So, Rush is selling a letter on E-Bay received by the chairman of Clear Channel, Mr. Mark Mays from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. This was the letter that Senator Reid sent to Mr. Mays as a response to some comments made by Mr. Limbaugh on his radio program. Here is what prompted the letter:
“RUSH ARCHIVE: It's not possible intellectually to follow these people.
CALLER: No, it's not. And what's really funny is they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and spout to the media.
RUSH: The phony soldiers.
CALLER: The phony soldiers. If you talk to any real soldier and they're proud to serve, they want to be over in Iraq, they understand their sacrifice and they're willing to sacrifice for the country.
RUSH: They joined to be in Iraq.
RUSH: It's frustrating and maddening, and why they must be kept in the minority. I want to thank you, Mike, for calling. I appreciate it very much.
Here is a Morning Update that we did recently, talking about fake soldiers. This is a story of who the left props up as heroes. They have their celebrities and one of them was Army Ranger Jesse MacBeth.”
This is the salient portion of what was said. Now, this excerpt was not taken from the Media Matters web-site, but rather from here:
Now anyone who heard this could certainly be excused for thinking that this comment was not relating to a single soldier, but instead referred to all soldiers that have and continue to speak out against the war. Let’s take it piece by piece and see what was actually said.
“RUSH ARCHIVE: It's not possible intellectually to follow these people.
CALLER: No, it's not. And what's really funny is they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and spout to the media.”
First, Mr. Limbaugh says that it is not possible to intellectually follow “these people”. He is talking about Democrats and liberals in general at this point, but then the caller goes on to say that “they never talk to real soldiers”, “They” like to “pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue”. All of this is in the plural form. Meaning, of course, that Mr. Limbaugh and the caller are talking about more than one person, more than one soldier. Of course, this isn’t true in the main; many of the soldiers who have spoken out against the war are very much real soldiers. Several of them are, in fact, highly decorated, very brave soldiers who have sacrificed greatly for the Republic, but there have been some who are indeed just out for a few minutes of infamy. So, with a broad brush, those who are actual veterans of the Iraq Conflict that have spoken out against that conflict are smeared by Mr. Limbaugh and the caller because of the actions of a few people who were not soldiers.
Liberals in general and Media Matters in particular have held up certain people who have spoken out against the war as “heroes” and some of them have turned out to be false. But, certainly not all of them are false; many of them are indeed real soldiers.
The transcript continues:
“RUSH: The phony soldiers.
CALLER: The phony soldiers. If you talk to any real soldier and they're proud to serve, they want to be over in Iraq, they understand their sacrifice and they're willing to sacrifice for the country.
RUSH: They joined to be in Iraq.
RUSH: It's frustrating and maddening, and why they must be kept in the minority. I want to thank you, Mike, for calling. I appreciate it very much.
Here is a Morning Update that we did recently, talking about fake soldiers. This is a story of who the left props up as heroes. They have their celebrities and one of them was Army Ranger Jesse MacBeth.””
