Harry Reid slams Limbaugh over "Phony Soldiers" remarks with Updates
By John Amato Sunday Sep 30, 2007 5:55pm
Harry Reid came down on Rush Limbaugh today over his "phony soldier" troop rant. I want to know why there are no left talkers on Armed Forces radio? Tom Harkin tried to get Ed Schultz on and then?....The Republican led Congress did nothing of course because they know how to play their games....Just look at this garbage from Rep.Kingston: "Rep. Kingston Introduces Resolution ‘Commending’ Rush Limbaugh."
Reid: “Yet Rush Limbaugh took it upon himself to attack the courage and character of those fighting and dying for him and for all of us. Rush Limbaugh got himself a deferment from serving when he was a young man. He never served in uniform. He never saw in person the extreme difficulty of maintaining peace in a foreign country engaged in civil war. Ye he thinks that his opinion on the war is worth more than those who are on the front lines.
Jane wants Limbaugh pulled off Armed Forces radio...
What is the Senate’s business, however, is that Rush Limbaugh is on Armed Forces Radio Network. His show is broadcast daily to nearly a million troops in 177 countries. In a poll conducted earlier this year, only 35% of service members said they approved of George Bush’s handling of the war while 42% disapprove, and 41% say the US is not very or not at all likely to succeed. A full 37% say the US should never have gone to war. It’s their network, too.
It’s past the time for empty gestures. Senate Democrats should never have let the Cornyn bill onto the floor. Now it’s done, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. Take Rush off the air. Really, Senators, protecting the troops from this kind of abuse actually is your job.
Transcript below the fold
“Freedom of speech is one of our country’s most cherished values. Nothing sets us further apart than the countries and regimes we oppose than our belief that everyone’s opinion matters, and everyone has the right to express it. That is why, when we hear things on the radio that are offensive, by and large, we tolerate them.
“But last week, Rush Limbaugh went way over the line – and while we respect his right to say anything he likes, his unpatriotic comments cannot be ignored.
“During his show last Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh was engaged in one of his typical rants. This rant was unremarkable and indistinguishable from his usual drivel, which has been steadily losing listeners for years – until he crossed that line by calling our men and women in uniform who oppose the war in Iraq ‘phony soldiers.’ This comment was so beyond the pale of decency that it cannot be left alone. And yet, he followed it up with denials and an attack on Congressman Jack Murtha, a 37-year active member of the Marine Corps.
“We have been debating the Iraq war here in the Senate and throughout the country for not months, but years. There are good, patriotic Americans who favor the war – and good, patriotic Americans who oppose President Bush’s handling of it. Neither party holds a patent on patriotism. I know all my Republican colleagues would agree with that.
“Yet Rush Limbaugh took it upon himself to attack the courage and character of those fighting and dying for him and for all of us. Rush Limbaugh got himself a deferment from serving when he was a young man. He never served in uniform. He never saw in person the extreme difficulty of maintaining peace in a foreign country engaged in civil war. Ye he thinks that his opinion on the war is worth more than those who are on the front lines.
“And what’s worse – Limbaugh’s show is broadcast on Armed Forces Radio, which means that thousands of troops overseas and veterans here at home were forced to hear this attack on their patriotism. Rush Limbaugh owes the men and women of our Armed Forces an apology.
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Rush Limbaugh - flunked out of college his freshman year. Never returned to higher education. Never served in the military. Yet millions of Americans get their political advice from him. How did this happen?
...and the Republicans respond by offering a Resolution commending the fat bastard!
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_100107/content/01125113.gues...
Game. Set. Match.
What will Harry do now? Cry?
limbaughlls deserves to do some time in a humvee driving around Iraq....then lets see what he has to say.........the guy is scum...and I'm being nice
Beagle @ 1:
really makes you wonder don't it....
What's Reid reading from? Another one of those strongly worded letters the Dems send out that are so effective?
... and what do the Republicans do in response? They offer up a Resolution COMMENDING Limbaugh!
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_100107/content/01125113.gues...
What will Harry do now....cry?
Is Congress is going to vote to condemn Limbaugh's statements like they did the MoveOn.org ad?
If not, then this is all BS.
Kingston and anyone foolish enough to follow his lead doesn't deserve to be in congress.
