SENATE DEMOCRATS CONDEMN LIMBAUGH’S ATTACK ON OUR TROOPS

The Drudge Report ^ | Oct 2, 2007 | Drudge

[RDTF]

Washington, DC—Senate Democrats today sent the following letter to Mark P. Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications, calling on him to publicly repudiate Rush Limbaugh’s characterization of troops who speak out against the Iraq war as “phony soldiers.” Despite recent Republican comments condemning verbal attacks on our troops, when given the opportunity to join us in signing this letter, not a single one did so.

The text of the letter is below and attached:

October 2, 2007

Mr. Mark P. Mays CEO, Clear Channel Communications Inc. 200 East Basse Road San Antonio, TX 78209

Dear Mr. Mays,

At the time we sign this letter, 3,808 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and another 28,009 have been wounded. 160,000 others awoke this morning on foreign sand, far from home, to face the danger and uncertainty of another day at war.

Although Americans of goodwill debate the merits of this war, we can all agree that those who serve with such great courage deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. That is why Rush Limbaugh’s recent characterization of troops who oppose the war as “phony soldiers” is such an outrage.

Our troops are fighting and dying to bring to others the freedoms that many take for granted. It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh would criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American right to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous remarks before, but this affront to our soldiers is beyond the pale.

The military, like any community within the United States, includes members both for and against the war. Senior generals, such as General John Batiste and Paul Eaton, have come out against the war while others have publicly supported it. A December 2006 poll conducted by the Military Times found just 35 percent of service members approved of President Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, compared to 42 percent who disapproved. From this figure alone, it is clear that Mr. Limbaugh’s insult is directed at thousands of American service members.

Active and retired members of our armed forces have a unique perspective on the war and offer a valuable contribution to our national debate. In August, seven soldiers wrote an op-ed expressing their concern with the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, since then, two of those seven soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.

Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr. Limbaugh’s unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast. We trust you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a “phony soldier.” We call on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments.

Sincerely,

Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader Senator Richard Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader Senator Charles Schumer, Vice Chairman, Democratic Conference Senator Patty Murray, Secretary, Democratic Conference Senator Daniel Akaka Senator Max Baucus Senator Joseph Biden Senator Barbara Boxer Senator Sherrod Brown Senator Robert Byrd Senator Benjamin Cardin Senator Tom Carper Senator Bob Casey Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Senator Kent Conrad Senator Christopher Dodd Senator Byron Dorgan Senator Dianne Feinstein Senator Tom Harkin Senator Daniel Inouye Senator Edward M. Kennedy Senator John Kerry Senator Amy Klobuchar Senator Mary Landrieu Senator Frank Lautenberg Senator Patrick Leahy Senator Carl Levin Senator Blanche Lincoln Senator Bob Menendez Senator Barbara Mikulski Senator Bill Nelson Senator Barack Obama Senator Jack Reed Senator Jay Rockefeller Senator Ken Salazar Senator Bernie Sanders Senator Debbie Stabenow Senator Jon Tester Senator Jim Webb Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Senator Ron Wyden

[Williams]

It’s just a plan to silence conservatives prior to the elections. Republicans need to get their heads out of the sand and stand up for the truth, before it’s too late.

[pnh102]

This phony headline needs to be tagged as BS. Rush made no attack on our troops.

And when is the Democrat party going to apologize for siding with the enemy?

[Soul Seeker]

PHONY PATRIOTS IN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY CONDEMN LIMBAUGH”S ATTACK ON PHONY TROOPS

Is what the headline should be Matt.

Phony War Hero, Senator Harkin, Leads attack to defend Phony Soldiers

Should be underneath.

[Miss Didi]

My favorite part of Rush's show today (the gloves are off):



Rush: Folks, I am more energized and focused on the task of advancing liberty and victory than ever before. I am more energized and focused on the task of defeating Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Hillary Clinton than ever before. I will not rest. I'm not going to stop until they are exposed, until they are pushed back and defeated. They must not control our government; they must not be put in charge of our military; they must not gain the power they crave to shut down talk radio and free speech wherever they don't like it. They must not control anything in which our future is at stake. Let me add another point about all this. It has not gone unnoticed here that only a handful of Republicans and conservatives have dared to speak up about what has been taking place here. I see it. Most of them think I can handle these things on my own and so forth, but there's a fear out there. The fear and the weakness that permeates the Republican Party, and even parts of the conservative movement is also on display now, as it has been for too long.

