!! And will. Whether he has the moral or
intellectual standing to do so.
When Al Gore was Vice President he sprained his ankle playing basketball and Rush made a big
deal about it. I guess that Rush thought it indicated that Al was somehow incompetent. My
question is has Limbaugh been off his big padded seat in the last sixty years?
Also where was Limbaugh when President Bush was thrown off of the bucking high tech
Segway. I have seen employees zipping around a hospital on one
It's about damn time the Dems figured out how to frame the issue and throw their trash talk back in their faces, and for all of America to see!
I'm SO proud of MY congressman, Patrick Murphy! We worked very hard to get him elected, and will do so again next year!
You go, Patrick! Your constituents are proud to have you represent us!
PEACE
Hank Essay wrote on September 27, 2007 7:42 PM:MoveOn should run an ad about this!
-
I really loved Kerry's remarks and I'm very proud of my Congressman, Patrick Murphy for speaking out.
Now let's tie John "LA Tans" Boener to this right wing assault on our troops.
Our troops are not phonies and it isn't a "small price to pay" when our troops die in Bush's Iraq and leave little children and anguished wives behind.
The Dems should stop asking for apologies. It just makes them look weak. ("Please don't hurt me!")
Asking for an apology isn't "blasting."
Blasting would be:
1. Resolution on the house floor TOMORROW. Make the Republicans go on the record; I think most Americans, and all normal Americans, are tired of being harangued by this guy.
2. FCC complaints about his radio show. Turn the MoveOn.org resolutions against him. Why not?
Above all:
3. END Limbaugh's monopoly on Armed Forces radio. The troops are being fed a steady diet of right wing propaganda, and we're going to end up with a Praetorian Guard because of it.
4. RAISE THE ANTE and do the same with FOX News.
None of this will happen, of course, because that would require the Democrats to actually defend the people who gave them money, worked for them, and voted for them, but isn't it pretty to think so.
lambert strether wrote on September 27, 2007 7:52 PM:The Dems should stop asking for apologies. It just makes them look weak. ("Please don't hurt me!")
Asking for an apology isn't "blasting."
Blasting would be:
1. Resolution on the house floor TOMORROW. Make the Republicans go on the record; I think most Americans, and all normal Americans, are tired of being harangued by this guy.
2. FCC complaints about his radio show. Turn the MoveOn.org resolutions against him. Why not?
Above all:
3. END Limbaugh's monopoly on Armed Forces radio. The troops are being fed a steady diet of right wing propaganda, and we're going to end up with a Praetorian Guard because of it.
4. RAISE THE ANTE and do the same with FOX News.
None of this will happen, of course, because that would require the Democrats to actually defend the people who gave them money, worked for them, and voted for them, but isn't it pretty to think so.
gbear wrote on September 27, 2007 7:59 PM:OxyCon, did just that this afternoon for my congresscritters Klobuchar and McCollum (both D's who should have been smarter than to condemn MoveOn). I called them both about Limbo's remark and also brought up Boener's 'small price' statement. I'm not going to hold my breath for any brave and inspiriational statements from either of them (and I didn't even bother calling Norm Coleman's office), but I wanted to try to convince them that perhaps they were played for fools over this.
Bill R. wrote on September 27, 2007 8:00 PM:So where's the congressional resolution denouncing Rush Limbaugh??
urbino wrote on September 27, 2007 8:02 PM:The response to this is as simple as it is direct: somebody should go to Rush Limbaugh's office, and lay him out.
This is also the only response to GOP politicians who accuse their anti-war colleagues of being anti-troops, anti-America, not caring about national security, and so forth.
There is no rhetorical response to such things. There is only the old-fashioned one. The next time Tim Russert has a GOPer and a Dem on, and the GOPer makes one of these accusations, the only thing the Dem should say is, to his colleague, "That's a lie, you know it's a lie, and the next time you say it, I'm going to lay you out."
The speaker should then follow through, without apology.
Not doing so is to not stand up for one's own honor. People have a gut understanding of that. Until some Dems stand up, physically, to this bitch-slap rhetoric, people will continue to see them as weak.
And that's really all there is to that.
r€nato wrote on September 27, 2007 8:07 PM:Step 2 had better be demanding that various Republican candidates condemn Limbaugh's remarks, and raking them over the coals if they don't.