Gawd! the apathy of it all... This a$$hat needs to have the stuffin' knocked outta him! We used to settle this with a good thumping. How did these weiners come to rule the airwaves??! They were the kids that couldn't get an audience as kids... nobody listened to their blathering stupid talk. And now they've got these powerful avenues to spew their vitriol. Disgusting!!!
Beagle @ 1:
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity... Go figure.
So where's the Democratic bill condemning Limbaugh? One good turn deserves another.
Man, I want to support the democrats. I want to believe they've got courage, savvy, balls.
Please tell me I'm just depressed and that the democrats are not as spineless and ineffective and
ridiculously poor at using the media to their advantage?
This is good and all, but Reid would be better off debating the depleted uranium in U.S. weapons that is going to have much more serious and longer term effects on the soldiers...
Oh...and there is that silly little thing with Iran about to start :P
Bring me some of that weak tea, Harry. I'm gettin' thirsty over here!
Reid is worthless.
Perhaps it should be called The Syncophants 1 and 2 instead of The Senate or The Congress from now on... then instead of senator, or congressman or congresswoman we can just call them what they are... syncophants!
If Kingston runs against Bill Gillespie (an Iraq war Veteran) in 2008 he's going down hard.
http://billforgeorgia.com/
Look, I'm no fan of Limbaughs. He is the worst America has to offer in so many ways. But truly, was he not actually talking about that ONE phony soldier- the one who pretended to witness horrors in Iraq and then speak up about them for the left- when he made the remark? Yes, he might have said " soliders" plural, but really, come on-was he not just talking about those kinds of people- ones just like that one who pretended? Ive read the transcripts- at least I think I read the un edited ones. Really, can anyone trully put it al in context and PROVE outright what it is he said and whether he TRULY called those in the military who dissent phonty soliders? Because so far- from what Ive read- it appears as thought he is talking about that one phony soldier.... Anyone?
I bet Harry Reid coming after ya is like being chased down by an old lame toothless lion who THINKS he still has the nads...
Who cares? I am so tired of all this phony outrage.
Snowball @ 10:
I'm with you on this one....this clown has been doing things like this for to long.....I think he went to far on this one.....lets see the dems go after him....uggghhhh..The guy did every thing he could to get out of going...oh poor baby...got a cyst on his ass.He's the only one I know of who got out of going because of that one.they lance those things.
Steve @ 18:
Steve...Lush Rimbaughlls is a very calculating guy.He knows exactly what he says.He said this to see if the Dems would come after him.When he has the Preznit and others in his pocket...well....he's almost untouchable..........almost.
Steve @ 18:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709270010?f=i_related
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280009?f=i_related
GOP Rep. Kingston introduces House resolution "commending" Rush Limbaugh:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/01/kingston-limbaugh-reid/
rush is a televangelist on radio. he knows how stupid his audience is and will say anything because he knows they'll believe anything he says. it's all about ratings, like everyting else.
Steve @ 18:
Actually that is what you would think if you read the cut transcript that Limbaugh posted. In all actuality he CHANGED the transcript after the fact to make it look that way. His original comments truly did speak about ANY soldier that disagrees with the war in Iraq.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280009?f=h_top
Yes... he is a f#@ckhead like that.
Sad times we live in, we have no representation in Washington. Both the Dems and Republicans are out for themselves and dont care about anything beyond that.
I sure hope Ron Paul wins the next election, one can only hope. I dont agree with him 100% but I know he can be trusted, which is saying allot.
mudshark @ 3:
Rep. Kingston can be his wing man.....and not in the fuckin green zone, either.
Steve @ 18:
Truly, he was not. He was tainting the motives of any soldier who ever offered an opinion of the Iraq war contrary to the Bush opinion. He made up this shit about Jesse MacBeth only after a real vet, Jon Solzt, offered to appear on his show and prove him to be a goddamn cowardly liar. Furthermore, anyone with two brain cells to rub together can figure this out.
And you doth protest too much. Be thankful we do not have trollratings on this board as I would smite you with a donut if it were in my power. Now, go back to Clear Channel and watch some war porn.
American @ 27:
i liek pokemon
Photos of phony soldiers
http://armyofdude.blogspot.com/2007/09/real-deal.html
Reid is so ineffective. Maybe Pelosi can blink out a strong statement of her own.