Why Conservatives Are Fed Up

[Combat Override Button]

No chance of silencing Rush. Perhaps the Dems are just looking to fund raise. Or perhaps they are looking to distract the angry Left because the Dems haven’t been able to deliver on their promises. Or maybe it is to counter the “Betry-us” flap. Whatever it is, it won’t hurt Limbaugh or Republicans. Stupid strategy as far as I can tell.

[dynachrome]

Contact info. Urge them to stand up to the stalinists

MarkPMays@clearchannel.com CEO
LLowryMays@clearchannel.com Chairman
RandallTMays@clearchannel.com President and CFO

[Combat Override Button]

No chance of silencing Rush. Perhaps the Dems are just looking to fund raise. Or perhaps they are looking to distract the angry Left because the Dems haven’t been able to deliver on their promises. Or maybe it is to counter the “Betray-us” flap. Whatever it is, it won’t hurt Limbaugh or Republicans. Stupid strategy as far as I can tell.

[HerrBlucher]

Yeah, what’s with the phoney headline?

[Miss Didi]

Read Dingy's past "patriotic" quotes here:



Senator Harry Reid: Phony Patriot

[bray]

If you need to know who Hates the Military, look at that list of signees.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[crazyhorse691]

By my count thats only 41 of the current rat senators that signed. But, I recognize quite a few of the names as those that had refused to support the troops in a previous Senate resolution.

[pctech]

I noticed not all the demorats in the Senate signed this. The junior senator from Indiana, Evan Bayh, didn’t sign it. Not that I have any respect for Bayh, but perhaps not all the rats in the Senate agree with this silly, stupid letter.

[chaos_5]

DEMOCRAT TRAITORS CONDEMN LIMBAUGH'S ATTACK ON PHONY TROOPS

Thats more like it.

[petitfour]

That screed reads like a woman wrote it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. I’m a woman.

What a bunch of phonies we have “serving” our country in Washington, D.C. I would love to see them exposed for what they really are.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

I’ll say it flat out.....these so-called democrats are lying, anti-American, worthless sacks of shit. THEY are they ones who undermine our troops at every turn.....calling our troops terrorists, murders, rapists, etc. etc.

Rush used the term “phony soldiers” when he spoke to a caller on his radio show about an anti-war protestor named Jesse MacBeth. Macbeth has claimed to be a former U.S. Army Ranger, a corporal, and a purple heart receipient.
MacBeth claimed to be an Iraq War combat veteran who alleged that he saw, firsthand, U.S. soldiers murdering innocent civilians in Iraq. This information was widely posted on Arab web sites.

As it turns out, Macbeth washed out of boot camp after 44 days. He was NEVER an Army Ranger, he NEVER won a purple heart, he was NEVER in combat in Iraq, etc. The Veteran’s Administration is claiming Macbeth lied on forms he filled out, and Macbeth is facing criminal charges as a result.
He should be tried for treason, because his lies inflamed the passions in the Middle East and may have indirectly led to further attacks on U.S. troops.

Interestingly enough, ABC World News Tonight ran a story two weeks ago about phony soldiers.....so-called men who claimed they were combat veterans when they were not.
Not a peep was heard from these scumbag senators about the ABC story.

[Combat Override Button]

Sorry about the double posting. Double tap habits...

Apparently what Limbaugh says he meant to say (or restates what he said) is not important. What is important (to the Left) is what they THINK he said. Or, more importantly, how they want to shape what they think he said. It is such twisted logic and so transparently political.

[Petronski]

Good to see Senate Democrats (approval: 11%) taking the time to condemn something that never happened.

They ALWAYS overplay their hand.

[The Wizard]

anyone who listens to the show knows this is all a lie.......sop for the dim crowd

[Sir Gawain]

F U traitors.