Just like they did to Hillary.
onceler wrote on September 27, 2007 8:07 PM:ooh, ooh, can we have a stupid resolution too for our side??!! puhhhleeease?
god this is all so stupid. rush limbaugh is an idiot. general patraeus is a liar. so what? sad we have weak Dem "leaders", yes, but we don't win conflicts like this by mimicking republican behavior, as if they'll join with us in condemning rush. get real!
we should be better than this, instead of acting like silly playground tattletales. "oh, he said it first! he said it too!"
so weak. depressing.
Whenever and essentially false platform is chosen to stand on, the danger is that it may collapse when the other guy is on it, or when you are on it. Everyone has heard the brave soldier story a typical feature around closing time up here (Canada) in a legion (Veterans Club). Of course the true statement, the only reasonable one is that all the soldiers are brave, every one of them, on every side, in every war. IN war millions of reasonable and ordinary men are hurled into the maw of a terrible machine which rends flesh and burns bodies.
So how to answer a bully like the contemptible Limbaugh who throws out these cowardly remarks while hiding behind his wealth and a cautiously prepared set. Well, it is not him that one should attack but his audience. The line is simple: so you like what he says, you think that badly of some soldiers, you think the men over there are fussing about these matters, you think there is a big difference between a wounded democrat and a wounded republican, the opportunities are endless. To attack a bully when he is in a place he thinks is safe is pretty empty, he will have a good time dismissing you. To attack his audience will work, though it is less attractive at first glance. In writing his audience is found in any and all right wing blogs.
SeeDee wrote on September 27, 2007 8:21 PM:Seldom wax vernacular...but...as for an 'apology' from a drug-contaminated pile of puked-up ingest like Rush Limbaugh..none would be asked for or accepted by this vet.
I would tell him to 'stick his apology up his rear-end...cyst or not'.
The House and Senate if they are worth their salt, whether Democrat or Republican, will pass resolutions condemning this purveyor of hate and lies, lies, lies whose sole purpose has ALWAYS BEEN TO DIVIDE AMERICA and promote neocon agendae.
Anonymous wrote on September 27, 2007 8:22 PM:To attack a bully when he is in a place he thinks is safe is pretty empty, he will have a good time dismissing you.
Not if he's picking up his teeth.
Look, I'm an overeducated, upper middle class, white collar liberal just like most everybody else here, probably. But I've come to the realization that sometimes plain, physical courage is what's necessary.
There are some things that just can't be said without consequences. Immediate, personal, physical consequences. The GOP makes its living on saying those things.
They'll go right on doing it -- successfully, I might add -- until somebody makes them pay the price.
I really do think that's what it has come to in this country.
Robin wrote on September 27, 2007 8:22 PM:If I could find it, I would send Bush's family portrait back. They like to send them to republicans. I stopped being one years ago.
starwheel wrote on September 27, 2007 8:24 PM:The Democrats better not introduce another stupid meaningless amendment condemning Rush for freely speaking his mind.
If the Democrats do anything, they should apologize for stabbing an organization of volunteers, who busted their asses getting Democrats elected, in the back.
urbino wrote on September 27, 2007 8:34 PM:To attack a bully when he is in a place he thinks is safe is pretty empty, he will have a good time dismissing you.
Not if he's picking up his teeth.
Look, I'm an overeducated, white collar, upper middle class liberal, probably just like most people here. But, dammit, there are things a person just can't say about even me without getting punched in the mouth. There's no verbal way of expressing that level of outrage.
Telling me I'm anti-America because I don't agree with the latest war or escalation is one of them. Telling me I'm "anti-troops," whatever that even means, is another.
I've realized over the years that human nature still has some very primal nooks in it. One of them is the response to just plain old physical courage. Another is the response to the absence of it.
There are some things you just don't say about another person. Not without immediate, personal, physical consequences. The GOP makes its living on saying those things about Democrats.
Every time the Dems -- not as a party or a caucus, but individually -- let them get away with it, people lose respect for the Dems.
Sometimes, you just have to punch somebody in the nose. The Dems have reached that point. The GOPers are asking for it. Everybody senses it.
And yet nothing happens.
I'm a borderline pacifist, and even I can't respect that.
Helzapoppin wrote on September 27, 2007 8:46 PM:Wow. I have always had a fairly low opinion of Kerry for his milquetoast approach to just about everything. But I have to say, this was the greatest, most forceful and true statement I've ever heard from him, and probably from most other Democrats. I am sincerely impressed. He nailed this one.