Steve @ 18:
aha....another phony concern troll
sorry, that dog wont hunt
if you did listen to the show, then you would have heard el druggo responding to a caller who was saying that the media only talks to soldiers that come out of the blue....rush stated "phony soldiers" the caller repeated "phony soldiers"
he did not start talking about macbeth until 2 minutes after that line
and in defending himself, rush brought up murtha (a decorated vet) and beauchamp (still serving in iraq)
you dittoheads lose
What an interesting set of comments.
VietVet8666 @ 34:
and what say you?
#18-Steve
You may have forgotten that Limbaugh also included Congressman Murtha in his tirade. The suggestion to take Limbaugh off the air in Iraq is a valid one considering that only 35 per cent of those in the Armed Forces believe that Bush is doing the right thing in Iraq. It is simply stunning that this chickenhawk is allowed carte blanche to say what he wants in Iraq with, I believe, absolutely no opposing point of view heard to counterbalance the propaganda that is given to those troops in Iraq. What Limbaugh is doing is probably worse than what the pro war Bob Hope did in Vietnam, when he peddled his government propaganda USO tours to the troops in Vietnam. The difference is that the troops saw through Hope; can the same thing be said of the troops today in Iraq?
The Truth Hurts @ 20:
I hear that. I mean, really, how can anyone be surprised at ANYTHING Rush says? He's a grade-A moron and a hatemonger. Has been for years. Not even very good at it either, honestly -- he's boring and predictable.
But I AM really surprised that he was on Armed Forces Radio in the first place... Wow. Why?! What would posses people to allow that? Stupid. I do hope that gets changed (and not replaced with something like Al Franken or a lefty windbag either). The troops do hard work. They don't need to be politicized any damn further.
AFR is also one of our voices to the world. Let's not put out either side's trash for company.
And yes, you need to read the transcript again if you think he meant one soldier. He was very clear -- he thinks ALL soldiers that are interviewed and think we've already done as much as we can in Iraq are phony soldiers. "Where do they get them, these phony soldiers?' he asks. Iraq, I'd imagine.
abarts @ 32:
So that's what she's been doing all this time? Morse Code! Wish I had realized sooner.
uncle joe mccarthy @ 35:
i like it here (although i wish it were a truly free-speech zone)
[Quit complaining about the 911 thing. There are plenty of sites that will accommodate your desire. There is no such thing as free speech. We all self edit. This is a moderated site so deal. You aren't saying much of anything other than "nice site," and "wish I could go on about 911." I'm tired of your asides about this-Sitemonitor]
They should move to get Rush Scumball kicked off of armed forces radio for this.
And stop with the Ron Paul stupidity. He's no savior. He's just a Republican who isn't totally batshit insane; he's only two-thirds insane. There are no good Republicans anymore. If they were worth anything, they'd would have left or they would have been kicked out of that evil party a long time ago. As for Ron Paul, his supporters never bother to say why anyone should vote for him.
If you want to vote for a honest Republican, pick one of the current Democratic candidates as they are what the Republicans should be offering. There are no real liberals running for President.
Another freakin' "strongly worded" letter?????? Give me a break! Rush was wrong about who the phonies are, it's the morons who call themselves "Democratic leaders."
The dems are weak. You can't simply play turnabout a week after the GOP hands your ass to you. Harry needs to vacate his seat to someone younger and more cynical, if his idea of political strategy is this limp gambit. So very tired of the Dems pathetic efforts to halt the evil GOP.
While he waited until the very end to make even the most cursory reference to MoveOn's "Betray Us" ad and how the Republicans threw a hissy-fit over anyone having the audacity to be concerned that General Patraeus might report WH spin vs on-the-ground reality, Reid never mentions MoveOn or Patraeus by name, nor does he use the word HYPOCRITES in any form.
Very disappointing.
It's a a real war with real people who die, based on phony information and being supported by phony politicians and phony pundits for phony reasons. Phuck you, Rush, you phony phuck.
VietVet......I'm a vet and so are a lot of people here.(I'll let them id themselves)....You know and I know this is bullshit....
Helping El Limpbaugh's ratings.
mudshark @ 45:
mudshark,
what did you do? and when?
swarmofkillermonkeys @ 37:
Exactly what has been said by any left leaning pundit that even comes close to the evil lies said by Rush Scumball?
I guess that makes my nephew a phoney Marine....He's not going to like hearing that..And I can say with certainty that there are a lot of our guys and gals over there..who are going to be really pissed off at Lush.
VietVet8666 @ 47:
1975 to 1978 ...7TH Infantry Division..no combat(but I have family who did see it)and yes I do consider myself lucky........ps...I enlisted.
