Posted on 10/01/2007 12:07:22 PM PDT by mojito
Harry Reid's not dropping it. (Will he condemn ABC next for reporting on actual phony soldiers??)
For Immediate Release Date: Monday, October 1, 2007
REID CALLS ON SENATORS TO JOIN IN CONDEMNING LIMBAUGH’S ATTACK ON OUR TROOPS
Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today on the floor of the U.S. Senate, urging Senators to sign a letter that calls on Mark P. Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications, to publicly repudiate Rush Limbaugh’s characterization of troops who speak out against the Iraq war as “phony soldiers.”
Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
“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.
“On Friday, many Democrats joined me in drafting a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel, Mark Mays that we will send out this week. Here is what we wrote:
‘Dear Mr. Mays,
‘At the time we sign this letter, 3,801 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and another 27,936 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.’
“Just as patriotism is the exclusive realm of neither party, taking a stand against those who spew hate and impugn the integrity of our troops is a job that belongs to all of us. I can’t help but wonder how my Republican colleagues would have reacted if the tables were turned – if a well-known Democratic radio personality had used the same insulting line of attack against troops who support the war.
“The letter I read will be available on the Senate floor for the entire day. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle will have every chance to add their names to it, and I encourage all of us to do so. If we take the Republican side at their word that last week’s vote on another controversial statement related to the war was truly about patriotism, not politics, then I have no doubt that they will stand with us against Limbaugh’s comments with equal fervor.
“I am confident we will see Republicans join with us in overwhelming numbers. Anything less would be a double standard that has no place in the United States Senate. I ask my colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, to join together against this irresponsible, hateful, and unpatriotic attack by calling upon Rush Limbaugh to give our troops the apology they deserve.”
I try to Control my Tongue, but the Democr*ps are Disgusting, Sickening, Nauseating Little Weasles for what they are doing. They are the King of the Hypocrites, and Traitors to our USA.
“No, that would be bad. Letting a Rat decide how to spend federal money is like letting a little kid into a candy store with his parents’ credit card. Now, Dingy Harry could try doing something really useful...like writing his resignation speech. Actually, on second thought, maybe he should skip the speech and just resign.”
I stand corrected!
They don’t seem to have the time or the balls to condemn the slaughter in Burma either but they have time for a phony jihad against Rush.
This is a favorite phrase of the left when a conservative says something that makes them look bad. They are outraged that Rush pointed out the truth involving their "phony soldiers" and now he has "stepped over the line", "gone to far", "runined his career for good this time!". All phrases used frequently against Rush in the past and also against Ann Coulter and other conservatives who tell it like it is.
I wonder where the conservatives in the Senate are? Are any of them condeming these idiots and setting the record straight with what really was said? Probably not but the truth will out and Reid and company will once again be shown up for the fools they are.
I am so sick of Reid,Pelosi Kennedy,Murtha etc ... The whole lot of them need to go. I wish they really would cut their own throats....
I called my GA Senator, Saxby Chambliss. He is out of DC today but will be back tomorrow. I demanded my Senator reply to Reid’s lies.
Rush did not actually correct he just restated what he already said.
He was clear the FIRST time he said it.
The DBM is just trying to impute a clarification as some form of back pedaling.
Rush did not have to clarify anything for anyone except for those in rio linda.
Democrat Harry Reid -
Phony senator from Nevada
John Cornyn, TX could hammer Reid with one hand tied behind his back and I hope he’ll do so!
I just called my Senators’ (McConnell and Bunning) offices and asked what Senator McConnell and Senator Bunning were going to do in response to Reid’s attack. Senator McConnell’s office said he was in Louisville today, but is on the way back and will respond from the floor to Reid’s attack on Rush. Senator Bunning’s office did not know, but said that they were pretty certain that Senator Bunning would also enter the fray.
HARKIN: I’ll just close, Mr. President, by noting that in August, seven soldiers published an op-ed in the New York Times criticizing the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, two of those soldiers were subsequently killed in action, making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I can only assume by Mr. Limbaugh’s definition that they too were “phony soldiers.” Now what’s most despicable is that Mr. Limbaugh says these provocative things to make more money. So he castigates our soldiers, this makes more news, more people tune in, he makes more money. Well, I don’t know. Maybe he was just high on his drugs again. I don’t know whether he was or not. If so, he ought to let us know. But that shouldn’t be an excuse."
HOUSE RESOLUTION CENSURING THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, MOVEON.ORG, AND MEDIA MATTERS - Tues Oct 02 2007 14:00:01 ETIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 2, 2007
The People of the United States of America, hereby submit the following resolution:
RESOLUTION
The House of Representatives, recognizing that their own majority party, the Democrat Party, are acting in criminal collusion with:
* MoveOn.org, created by Clinton sycophants in a futile, juvenile expression of rage in an attempt to admonish the American public to "MoveOn" after the Monica Lewinsky scandal led to ex-Pres. Clinton's Articles of Impeachment and the permanent stain on his legacy.* Media Matters, founded by Hillary Clinton staffers and sycophants, and funded -- along with MoveOn.org -- by international outlaw George Soros.
Now hereby censure certain House and Senate members, including, but not limited to, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), for the crime of collusion with the aforementioned MoveOn.org and Media Matters, acting in concert for the sole purpose of treason, as set out in Art. 3, Sec. 3 of the US Constitution, against US Armed Forces; and for abusing House and Senate immunities to attack a private citizen, Rush Limbaugh.
There is only one way out for Reid, Harkin, Udall and the rest now. Someone (Kennedy?) will have to grab them by the collar and inform them that they are feeding the whole Dem teat into the wringer and they will need to drop it and make like they never said a thing. I'm not sure they can even do that now. Not now that they've spread blood in the water exciting their base and the MSM. Rush won't let it die. You watch; it will either mysteriously disappear or become the biggest story ever. I'm encouraged to see that Drudge has headlined Rush's challenge to Dirty Harry Reid.
INTREP
I just can’t imagine that he and the rest are really that stupid. And don’t they realize that most of the troops know who Rush is and know it would be a cold day in hell before Rush said that about them? Guess they believe the global warming scam so much that they believe it has reached hell.
Wincing at the image...
Harry Reid = WIMPUS PATHETICUS - The Great Oz Has Spoken.
It’s disturbing that there are FReepers who think there is simply a misunderstanding— it shows an utter lack of understanding on OUR part as to how vile the dems are.
at least two million today as the MSM eats this up and bootstraps the lie.
Then there are the sunday shows this comming weekend.
The MSM will milk this for allllll they can this comming week.
Anything to push Republican Presidential candidats off the radar.
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