Ebenezer wrote on September 27, 2007 8:54 PM:I think Limbaugh's comments are pathetic, but compared to other things that our soldiers have gone through in this war, it's nothing. Lack of body armor, lousy tanks, lousy VA medical care (after some great medical care in Iraq itself), the refusal of the President to attend any services for fallen soldiers, etc. Oh, and there's going into Iraq without any thoughtful plan, so you help maximize our military casualties. And there's stupid mistakes by Paul Bremer in disbanding the Iraqi army and creating havoc for not only our soldiers, but the Iraqi people (who are usually an afterthought in this).
I too, think another resolution is stupid, especially because the above problems (and many others) are much worse than Limbaugh. That said, the shot at MoveOn was scary in an 1984 sort of way. MoveOn's ad was an attack on Petraeus doing Bush's dirty work, not an attack on soldiers and their free speech.
jedermann wrote on September 27, 2007 8:58 PM:Looks like Rush has the honor of being the first of the folks back home to spit on an Iraq War veteran.
della Rovere wrote on September 27, 2007 9:03 PM:stop the histrionics. let's see whether a Senate or House resolution is introduced condemning the Republican Party functionary and White House confidante
Mike B. wrote on September 27, 2007 9:41 PM:Can the Democrats please stop doing things immediately after Republicans do them? It looks vindictive, petty, and unimaginative. I'm all for meaningless publicity stunts (really!), but you have to be the first one to come up with them!
Johnsnottoodistracted wrote on September 27, 2007 9:49 PM:Yes , he is the toxic waste site of wh sewage who attracts the brain dead with rancid clouds of their favorite odor.
This has about as much intelligence as he is capable of at maximum brain function.
Maybe should leave him to finish rotting.
He is almost there.
Brush Limpdick should be frog marched to Myanmar and allowed to live with those limpdicks. He is just the most vile shit bag human (if this piece of blubber can be called one) you can find in these Americas.
Big River Bandido wrote on September 27, 2007 10:00 PM:Really, you all are excited about this? Frankly, I wish we could get some Democratic outrage over something important, like S-CHIP, or the expansion of the FISA law. This nonsense of being distracted from the prize is just typical of the Democrats.
NJ Lawyer wrote on September 27, 2007 10:18 PM:I don't blame Limbaugh as much as I blame the morons who have made him a gazilionaire by listening to his show, which has granted him the legitimacy that he doesn't deserve.
MWF wrote on September 27, 2007 10:39 PM:I need some help to understand the workings of the Senate over the past few weeks, and what that means for what I can., or can not expect to see over this latest Rush remark.
How is it that the Dems control the Senate, but a vote to condem the MoveOn.org add even got to the floor. How is it that the the "sense of the Seante" crap about naming the Iranian Rebpublican Gard as terrorists even got to the floor. Don't the Dems control what comes to a vote and what does not even see the light of day? What could possible now prevent the Dems from doing to Rush what was recently done to MoveOn.org. Help me understand how the Dems are getting their asses handed to then by the minority?
"He asked whether all the GOPers who condemned MoveOn will hold Rush to the same standard, concluding: "Don't hold your breath.""
How about asking if your own Democratic counterparts would have the gumption to challenge them to issue a stupid toothless (but at least properly directed) condemnation declaration? I ain't holding my breath on that either.
Ferruge wrote on September 27, 2007 10:54 PM:Oops - that should read "gumption to issue", without the "challenge them to" in there. That's what I get for rephrasing without doublechecking and then hitting send.
bohammer wrote on September 27, 2007 11:06 PM:Bush giv me tax kut
r€nato wrote on September 27, 2007 11:20 PM:Wow. I have always had a fairly low opinion of Kerry for his milquetoast approach to just about everything. But I have to say, this was the greatest, most forceful and true statement I've ever heard from him, and probably from most other Democrats. I am sincerely impressed. He nailed this one.
Where was the 2007 Kerry, in 2004?
Where was the 2007 Al Gore, in 2000?
Fuck me.
della Rovere wrote on September 27, 2007 11:22 PM:"How about asking if your own Democratic counterparts would have the gumption to issue a stupid toothless (but at least properly directed) condemnation declaration? I ain't holding my breath on that either"
Yes I agree totally about the minimal likelihood a single Dem Senator or representative will introduce a resolution of condemnation for Limbaugh's spitting (as it were). I am certain the gutless Dems will do nothing of the kind; instead they will a month or two out condemn whomever the Republicans vilify the next time as well; they know their alpha leader. But it would sure be nice to watch Republicans vigorously defend Limbaugh (as they would) in contrast to the gutless caving (ad nauseum) of the Dem wimps.
