Limbaugh vs Anti-War GI's
So Rush Limbaugh thinks there are two kinds of soldiers serving in the US military in Iraq -- real soldiers who think the US ought to keep fighting there and "phony soldiers" who think the US ought to start making plans to leave.
"During the September 26 broadcast of his syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." [..]"
And his show appears on Armed Forces Radio?
At yesterday's White House press conference Dana Perino was asked about the remark and said -- "The President believes that if you are serving in the military that you have the rights that every American has which is you're free to express yourself in any way that you want to. And there are some that oppose the war, and that's okay."
When she was asked specifically about the "phony soldiers" phrase, she added: "It's not what the President would have used, no."
Hardly a scathing condemnation .. but it isn't every day that the White House is forced to distance itself from Rush Limbaugh.
I think an awful lot of soldiers are coming around to this change of opinion during this war. And I would value the opinion of someone who has served over there over someone who hasn't.
THEY are the true profiles in courage, in contrast to this pompous, opiate-addicted windbag Limbaugh.
Yes, I know that many soldiers come home still believing in the mission, but from what I've been reading lately, there are many who don't -- there is definitely growing dissent within the military.
Senator Jim Webb just tried to pass a bill that would give soldiers stationed "in country" as much time back home as they have on the front. There are sound military reasons for this -- soldiers deployed for too long become angry, disoriented, discouraged and depressed.
Next, a Democrat speaks up: "CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards criticized Rush Limbaugh on Friday for referring to some members of the military as "phony soldiers."
Edwards and the campaign of fellow Democrat Chris Dodd took issue with the radio talk show host's characterization of Iraq war veterans who have spoken out against the war. Limbaugh was responding to a caller who argued that anti-war groups "never talk to real soldiers."
"They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media," the caller said.
"The phony soldiers," Limbaugh responded.
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Edwards called on Republicans to denounce Limbaugh in the same way they came down on Democrats after the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org ran an advertisement criticizing Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.
"All these Republicans went running to the mic and the TV cameras when MoveOn ran their ad about General Petraeus. Now let's see if they really mean it," Edwards said. "Let's see if they'll speak out against Rush Limbaugh. Let's see if they'll challenge him about men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States." [..]"
Can Rush Limbaugh possibly explain why our troops aren't entitled to the same freedoms that they are supposedly trying to bring the Iraqis .. that they are fighting and dying for so the Iraqis can have free speech?
Some of our military men and women see the war only as a job they have to do. Many of them believed in the mission until they arrived in Iraq and learned what was really going on.
And just where does Rush Limbaugh get off calling anyone phony who has fought in that war and earned the right to their own opinion? While he sits on his big butt, never having served or worn the uniform .. just like all the big name war lovers.
Oh, I forgot, the poor guy wanted to fight in Vietnam, but he had an ingrown hair, or maybe it was a cyst, on his butt and just couldn't go.
Some of our soldiers return to combat after gun shot wounds .. I doubt that a cyst could be as bad as a gun shot wound.
The righties stained their undies about the Moveon ad .. and now are whining about the left calling attention to Rush Limbaugh's insult to the troops?
Whatever -- I just don't want Democrats to play the Republican phony outrage game. Rush's statement was offensive, yes .. but not worth the time of the US Congress.
If they want to support the troops, let them do it with actions, not words.