Viet Vet..we've been serving for ....oh.....around a hundred years...maybe more.
Casanova Frankenstein @ 24:
These guys are insane. He is "commending" a crazed, druggie bigot who called US soldiers (who are getting blown up daily) "phony", and then says those who don't give war profitteers billions more for war "don't support the troops"?
We are deep in Orwells '84. This is depressing. The democrats have no desire to do anything. From Gore not fighting the disenfranchisement of Black voters in 2000, to Kerry not doing it either in '04, to letting them spy and suspend habeus corpus, to THIS!
If Hillary, Edwards or Obama do not win next year, I am leaving this place. No BS.
mudshark @ 50:
you've got my respect
i volunteered for Vietnam (details omitted)
served as an intelligence officer in III Corps 1971-72
I periodically listen to the shortwave version of Armed Forces Radio Network. They play one hour of each: Limbauh, Hannity, Colmes, and Schultz.
I cannot say what their satellite shows do, but as far as shortwave, AFRN has actually been very good about it. They also air two hours of NPR in the early morning and afternoon. Credit where credit is due.
Beagle @ 1:
Yes, the right wing gets reality interpreted for them by a guy who couldn't hack it through English 101 and cushy electives.
V V
Smack_dab @ 48:
I don't know, and I don't wanna know. :) I (and I'd wager the most of the rest of America) am sick blowhards puffing their chests. I really don't give a damn what team flag they're waving.
Sometimes over-reacting to the original offense isn't really a great answer. I think this is one of those times. Why not a middle way?
I just saw the headline from the Washington Post saying: Congress Wants to Curb War Contractors
it's being lead by Rep. David Price, I don't know much about him but clearly here he is doing the right thing for sure. And it's about time someone stepped up to the plate on this issue.
here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/01/AR200710...
Why do progressives continue to think that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid's ridiculous whining is going to make any difference at all? Neither of them care a shit about ending the Iraq War or listening to the American people. It is that simple. As soon as progressives can see that they don't care, the quicker a strategy can be developed and carried through to do the work that needs to be done. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are distractions and have no integrity or credibility.
Congress should not be validating Rush Limbaugh. They've got bigger fish to fry than this POS.
VietVet8666 @ 53:
allow me to explain for the site monitor
once on raw story, they ran one piece on bill maher attacking truthers
the flame war lasted over 500 posts, and nothing was achieved...just alot of yelling back and forth
i suggest you use youtube...there are tons of truther vids and posts over there
WTF?
Ahem, okay, look, this is the thing:
CONGRESS HAS NO BUSINESS CONDEMNING ANYONE'S EXERCISE OF THEIR FREEDOMS
Not MoveOn, not Rush, not VoteVets, not the Christian Coalition, not the PTA, not Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, not the National Right To Life Foundation, not the National Organization of Women, not the NRA, not the ACLU, not the Klan, NO ONE!!!
For the living fuck of fuck's fucking sake, you motherfuckers, at least GET YOUR ASS BACK TO DOING NOTHING!!!
This is worse than nothing.
Individual congress FOLK should comment all they want...condemn or commend away...because that is YOUR RIGHT.
But making it the official business of the Congress to condemn OPINIONS is not just a recipe for lunacy, it's tyranny.
Okay, it's minor, Mini Me tyranny, not Stalin tyranny, but tyranny nonetheless.
We must all be free from official governmental rebuke for anything that isn't, and this is the thing...ILLEGAL.
What Rush said was legal, what MoveOn said was legal, Olbermann, Hannity, Colmes, Coultergeist, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and on and on are engaged in FULLY LEGAL ACTIVITIES, which the government of the United States of America has NO BUSINESS commenting on.
Look, it's not hard: secure our rights, spend our money wisely and protect our nation. The rest is up to us, you yahoos.
Viet Vet no my friend you have my respect.....what happened to you guys was rotten..my cousin was there for TET.......as a matter of fact..I'm going to his birthday party soon......I could go on and on and on.....it's just something we do.But i did tell my other nephew... no way not this one.
diana @ 54:
#54-Diana
In the example that you cited, Colmes is at best a lukewarm liberal, so the troops are being fed propaganda that is at worst four to one against the progressive point of view. As for NPR [also known as National Petroleum Radio], I would have to say that their slant on the news could hardly be considered left wing. When the troops are allowed to see and hear Democracy Now!, then the playing field may finally begin to be more leveled.