Anonymous wrote on September 28, 2007 12:19 AM:Let's hope Rushbo will be hoisted on his own petard.
Beppu50 wrote on September 28, 2007 12:20 AM:The DCCC statement reads like a form letter; it has no passion, just pablum. Where's the outrage? Kerry's and Pat Murphy's are much better.
Stephen H wrote on September 28, 2007 12:41 AM:I hope that Democrats know how to twist the knife on this one. Definitley put it to a vote in Congress - condemning anyone who says that someone is a "phoney soldier" because of his political views. Certainly, this was much worse than the Betray-Us ad, and should be treated as such. Not only because he slandered so many more soldiers in a worse way, but he is heard by so many more people than initially saw the Betray-Us ad.
I would also hope that moveon.org gets up an ad denouncing Limpballs for attacking the troops, and making right-wing political correctness a requirement for military service. It's beginning to look like the original Betray-us ad was an act of political genius. It also doesn't hurt to have a loudmouth right-wing drug addict who never gets tired of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
SeeDee wrote on September 28, 2007 1:35 AM:To onceler and starwheel and their opinions that no action should be taken by our Congress RE lard-ass Limbaugh's slander of our troops because (paraphrasing) 'Repugnicans did it first'...Such suggestions leave me wondering:
If the two slain soldiers who were denigrated and debased by Limbaugh were YOUR brother/son/close relative, would you still feel that such slur should go un-noticed and unanswered?
I am wondering if survivors of the slandered fallen soldiers do not have a legal case worth pursuing against that baboon-brained blow-hard, Limbaugh???
Limbaugh and his ilk resort to the basest lies and lowest level of verbiage to peddle their perverted propaganda...I hope the Democrats do not allow THIS example to go un-punished.
philnyc wrote on September 28, 2007 1:39 AM:With a sell-out idiot omind like that. No wonder he needs drugs to have sex...
Daniel wrote on September 28, 2007 3:05 AM:Huge unexpected news out of California: The GOP groups have STOPPED THEIR EFFORT to divide the state's electoral votes!
starwheel wrote on September 28, 2007 5:44 AM:To SeeDee,
Because two wrongs don't make a right.
Because it is not the business of the Congress to condemn anyone for expressing an opinion. If they want to stifle free speech, then they should have the balls to pass legislation that actually stifles free speech. But there are more important issues for the Congress to be working on than condemning people for having opinions.
The Democrats f*ed up with they passed a politically motivated resolution condemning MoveOn.org. Now Rush makes them they look like they have egg on their face.
Good. They DO look like they have egg on their faces. That's what they get for stabbing their friends in the back.
As to your hypothetical if my son or daughter were one of the two slain soldiers, I'd feel relatively certain those soldiers would know how to handle an insult by a small brained nitwit like Rush Limbaugh. They would also know the difference between criticizing a general and undermining troop moral. And they'd be pissed off if they saw a Democratically controlled Congress wasting precious time condemning a group of volunteers who are advocating the end of this war.
Wow, so now this administration's army of goons are beginning to criticize our own troops. How does this fit with the "support the troops" message? This is disgusting, but also somewhat predictable of ideological, power-hungry, rulers.
ARG in Chicago wrote on September 28, 2007 8:04 AM:I'm with you, starwheel (September 28, 2007 5:44 AM). Very well said.
I thought the resolution against moveon.org was stupid for a number of reasons. This is not what I sent my representatives to Congress to do! This kind of trivial crap is not worth wasting time on.
So if we get into a tit-for-tat resolution battle, that will just make matters worse.
I agree with the suggestion (above) that moveon.org should capitalize on this, and put out another ad.
And Democrats in Congress should put this into their rhetoric. Start quoting Rush and BONER and maybe Ann Coulter -- and get it right, word-for-word, knowing the date and time and place things were said -- and directly challenge the Republicans with these quotes. Ask them whether they support them, point blank. Put them on the spot. Do this over and over and over again during the next year, leading to the elections.
Ask them, point blank, why they pushed through a resolution condemning moveon.org, but they aren't willing to say anything in public to condemn what Rush (or BONER, or fill-in-your-favorite-wingnut-here) said.
Take the high road, in other words, and promise, if (re-)elected, to go do the people's business in Washington, instead of debating useless resolutions on what is or isn't "nice" to say in the media.
