« Getting Cocky | Main | Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! »
Why Won’t Republicans Condemn Rush Limbaugh?
By Jeff Fecke | September 27, 2007
So as you all know, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, worse than mocking a soldier, even if said soldier is the head of the debacle in Iraq. If there’s one thing the beltway crowd has been clear on, it’s that the whole MoveOn “Gen. Betrayus” thing was the most offensive thing in the history of offensive things, even more offensive than, oh, let’s just pick something…let’s say it’s even more offensive than sending several thousand men and women to die in a war that we never should have been fighting in the first place.
I mean, that there is just being “tough.”
Anyhow, given that there’s nothing worse than smearing the troops, I’m sure we can expect the Senate to take up a resolution tomorrow condemning Rush Limbaugh:
During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq “phony soldiers.” He made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller, “Mike from Chicago,” who said he “used to be military,” and “believe[s] that we should pull out of Iraq.” Limbaugh told the second caller, whom he identified as “Mike, this one from Olympia, Washington,” that “[t]here’s a lot” that people who favor U.S. withdrawal “don’t understand” and that when asked why the United States should pull out, their only answer is, ” ‘Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.’ … ‘Save the — keeps the troops safe’ or whatever,” adding, “[I]t’s not possible, intellectually, to follow these people.” “Mike” from Olympia replied, “No, it’s not, and what’s really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.” Limbaugh interjected, “The phony soldiers.” The caller, who had earlier said, “I am a serving American military, in the Army,” agreed, replying, “The phony soldiers.”
Yeah! Phony soldiers, like these phony dead soldiers right here. I mean, sure they died in Iraq while serving in Iraq, where they were ostensibly soldiers, but still, they’re anti-war — so they’re big phonies. Right, Rush?
So seriously: when will the beltway go ballistic on this? When will this smear on our troops — an actual smear, mind you, on actual front-line troops, not an overheated headline attacking a general — when will the Republicans condemn this statement? At least the Democrats care about our brave men and women.
Topics: Hacktackular!, Iraq | 13 Comments »
September 28th, 2007 at 8:53 am
[...] And my colleague Jeff Fecke at Blog of the Moderate Left wonders whether those, including Sen. Norm Coleman, who were outraged by the MoveOn.org ad that was insufficiently respectful toward Gen. David Petraeus, will bring equal energy to denouncing Limbaugh for being insufficiently respectful toward some of the troops. [...]
September 28th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Might I suggest that neither Limbaugh nor MoveOn are worth worrying about?
Yeah, I know, in the game of newsbyte tennis they’re playing, it’s now time to condemn Limbaug.
But, ultimately, I just can’t care. Stupid is stupid. One-dimensional oversimplification is, you know. Who cares about this crap?
September 29th, 2007 at 9:33 am
[...] Why won’t Republicans Condemn Rush Lindbaugh ? [...]
September 29th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I agree with Kell Brigan – Limbaugh is a superficial blowhard, who seems to have little or no real influence. Sean Hannity’s another matter. It’s sad that MoveOn can be classed with Limbaugh – they started off to be better than that.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Limbaugh has no influence? That’s news to me. It may be that his influence maxed out some time ago, but millions listen to him, and believe me, my father, for instance, takes him seriously.
So yeah, stupid is stupid… but if you ignore stupid, the next thing you know stupid is in the White House.
October 1st, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Possibly because Limbaugh was not referring to all soldiers who disagree with the war, but soldiers like Jessie Macbeth, which, if you bothered to read the whole transcript rather than getting your information from the left wing biased website Media Matters, you would have known.
October 1st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
here is the transcript, in case you want to read it and issue an apology.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.html.LogIn.html
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
I’ll give you half credit if you think for yourself.
The original ‘phony soldier’ quote was made BEFORE he even mentioned Jesse, and didn’t mention him till sometime later. In Rush’s spin doctoring the next day, he even cut and spliced his own transcript to create context where there was none.
Rush is a smooth one, and someone as smart as you was even taken in by his spin meistering. Next time, don’t buy into his game unconditionally, You are better than that!
For the rest of you that already know the truth, yes, Rush was clearly talking about serving soldiers who are against the war as phony soldiers. Bonus points to you for not falling for the Rush Spin.
Flash
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Jesse wasn’t mentioned ‘sometime later’ he was mentioned right after the comment. Check the original transcript! That’s called putting into context, it doesnt matter what order it came in, Rush does a live show, so if he put it in context immediately afterward then THAT IS THE CONTEXT.
Now if you believe he is doctoring the original transcripts to support your ideology then, I am sure there is no evidence on earth that could tear you from your prejudice.
Here is the Original transcript if you care:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092607/content/01125113.guest.html
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
For the same reasons that most Democrats won’t come out against the MoveOn Ad that smeared Petraeus unless it’s in a public vote and the media is watching.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I won’t say one political group cares more than the other. Both voted to send them in, both have individuals who have never served in the military, and overwhelmingly. The photo ops and talk aren’t the bottom line, the issue is funding. I don’t mean just the war. Are we paying enough to keep officers with professional skills in? Are we making sure that soldiers have long term access to the very best care? Are our VA hospitals well equipped, staffed and run? Are we bringing in a diversity of soldiers who have different talents in various fields so that we have a better trained army? And most of all, are our politicians truly interested in lifting the stereotypes that have plagued the military since Vietnam?
the same socio-economic group has been providing their sons and daughters to the military. And for the most part, these families are conservative and Republican. But fyi… if you’re in need, the military will serve you whether or not you’re on the left, right or indifferent.
Read Kathy Roth Douquet & Frank Schaeffer’s, AWOL: The Absence of the Upper Class From The Military. You really should read it.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Republicans won’t condemn Limbaugh for something that Media Matters and Harry Reid lied about. he called fake soldiers phony soldiers. Look up Jesse Macbeth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Macbeth) the prime example of phony soldiers Rush was talking about. Get your head out of your ass long enough to hear whats being said. Then, if you’re so against those that are against soldiers, why don’t you donate $2.1 milion to the Marine Corp Law Enforcement Foundation like Rush did? Oh yeah… you forgot Rush did that. Why? Oh could it be because he’s a major supporter of ALL troops, including police officers, and has been on the board of the MC-LEF since its inception? Yeah, you got it wrong. Don’t worry too much, its a liberal thing, so you’re not alone.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
the national media gives a pass to news coverage of important goings on and they get a pass here as well. Limbaugh is confident but he also covers the ideas behind the words and actions of the liberals. Get some anatomy.