At this point Mr. Limbaugh makes his infamous comment about “phony soldiers”. He was obviously not talking about one soldier in particular, but rather about several people that have come forward. Now, an argument can be made and perhaps should be made that Mr. Limbaugh and the caller were talking about two different things. Mr. Limbaugh may indeed have been thinking about his recent Morning Update where he talked about fake soldiers. But, the caller, obviously, was not. The caller considers everyone who is a “real soldier” “proud to serve, they want to be over in Iraq”. Mr. Limbaugh then goes on to talk about Jesse MacBeth, who was not an Army Ranger at all, so I find it curious that Mr. Limbaugh would describe him that way.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with what was said. Mr. Limbaugh could have made sure that he and the caller were saying the same thing, but what was said fit nicely with what Mr. Limbaugh wanted to expound upon. But, I start having a problem with his reaction to what was said. Here is a portion of that reaction:
“I was talking about a genuine phony soldier -- and, by the way, Jesse MacBeth is not the only one. How about this guy Scott Thomas who was writing fraudulent, phony things in the New Republic about atrocities he saw that never happened? How about Jack Murtha blanketly accepting the notion that Marines in Haditha engaged in wanton murder of innocent children and civilians? If anybody owes anybody an apology, the entire Democrat Party, from Hillary Clinton on down, owes the US military an apology. They owe me an apology, and they owe the American people an apology -- and they are owed massive defeat in 2008! “
Now, this is likely to be at least partially true. He obviously wasn’t talking about “a” phony soldier or he would not have used the plural form. But, he may have been thinking about phony soldiers like Mr. MacBeth when he was talking to the caller. So, his thinking here can be excused. The problem comes because he refuses to consider that his comment, when looked at in a certain way, could be seen as a denunciation of all soldiers that have spoken out against the war. Rather, he goes on to hammer away at Mr. MacBeth and Mr. Thomas. Further, he attacks Congressman Murtha (whose military record is beyond reproach) for speaking out against the Haditha Incident, which is still under investigation although many charges have been dropped against the Marines in question.
So, rather than using this opportunity to explain himself and see the possibility of how his comments could be seen, he uses it as a chance to attack people. He attacks the “Democrat” Party and Hillary Clinton. He can’t see that it’s possible that what he said may, indeed, have been misconstrued and instead attacks those he disagrees with. He was given a chance to explain himself and to apologize if his words seemed to say something they didn’t and he refused.
This leads to Senator Reid, in a calculated political move, denouncing Mr. Limbaugh’s comments on the floor of the Senate and to the letter which Mr. Limbaugh has since auctioned off on E-Bay. Here is the important portion of that letter:
“We trust that you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a “phony soldier”. We call on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments.”
Mr. Limbaugh does not apologize for his comments or even take the smallest amount of intellectual honesty that it would take to see how his comments could be misconstrued. Instead he uses this opportunity to further attack people with whom he disagrees.
“It is unconscionable for an esteemed United States senator to launch an all-out assault on a private citizen, which is a lie from front to back, in order to cover your own actions and words, which have been the true demoralization of the US military -- and if anybody owes the military of this country an apology, Senator Reid, it is you. It is Jack Murtha. It is Dick Durbin. It is any and all who have joined your effort to secure defeat of the United States and the United States military in not only Iraq, but the war on terror.
Sir, have you no decency left? Have you no shame whatsoever?”
What Senator Reid said was not exactly a lie, but rather a misunderstanding of what Mr. Limbaugh was talking about. Mr. Limbaugh did not try to set the record straight in any meaningful way, by understanding that there could have been a misunderstanding of what he said or that he possibly misunderstood what his caller was saying, because that isn’t what he wants to do. Rather, this is an opportunity for him to further his own political and economic agenda by demonizing those that disagree with him. As to his being a “private citizen”, certainly he is, but he is a “private citizen” with a powerful bullhorn that reaches many people. Also, he has not had an issue with attacking other private citizens that disagree with him.
“So it's a great point: What's he done? But the Nobel Peace Prize in recent years hasn't been about "peace," anyway. It's been about liberal activism. How do you explain Jimmy Carter getting the Nobel Peace Prize? Jimmy Carter is single-handedly responsible for the nation of Iran, the Islamic Republican of Iran being the state sponsor of worldwide terror today. Jimmy Carter gets a Nobel Peace Prize!”
Of course both of the gentlemen in question are private citizens and were when they won their Nobel’s. But, that is not relevant to Mr. Limbaugh and he can not see the hypocrisy. When his own party attacks private citizens as when Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus sent a letter to the board of TimeWarner demanding that Mr. Maher’s show “Real Time” be cancelled, Mr. Limbaugh has far less to say about private citizens being under an assault by a member of Congress.