I think these instances can be used more effectively as an "in-your-face" challenge. Along the lines of what urbino suggested (above), but with a rhetorical smack-down, rather than a physical confrontation.
My two cents on the matter.
-- ARG
WHEREAS, radio commentators without a military background have a right granted by the First Ammendment of the United States Constitution to make statements such as "Phony Soldiers" in regards to current and former military personnel exercising their First Ammendment rights
WHEREAS, radio commentators that first coin the phrase "Betray Us" and later blast other parties for use of that phrase, do so in a manner that is protected by the First Ammendment.
WHEREAS, political action organizations have a right granted by the same First Ammendment to make public statements demanding accountability of civil and military leadership
NOW THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED that this body firmly rejects any attempt to limit the use of the free speech in matters of public debate, and to affirm it's belief in the First Ammendment of the United States Constitution, and will no longer engage in such petty, stinkin', name callin' debate while our sons and daughters bravely serve in harms way defending that same Constitution.
(Look ma' No profanity this time!)
"And Democrats in Congress should put this into their rhetoric. Start quoting Rush and BONER and maybe Ann Coulter -- and get it right, word-for-word, knowing the date and time and place things were said -- and directly challenge the Republicans with these quotes. Ask them whether they support them, point blank. Put them on the spot. Do this over and over and over again during the next year, leading to the elections."
That would mean they would have to take a break from attacking the Left. I just don't see it happening.
thomas wrote on September 28, 2007 9:45 AM:Ladies, gentlemen, please. Have you forgotten, IOKIYAR?
Lush Limpdick will pay no price for this blather unless his sponsors stop writing checks. Althouth, we could turn this s---head into another "gift that keeps on giving" like his good buddy Larry? After all, his mouth is always in motion and his mind (he has one?) is never in gear.
Excerpt of Gen. Clark's e-blast yesterday afternoon (some emphasis mine):
Rush Limbaugh has never worn the uniform in his life, yet he's got the moral standing to pass judgment on the men and women who risked their lives for this nation?
Polls have shown that the majority of troops on the ground in Iraq, and those who have returned, do not back the President's failed policy.
Does Rush believe, then, that the majority of the US Armed Forces are "phony?"
Major Generals John Batiste and Paul Eaton left the military and have spoken out against the Bush Administration's failed policies. These are former commanders in Iraq, and they have challenged the Administration for its stubborn refusal to listen to those commanders on the ground who have sent up warning after warning.
Does Rush believe that highly decorated Major Generals are "phony soldiers?"
Finally, recall the members of the 82nd Airborne in Iraq who wrote a New York Times op-ed, urging for a change in course in Iraq, and suggesting it was time to figure out the exit strategy. Two of them just died.
Does Rush believe these young troops are "phony soldiers?"
My challenge to you is to force Rush to invite Jon Soltz onto his show and say all of this again, right to the face of someone who served in Iraq.
RonK, Seattle wrote on September 28, 2007 10:33 AM:Hmm. Blockquote apparently propagates only to the first paragraph in the closure.
Everything below the colon above is Clark's.
Indigowatcher wrote on September 28, 2007 10:44 AM:I just called my Rep's office in DC. My Rep, Bart Stupak of Michigan, voted to condemn MoveOn.org, so I called his DC office. When I spoke to the young male page he listened until I mentioned that Stupak could lose his job over this, to which he SNORTED into the phone and said, "Sir, if you have anything else further to add..." What a snotty b*tch! If you're a Michigan resident, call Stupak's office, urge him to condemn Rush Limbaugh and give him hell for voting like a Republican!
Stupak's DC Office:
(202) 225 4735
Rush got out of going to Viet Nam because he had a pilonoidal cyst on his ass, caused by his inability to wipe himself properly. This thrice-divorced, heroin-addicted, draft-dodging college dropout has no standing to criticize anyone, as he has shown himself time and time again, to be of the lowest moral character imaginable. If there wasn't a huge demand for hate radio among the idiot right-wing in this country, this fat, lazy blowhard would be living under a bridge.
The Perilous Pea wrote on September 28, 2007 11:15 AM:Digby's recalling novakula's charm offensive against Wesley Clarke brings back fond memories of a simpler more insulting time , sigh ...
jvill wrote on September 28, 2007 11:18 AM:"Hank Essay wrote on September 27, 2007:
MoveOn should run an ad about this!"
That's actually brilliant.
