Democrats unite to slam Limbaugh for "phony soldiers" smear; GOP silent

[DeepModem Mom]

Carpetbagger Report: Dems unite to slam Limbaugh, GOP silent
Posted September 28th, 2007

As a rule, Democrats and their allies are a little slow when it comes to organized outrage. A high-profile Republican will say or do something that most decent Americans would find outrageous, progressive blogs will call him or her on it, and maybe we’ll see a press release or two from someone on the Hill. The media yawns, the Republican in question shrugs it off, and the political world keeps on spinning. But yesterday was unusual, in a very good way. Media Matters reported on Rush Limbaugh smearing U.S. troops who support a withdrawal policy in Iraq, calling them “phony soldiers.” The unusual aspect of what transpired was watching the left act swiftly and efficiently.

VoteVets.org’s Jon Soltz, an Iraq vet, went first: “(I)n what universe is a guy who never served even close to being qualified to judge those who have worn the uniform? Rush Limbaugh has never worn a uniform in his life — not even one at Mickey D’s — and somehow he’s got the moral standing to pass judgment on the men and women who risked their lives for this nation, and his right to blather smears on the airwaves? … Get the point here, Rush? You weren’t just flat out wrong, you offended a majority of those of us who actually had the courage to go to Iraq and serve, while you sat back in your nice studio, coming up with crap like this.”

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), a decorated war hero, soon followed: “This disgusting attack from Rush Limbaugh, cheerleader for the Chicken Hawk wing of the far right, is an insult to American troops…. He is an embarrassment to his Party, and I expect the Republicans who flock to his microphone will now condemn this indefensible statement.” Within an hour, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued a statement....Then the DNC, followed by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), another Iraq vet. Then Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), a Vietnam vet. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time the Democratic Message Machine was this swift. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I thought the Democrats had a Message Machine.

Now, at this point, as delighted as I am to see the Dems respond this quickly and forcefully, the traditional media is doing what the traditional media always does: ignoring progressive complaints about a conservative smearing U.S. troops. According to searches on Lexis-Nexis and Google News, the only MSM outlets to pick up on this story were MSNBC (Keith Olbermann mentioned the story on the air last night) and the Chicago Tribune’s blog (not the paper’s print edition). That’s it.

But that’s not to say that the story won’t get picked up at all. When Bill O’Reilly was shocked to find civility in Harlem, it took a few days, but traditional news outlets eventually noticed the story and gave it quite a bit of play. There’s no reason Limbaugh’s smear won’t follow a similar media trajectory....

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13034.html

[rodeodance]

1. Demand that Rush Limbaugh be taken off the Armed Forces Radio Network, IMMEDIATELY

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Demand that Rush Limbaugh be taken off the Armed Forces Radio Network, IMMEDIATELY
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1926511#1926511
1926511, Demand that Rush Limbaugh be taken off the Armed Forces Radio Network, IMMEDIATELY
Posted by fedupinBushcountry on Thu Sep-27-07 09:25 PM

My husband spent 20 years in the Navy and has been to war (Vietnam-2 tours). I was an Ombudsman for 2 of my husband's ships making sure that the sailors and their loved ones were kept up to date on the ship's activities. We served our country as so many have.

Where does Rush Limbaugh get off calling our soldiers 'phony', as he sits his boiled ass in an air-conditioned room spewing hate all day and never had the courage to serve.

He owes EVERY soldier an apology and he should be taken off the air of the Armed Forces Radio Network. IMMEDIATELY! You can go here to make your statement

Rush Limbaugh is the biggest 'phony' of all, he had no Balls to serve.

Edited to add Feedback link

[State the Obvious]

4. The ENTIRE COUNTRY should rally around this.

As you say....."DEMAND that Rush Limbaugh be taken off the Armed Forces Radio Network, immediately."

When the Petraeus ad was shown, the ENTIRE Republican infrastructure was outraged.....demands were made, statements were issued, bills were passed.....They would not let it rest.

OK, DEMS.....do the same thing. Do not allow the Republicans to change the subject, or dance around the issue. INSIST that every Republican congressperson make a statement on this issue...get it on record and do not allow them to back away. This is one way we can support the troops. Get this propagandist off the air.

[Rageneau]

2. So when do the Dems introduce a motion to censure Limbaugh??

The Congress said it is outraged by Move-On's semi-insult to a four-start general, so it should be AT LEAST as outraged by a real insult to our veteran combat soldiers. If one thing deserves condemnation, then the other does, too.

Te Repukes got a motion through Congress (with poltroon Democratic help) to condemn Move-On for the Petraus ad. So which Democrat is going to introduce a motion to condemn Limbaugh for his equally insulting comments?

(Answer: NO Democrat will introduce nor support such a motion -- because that would be fighting back, which today's wimpy Democrats don't want to do, for fear Limbaugh will say something bad about them.)

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Good question! nt

[Old and In the Way]

5. Not good enough.

Of course, I am happy that real leaders like JK are speaking out and I am hardly surprised that the Republicans who were shocked!, shocked I tell yeah, about the Petrayus ad, are MIA on the smearing of our soldiers fighting in Iraq.

But no one will remember our speeches or the Republican reaction, unless we follow-up with the same tact the Republicans took on Petrayus. Make them vote for or against the motion to condemn. Put the Republicans in a no-win position. Haven't our Democrats in Congress learned anything about the way the game is played and how the media reports things? They won't make it a big deal until the Democrats force a vote in Congress.

[TankLV]

6. Oh no! EEEEK! CAN'T do THAT! It would be UNSEEMLY! Can't stoop to their level...

There's MORE IMPORTANT THINGS to do/discuss.

We're only the MAJORITY and can't do SHIT because there are REPUKES! EEEEK! THERE'S A REPUKE! Careful - you don't want to make them MAD! EEEEK!!!!

Did I cover all the lame excuses?