Clear Channel defends Limbaugh after 'phony soldiers' remark

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The company that syndicates Rush Limbaugh's radio program defended the talk-show host Wednesday over his controversial "phony soldiers" remark, saying it's "unfair" to assume the comment was directed at combat troops opposing the Iraq war.

Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications Inc., wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, saying, "Over the years Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly praised the dedication and valor of our brave men and women in uniform.


Rush Limbaugh has called criticism of his "phony soldiers" comment part of a "smear."

"Given Mr. Limbaugh's history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn't share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq."

Mays was responding to a letter Reid sent Tuesday calling on Clear Channel to repudiate Limbaugh's comment. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, leading candidates for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, were among the 41 Democratic senators who signed the letter.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/limbaugh.soldiers/

[WCGreen]

1. A pap smear of the worst kind...

That's what he dishes out everyday...

And yet, the macho man can't take it...




For those who think I am referring to something gynecological, follow this link...)

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pap

[billbuckhead]

2. Ironic since CC was in the forefront of support the troop rallies......

"Ironic" since CC was in the forefront of support the troop rallies and boycotting the Dixie Chicks.

[mikeargo]

7. Where...

Can we find a list of Clear Channel advertisers?

[dickbearton]

14. People, like Mark Mays, are what's wrong with America!

Phoney support the troop rallies to increase their business
and enlarge their bank accounts. What they really support is
the Criminal Bush's illegal foreign policy. While they
broadcast their lies, disinformation, and propaganda thru
Rush; they treat their listener's like the stooges, they are. 

[DearAbby]

3. Oh gee, color me shocked. @@ n/t

[Bitwit1234]

4. Maybe we should boycott all Clear Channel advertisers.

I have never listened to rush on the radio. I don't know who his sponsors are. I guess I will have to find him and get the local advertisers.

[maseman]

15. Clear Channel owns 1200 stations

It will be kinda tough to boycott tens of thousands of advertisers.

I had a thread yesterday discussing how to boycott Rush. Here's the link. Take a look.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1963191&mesg_id=1963191

[ProudDad]

23. Actually it's not that many sponsers

There are a lot of national sponsors who advertise on all of clearchannel's stations.

Sometimes it was EXTREMELY jarring to be listening to Thom Hartmann or Mike Malloy on the Quake in S.F. and then get subjected to the most egregious of capitalist right-wing SHIT in a commercial... Don't listen to the Quake any more... I prefer Nova M's flagship station KPHX in Phoenix...

[movonne]

5. that's a f--k you...

[Cha]

6. Clear Channel doesn't support the

troops..boycott their phony asses.

[poverlay]

8. I agree. Boycott Boycott Boycott! n/t

[bronxiteforever]

9. Clear Channel is Home of the Chicken Hawk Nation

[Jacobin]

10. Yeah. Its unfair to presume he said what he said.

:rofl:

:rofl:

What a bunch of gasbags

[KAZ]

11. CC has how many highway billboards across the country?

Easy pickens.

[Nevernose]

12. How many times was Clinton accused of "parsing words?"

And now Rush and CC are arguing (incorrectly) about whether he used the singular or plural.

[scarface2004]

13. limbaw is a complete asshole!!

hey cc, nobody listens to that piece of crap anymore...keep him spewing on the air, he is so 1988!!

[maseman]

16. Sadly about 10 million people per week do listen

That is why we need to boycott the local stations that carry him.

[Gamey]

17. He's a cyst on Clear Channel's ass

[ProudDad]

24. He's evidently making them LOTS OF MONEY

money is ALL clearchannel cares about...

money is ALL that any amoral corporation cares about...

The laws are STACKED so that money is the ONLY thing that amoral corporations CAN care about...

If they don't perform their ONE and ONLY legal responsibility; Increase Shareholder Equity; the executives can be sued or jailed. Gee, what do you think is their prime motivation...

What a fucked up system it IS, eh?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?

[minnesota_liberal]

18. Mark Mays is blowing smoke out his ass

Same as Bill, Sean and all the other right-wing Kool-Aid drinkers.

Limbaugh clearly WAS directing his "phony troops" comment at soldiers, sailors and Marines who oppose the war. The transcript doesn't lie.

Denials can't change this fact. But repeated denials, voiced hour after hour and day after day by the army of right-wing hacks who control most of the airwaves CAN counter facts and influence public opinion.

I plan to keep after the drug-addled, draft-deferred, hater of troops who exercise their right to free speech.

[HuffleClaw]

19. "simply because they didn't share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq"

clearly the guy has not listened to the segment in question.

[Ian David]

20. Rush Limbaugh Called Our Troops Nappy-headed Ho's! nt

[flordehinojos]

21. what else would you expect from clear channel? they are the voice of the propaganda state.

[truthisfreedom]

22. Anyone have a transcript of limpball's "phony soldiers" comment in context?

I think we can settle this right here.