Now the letter that Senator Reid sent to Mr. Mays has been auctioned off for over two million dollars. This amount was matched by Mr. Limbaugh and will be sent to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. That is a very good thing to come out of a very dubious situation. But, when Senator Reid attempted to try and call it a good thing he is blasted by Mr. Limbaugh for trying to take credit of this situation. Here is what Senator Reid said:
"He put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I think very, very constructively, let the proceeds of that to go to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation that provides scholarship assistance to Marines and federal law enforcement personnel whose parents fall in the line of duty. What could be a more worthwhile cause?"
"When I spoke to Mark May (sic), he and I thought this probably wouldn't make much money, a letter, written by Democrat (sic) Senators, complaining about something. This morning, the bid is more than two million for this. We've watched it during the week. It keeps going up, and up, and up. There's only a little bit of time left on it, but it certainly is going to be more than two million. Never did we think that this letter would bring money of this nature,"
"And for the cause, Madam President, it's extremely good. Now everybody knows that Rush Limbaugh and I don't agree on everything in life. Maybe that's kind of an understatement. But, without qualification, Mark May (sic), the owner of the network that has Rush Limbaugh, their auction is going to be something that raises money for a worthwhile cause. I don't know what we could do more important than helping to ensure that children of our fallen soldiers and police officers who have fallen in the line of duty have the opportunity for their children to have a good education."
So, Senator Reid says on the floor of the Senate that what is being done with the letter is a “worthwhile cause” and “extremely good”. He further goes on to say that while he and Mr. Limbaugh agree on very little he can say, “without qualification…their auction is going to be something that raises money for a worthwhile cause.” Then he says that, “I don’t know what we could do more important than helping..” And here is where it gets really nasty on the part of Mr. Limbaugh. Rather than accepting that Senator Reid is essentially going as far as he can in saying that good came out of this bad, confusing situation Mr. Limbaugh goes immediately on the attack and utterly misconstrues what the Senator is trying to say, in effect, doing to the Senator what was done to him.
“Think of this. He's using the word "we". He has inserted himself into this, ladies and gentlemen! It's going so well, it's something nobody by his own admission ever imagined -- they want in on it! We've got the audio now. Let's just listen to it rather than me read it.”
This is, of course, not what the Senator is saying, but that doesn’t fit in with the agenda of Mr. Limbaugh. He goes on to say:
“So now, all of a sudden, this is "we"? You and I have buried the hatchet? You haven't even apologized for this yet and now he wants credit for helping raise this money, as though he's been involved in it all along. It's Orwellian. It's surreal. It's alternate universe. It continues. Senator Reid, I asked you, I suggested that you and Senators in the Senate who could afford this match it. I haven't heard whether you want to match the final total. I pledged to do so from the get-go. By the way, one more time, it's Mays. It's Mark Mays. There's an "S" on the end of his name.”
So, now that Senator Reid is trying to make something good come from all of this mess, although Senator Reid did cause some of it, Mr. Limbaugh will attack him ruthlessly. Furthermore, he continues to correct the Senator in mis-saying Mr. Mays’ name, when Mr. Limbaugh always misuses the name of the Democratic Party, insisting on calling it the Democrat Party.
What can we take away from all of this? Firstly, I think that we have to understand that it’s okay to say you were wrong. Both Mr. Limbaugh and Senator Reid refuse to do so. Somewhere along the line it became unacceptable to say that a mistake was made or that what was said was not understood. I find that reprehensible.
Second, I think that we have to be very careful and take the time to analyze in depth what is happening rather than just looking at the surface of the equation. Mr. Limbaugh uses his vitriolic attacks on the Democrats to make money, it’s how he makes his living and I don’t necessarily have a huge problem with that. But, he must understand that these attacks are not going to go unnoticed. Also, he must realize that by supporting his Party when it attacks entertainers and private citizens he is welcoming those attacks against himself.