Moveon's next big ad in the WSJ has to be a condemnation of Nancy "Betrayus" Pelosi and Harry "Betrayus" Reid.
I'm more offended by Kingston than I am by Rush. This was a slap in the face of every American what Kingston did. When is this asshole Kingston up for re-election? MoveOn, Huffington, C&L, you and me etc...needs to do everything in our power to remove this fucking c*nt (sorry, pretty angry over his arrogance) from power. This shit dick voted to condemn MoveOn and is praising Limbaugh? Just look at his photo, he's another prick politician trying to get a life pension and healthcare for life because all he's qualified for is lying and stealing from the lower and middle class. He was on Real Time for one reason. So we could laugh at him. And we did.
Sorry for all the profanity but this one really pisses me off. This guy should be hung by his nipples.
>>> Just covering my ass. But I would love to see him hanging from his nipples.
Better yet, I hope he gets busted buying meth from a gay black prostitute.
The Senate passed the Iraq funding in the 648 billion Defense bill today.
VietVet...theres a whole lotta people here who deserve respect.......but don't get it.....ThanK You for all of us.
ALL, Yes ALL, Republicans are Heartless, Dirty, SCUMBAGS!
Yes, I would love to hear Democracy Now on AFRN, and I also agree that Colmes is not a strong voice for us. However, it is a start, and at least we are getting some voice on AFRN. I just wanted to be 'fair' about it.
Limbaugh is 100% correct. Jesse McBeth is a phony soldier.
diana @ 54:
Thats not what my nephew says.......but hey what does he know..he's only on his second tour..he's 20 now..and he already has one Purple Heart....that was on his first tour.....so I say Lush Rimbaughlls is like Tokyo Rose.
mrogi @ 68:
Puleeeeesseee....go enlist.
Rush is scum- but free speech applies to everyone- If we try to silence the right, we are no better than they are (as they want to silence the left)..
hubcap halo @ 12:
Democrats on track to OK further funding despite Iraq policy divide
WASHINGTON - Powerless in their effort to bring troops home from Iraq, Senate Democrats were on track Monday to help pass a defense policy bill that would authorize another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The vote comes as the House planned to approve on Tuesday separate legislation requiring that President Bush give Congress a plan for eventual troop withdrawals.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21089400/
I'm convinved right wingers want the troops to die-They get a near sexual rush at having yet another dead soldier to worship as a hero...They love the troops- provided they die- and if they don't die, they want them to shut the hell up...
Very sad- if we are fighting for 'freedom'- why do right wingers oppose the exercise of freedom?
Dissent IS freeedom
Choam Nomsky @ 71:
true.. free speech is one thing....but slander is another.
This may be very true. I can only pick up the U.S. based transmissions. Iraq may be receiving there shortwave transmissions from a different transmiter, and therefore may have different programing. I can only tell you what I hear.
The Fat One, El Rushbo, responded today:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_100107/content/01125112.gues...
in essence, saying "Bring it on".
> true.. free speech is one thing….but slander is another.
And that's why we have courts.
I mean, does Congress REALLY have nothing better to do? Because, you know, we could start spending their salaries on armor.
mudshark @ 74:
Thats the exact same thing right wingers say when we slam Bush and this assinine war-
Choam Nomsky @ 77:
yes your right......the difference is the truth.
Harry Reid is useless. The fact that they are even talking about this crap on the floor of the Senate in a country that claims to believe in freedom of speech is a joke.
I expect Congress' approval rating to be down to 5 the next time a poll comes out.
ST @ 81:
are you saying that members of congress do not have the freedom of speech to criticize another public person?
keeping silent about these issues hasnt worked
taking the high road hasnt worked
get the fuck out of your ivory tower and get into the trenches and fight
or step the fuck off
JasonS @ 78:
hey if they can drag Bill Clinton thru the mud and spend..what?40 mill.......then I say lets shut this @#$%&&^%#@...thru the courts and shut his lyin ass up..............this guy distorts the truth so much that he has divided the nation with his lies.
mudshark @ 80:
Come on! That is no different than the way right wingers think- Rush provided the noose to destroy himself- but i oppose and government action to silenece him- what then would prevent them from silencing people on the left? If you don't see that free speech applies to ALL Americans- not just the left- but the left, AND the right, you are no better than the righties...</