Following up on last week’s reporting, Rush Limbaugh’s decision to blast troops who disagree with him about Iraq as “phony soldiers” continues to reverberate. At last count, two major Republican presidential candidates (McCain and Romney) have criticized the far-right blowhard for his remarks; Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) was scheduled to introduce a House resolution condemning Limbaugh for remark, and Limbaugh undermined his own defense by arguing that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a decorated combat veteran, is one of those who deserves the “phony” label.
Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid went after the talk-show host as well. Greg Sargent has a detailed report.
“His unpatriotic comments cannot be ignored,” Reid said, according to prepared remarks sent to us before his speech, which is underway. “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.”
In an interesting bit of political theater designed to put GOP Senators on the spot, Reid said he’s leaving on the Senate floor a letter his office wrote to the head of the parent company of Rush’s radio show denouncing Rush’s remarks. Reid challenged GOP Senators to sign the letter, saying that he’s leaving the letter on the Senate floor for the rest of today.
By leaving a letter on the floor for consideration, Reid is apparently shying away from a Senate resolution condemning Limbaugh, along the same lines as the resolution Republicans pushed last week condemning MoveOn.org. I think that’s the right move — not only does Reid want to avoid the tit-for-tat appearance, but frankly, it’s probably not helpful to have competing resolutions every week condemning intemperate political speech.
Resolution or no, Reid ripped Limbaugh this afternoon — and tried to shame his GOP colleagues into action.
The whole Reid transcript is online, but this stood out for me:
“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.”
And as long as we’re on the subject, I thought I’d highlight this post from Right Wing Nut House’s Rick Moran (who once graciously described me as part of the “sane left“). Rick and I agree on practically nothing, but I was delighted to see that he recognized Limbaugh’s comments for what they were.
I watched the video and am more convinced than ever that Limbaugh knew he had goofed when he said “phony soldiers” (plural) and in the context of the moment the comment was made, Limbaugh was clearly referencing and agreeing with the caller’s sentiment that all soldiers who come forward and make known their opposition to the war are not “real soldiers” (caller’s words). […]
Limbaugh’s inclusion of Murtha in his little gang of “phony soldiers” is telling. If the talk show host was only talking about “phony soldiers” why include someone whose only sin appears to be opposition to the war in Iraq — an opposition that led the Congressman to jump the gun on the Pentagon and condemn Marines — some of them entirely innocent — for the Haditha incident?
Limbaugh’s explanation just doesn’t hold water. It is entirely plausible that the polarizing Mr. Limbaugh issued a blanket condemnation of military people who are opposed to the war rather than singling out individuals like Jesse Macbeth when he uttered the words “phony soldiers.”
And just for good measure, it’s also worth keeping in mind that when Limbaugh sought to defend himself, he selectively edited the audio recording of his show and the transcript.
If his comments were harmless, Limbaugh wouldn’t be trying to pull one over on his foolish fans.