Put his fat face back in the New York Times with the transcript of what he said.
"You condemn us for questioning a general used as political cover. Will you condemn Rush Limbaugh for questioning the integrity of the average soldier who bleeds and dies on the battlefield?"
The Perilous Pea wrote on September 28, 2007 11:20 AM:Digby's recalling novakula's charm offensive against Wesley Clarke brings back fond memories of a simpler more insulting time , sigh ...
The Perilous Pea wrote on September 28, 2007 11:24 AM:The terrible double post spirit has struck again has struck again ha ......
SeeDee wrote on September 28, 2007 11:29 AM:Onceler (& kindred opinionators)...The moveon.org ad DID NOT accuse Petraeus of having done a dis-service to the U.S.A. nor of dis-honoring the uniform...it simply alerted the nation to how the Bush policies (the surge) would be presented to our Congressmen/women.
The ad COULD have called into question Petraeus record as chief commander of the U.S.'s Iraqi police & armed-forces training efforts, a notably failed (and possibly corrupt) command, but it did not do so.
In spite of what the utterly stupid Reid-led Democrats allowed in their condemning resolution, Moveon was within their Free-Speech rights in publishing the ad.
Rush Limbaugh, OTOH, singled out two deceased soldiers who had given the ultimate sacrifices in defense of their country's ill-conceived operations (along with other military still honorably serving) and falsely accused them of being 'phony soldiers'.
That is a clear case of slander...and beyond the rights conveyed by FREE SPEECH and FREE PRESS guarantees.
Assistant Village Idiot wrote on September 28, 2007 1:10 PM:Not one person on this thread doubled back to get the facts. Not one.
The quotes from Rush were preceded moments before with a discussion of Jesse MacBeth, who was a phony soldier, and the willingness of media outlets to run his story. That was the context of Rush's complaint that the media wanted to run stories by phony soldiers. It would be really fun and cool to get outraged that Rush was calling all soldiers who disagreed with the war phony, so you ran with that. It fits what you want to be true.
Folks here complain that the Democrats and the media are spineless and won't stand up to these Republican outrages, and are puzzled why this is so. It's quite simple. You believe the narrative over the facts, and life is always going to be puzzling to you.
BabySealClubber wrote on September 28, 2007 1:34 PM:Hmmm. Not many ravings since Limbaugh has now responded by replaying his comments. I heard the show yesterday, and I couldn't figure out exactly how the KommieKrats came up with their spin on this one.
Is it possible the story was written by Dan Rather? Is the ink still drying on the documents?
Better Fred than Red.
Ken Hahn wrote on September 28, 2007 1:53 PM:Yawn. Having shot themselves in the foot over the "Betray Us" ad, the far left masters of the Democratic Party are desperate to distract people from their mistakes. It won't work. You don't control all the media any more. Go back to lying about the economy. You're better at it.
Talnik wrote on September 28, 2007 2:03 PM:Wow. Taking Limbaugh's comments completely out of context. No wonder you didn't link to his transcript, it would show you were lying. If you have to lie to get your point across, you don't have much of a point.
Bill wrote on September 28, 2007 2:25 PM:Liberals hear the truth from Rush. About the "phony soldier". Copy and paste this link to your browser
Blessings :-)
The Dems and all others commenting without knowing what was said and in what context are stepping in it.
The commnet was made in reference to a soldier who made allegations of atrocities in Iraq but was only on the armed forces 40 days, never saw combat, and was never a ranger as claimed.
This type of phnoey soldier sinilar to the New Republic's recent source, and several others going back to Vietman are all phoney soldiers making phoney claims for their own aggenda and at the encouragement of a liberal media who needs more stories to advance their storyline not the truth.
This can be found on you tube if you are interested in the real story. If not keep pounding your gums and lose more credibility.
Kennedy wrote on September 28, 2007 3:51 PM:Personally I was more offended when he claimed that all democrats hated the military. Strong stuff. (Thursday, 2:30)
elittle wrote on September 29, 2007 6:39 AM:If all you rectum orifices had read the FULL transcript of the program, you MIGHT have noticed he was talking about ONE person who was found to be a lying SOB who never got past boot camp! If you had read this, then your complete lack of anything useful inside your brain-case wouldn't have been so obvious to all we other readers. Kerry's comments? He is right up there with the rest of you morons leading the charge too "re-context" any statement made by anyone with only "half a brain"! Now, see what you can do with THAT statement!
