When Rush Limbaugh heard that people might be offended by his remarks calling troops against the war "phony soldiers" he must have been taken aback. Being Rush, he promptly edited the tape so that he could say he was taken out of context. And of course he never apologized to the majority of our troops that do want out of Iraq. Too bad for him, Media Matters had recorded the conversation in its entirety. Now the Senate Democrats are getting involved and are looking to pass a resolution condemning his behavior, similar to Republicans going after the "Betray Us" ad presented by MoveOn. Here's what they had to say.
From ThinkProgress:
The letter, signed by Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Patty Murray (D-WA), states that Limbaugh’s comments were “outrageous” and “unconscionable”:
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.
Yesterday, ThinkProgress asked whether lawmakers who voted to attack a MoveOn newspaper ad would now condemn Limbaugh. The Senate leadership is challenging all their colleagues to demonstrate whether they can show principled condemnation by signing onto the letter. It specifically calls on Clear Channel to issue an apology and demands Limbaugh do the same:
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.
Clear Channel gives Rush a free pass because he makes them oodles of cash. I personally know one of his former handlers (you can ask me who if you are curious) and he would bend over backwards for Rush. Anything from looking over carpet patterns for his wife to wiping Lord Rush's ass. It is time to hold them accountable for his actions too. If it weren't for the radio scion, we wouldn't have to listen to his garbage. Condemning Rush and Clear Channel is the right thing to do.
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