Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) has
introduced a resolution to commend Rush Limbaugh for his support of the troops. This, less than a week after his "phony soldiers" remark. By all means, Speaker Pelosi, bring this baby to a vote. Either Republicans will break
en masse against Limbaugh, insuring some nice fratricidal remarks from the base, or they'll vote to honor him, making them laughing stocks and providing a stark contrast to their "support the troops" mantra (not to mention pushing "General Betray Us" permanently from the political conversation).
I don't know. This is a Republican game and they know how to play it better than we do. We're supposed to be getting something done about health care.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I disagree with you about demonizing being a GOP game, and had Pelosi just put up a resolution condemning Limbaugh, I might have agreed. But this was their move, not ours, so we can't even be condemned for playing political theater. Part of playing good defense is exploiting when the other side oversteps its advantage, and that's what happened here I think.
ReplyDeleteMedia Matters is barking up the wrong tree and will be smacked down. Limbaugh was referring to Jessie MacBeth. See and listen to Limbaugh's show
ReplyDeleteIn addition ABC News talked about phony soldiers and also referenced MacBeth. Two days prior to Limbaugh. So is Media Matters going to go after Gibson? I don't think so.
Cycle Cyril,
ReplyDeletePlease indicate where, in the transcript of the show of which Media Matters complains, Limbaugh or his caller name Jesse MacBeth, or even reference him by description.
Limbaugh and his caller were having a conversation about how they couldn't believe that someone who wanted the troops out of Iraq could be a real Republican or a real veteran or a real currently-serving soldier. ABC News, in contrast, did an expose on people who impersonate soldiers; "a federal investigation cracks down on scam artists posing as military heroes."
Someone who has not served in the military but who claims to have done so is indeed a phony soldier. Someone serving in the military who disagrees with Rush Limbaugh about the war in Iraq is not a phony soldier.
Here's the transcript.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't link to anything. But here is the complete transcript (including the context Limbaugh edited out from his "complete transcript").
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that Limbaugh fooled anyone with his edit, considering that it leaves his "LIMBAUGH: It's just, it's frustrating and maddening, and it is why they must be kept in the minority" hanging out there, whereas without his excision it has a clear antecedent in referring to Democrats.
ReplyDeletehttp://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2007/09/rush-limbaugh-troops-controversy-media.html
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at the MM transcript, and it very much has the segment on Mr. Macbeth that your link claims it leaves out. It just doesn't think it unambiguously proves that this is who Limbaugh was talking about -- a fact that Limbaugh himself seemed to buttress when he later grouped in Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA) as a "phony soldier" (Murtha's service, of course, is not the subject of debate).
ReplyDeleteFirst rule of holes, my friend...
Murtha is a veteran but he was slanderous, coming to judgment with no data except his bias against our armed forces. To this date he has not apologized even after the exoneration of the accused. His own words makes a mockery of his prior service. You might consider reading this item.
ReplyDeleteExoneration of the accused? Are you aware that charges were dropped against one of the Haditha Marines in exchange for his testimony? That's not an "exoneration," any more than Monica Lewinsky was "exonerated" simply because she cut a deal. Meanwhile, Sgt. Wuterich is still on trial for murder, yet is suing Murtha for defamation. (I personally would wait until I had been found not guilty of an act before suing someone for defamation for saying that I had done the act, but I guess Wuterich is more the type to rush in with guns blazing. "Slander" has a real meaning beyond "I don't like what you said.")
ReplyDeleteSome of the Haditha Marines have been found to have acted within the military's rules. That doesn't clear all of them. And where there is guilt for some of them, Murtha's statements are still true.