Posted on 10/02/2007 4:20:59 PM PDT by 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
I’m not sure how it works with Rush...anyone know? I saw that creepy Ashley Wilkes is proposing he be pulled off the Armed Forces Network.
Thanks for that list. a couple of those surprise me. Was Feingold out of DC?
I posted that video before watching it, having just watched it, take that HARRY YOU IDIOT!
It’s so terribly pathetic how the democrats, who make a political living, in effect cheering for our enemies in wishing for our military defeat, decide to attack Rush based on a lie describing a truly “phony” soldier.
I’ll admit it shocks me to see United States Senators, on the floor of the senate, attack a private American citizen on a false premise. Those bastards are as low as low can get, and aren’t worthy of any of us...
PS: I’m logged in and everything, but is it just me or is FR being terribly slow tonight? I’m clicking on links and it’s taking 5-20 seconds for pages to load. (For those of you who are foolishly against ‘net neutrality’, get used to this because this is what FR will be like with a tiered system on the internet).
yes, terribly slow.....
Where are the spineless Republican Senators?
Why should they have to? Rush called Reid out and invited him to explain himself on his show for two days SO FAR. Rush even played Reid's own words insulting the U.S. military and called him a "phoney patriot".
I wouldn't be surprised if Rush has 31 million listeners this week that will get informed. This is a mistake by the RATS, because everyone watching is learning something.
AMEN!
The Congressmen may want to redo their homework.
Rush’s references I believe were to some websites which referred to Phony Vets as urinal cakes, such as those who may have appeared at greensickle.com, search for Stolen Valor.
There have been a number of these false hits in the recent press who have come out against the war, but as some research indicates, many of them were fraudulent from the gitgo.
Amen Rush, we are behind you 100% and ashamed that it isn’t elected Republicans speaking up as you are!
I would hope they will do SENATE business ...
Evidently, since the majority leader of the SENATE felt the need to make this issue SENATE business, SENATE business is exactly what this is.
To let "slime, scum, dirt, filth, lying, stupid comments" go unchallenged, for even this length of time, is cowardice pure and simple.
U.S. Constitution
Article I
Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.
Evidently Rush doesn't contribute enough $GREEN$ in the right places to merit consideration of support.
Clear Channel CEO Responds (hand delivered to Senate)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905654/posts
Rusty, Your Dad is proud of you!
Why do the people of Nevada, California, and Massachusetts continue to send losers like Reid, Pelosi, Lurch and the Swimmer back into Congress time after time? What the hell is wrong with these people?
I still think Rush is able to take care of himself. Let’s watch and see. :)
I would rather the Senate used my tax dollars on doing something more useful than slamming each other over nonsense.
I LIKE the Demwits looking sooo stupid on the senate floor.
Hope they keep it up!
Just proves that the MSM and the Democrats are 100% in lockstep - because these idiots took the same quote out of context just like the media useful idiots.
We’re fed up. We’re mad that the Left is doing this to our country. And we’ve had it with the wimpy GOP afraid of its own shadow. Its time for conservatives to begin taking back our country!
Thats because they know the she-devil has incriminating information about them, and its understood that they must be quiet or have the information see the light of day. The tons of baggage the she-devil has, never sees the light of day.
"[S]omething more useful"?
What would be "more useful than slamming each other over nonsense." in this instance? Keeping in mind that doing that is pretty much their job description lately.
I had sent an e-mail today to a local afternoon conservitive radio talk show host telling him this is a wake-up call to all of us that is the start of the attacks on conservitive talkradio starting with the nationals and trickling down to the locals.
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