Thirdly, as partisan supporters of our respective Parties, we should be able to see when what is being said is not really for our benefit, but for the benefit of politics. Mr. Limbaugh is doing this to generate publicity and Senator Reid is doing the same thing. Both of them survive because they are in a continuous popularity contest and they must play to their constituencies. This kind of garbage will end when the people stop paying attention to it, it’s pointless and does not serve the best interests of the country.
Lastly, I think the Senate should be above this kind of thing. Heck, I think the whole Congress should be above this kind of thing. When Congress attacks MoveOn.org or Mr. Limbaugh or even President Ahmadinejad, they are taking time away from much more critical matters and playing to the masses. It’s reprehensible to my mind. The business of the country is not going after MoveOn.org or Mr. Limbaugh; it’s taking care of infrastructure, taxes, immigration, health care, the welfare of our troops and this mess in the Middle East.
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Of course both of the gentlemen in question are private citizens and were when they won their Nobel’s. But, that is not relevant to Mr. Limbaugh and he can not see the hypocrisy. When his own party attacks private citizens as when Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus sent a letter to the board of TimeWarner demanding that Mr. Maher’s show “Real Time” be cancelled, Mr. Limbaugh has far less to say about private citizens being under an assault by a member of Congress.
Now the letter that Senator Reid sent to Mr. Mays has been auctioned off for over two million dollars. This amount was matched by Mr. Limbaugh and will be sent to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. That is a very good thing to come out of a very dubious situation. But, when Senator Reid attempted to try and call it a good thing he is blasted by Mr. Limbaugh for trying to take credit of this situation. Here is what Senator Reid said:
"He put the letter up for auction on eBay, and I think very, very constructively, let the proceeds of that to go to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation that provides scholarship assistance to Marines and federal law enforcement personnel whose parents fall in the line of duty. What could be a more worthwhile cause?"
"When I spoke to Mark May (sic), he and I thought this probably wouldn't make much money, a letter, written by Democrat (sic) Senators, complaining about something. This morning, the bid is more than two million for this. We've watched it during the week. It keeps going up, and up, and up. There's only a little bit of time left on it, but it certainly is going to be more than two million. Never did we think that this letter would bring money of this nature,"
"And for the cause, Madam President, it's extremely good. Now everybody knows that Rush Limbaugh and I don't agree on everything in life. Maybe that's kind of an understatement. But, without qualification, Mark May (sic), the owner of the network that has Rush Limbaugh, their auction is going to be something that raises money for a worthwhile cause. I don't know what we could do more important than helping to ensure that children of our fallen soldiers and police officers who have fallen in the line of duty have the opportunity for their children to have a good education."
So, Senator Reid says on the floor of the Senate that what is being done with the letter is a “worthwhile cause” and “extremely good”. He further goes on to say that while he and Mr. Limbaugh agree on very little he can say, “without qualification…their auction is going to be something that raises money for a worthwhile cause.” Then he says that, “I don’t know what we could do more important than helping..” And here is where it gets really nasty on the part of Mr. Limbaugh. Rather than accepting that Senator Reid is essentially going as far as he can in saying that good came out of this bad, confusing situation Mr. Limbaugh goes immediately on the attack and utterly misconstrues what the Senator is trying to say, in effect, doing to the Senator what was done to him.
“Think of this. He's using the word "we". He has inserted himself into this, ladies and gentlemen! It's going so well, it's something nobody by his own admission ever imagined -- they want in on it! We've got the audio now. Let's just listen to it rather than me read it.”
This is, of course, not what the Senator is saying, but that doesn’t fit in with the agenda of Mr. Limbaugh. He goes on to say:
“So now, all of a sudden, this is "we"? You and I have buried the hatchet? You haven't even apologized for this yet and now he wants credit for helping raise this money, as though he's been involved in it all along. It's Orwellian. It's surreal. It's alternate universe. It continues. Senator Reid, I asked you, I suggested that you and Senators in the Senate who could afford this match it. I haven't heard whether you want to match the final total. I pledged to do so from the get-go. By the way, one more time, it's Mays. It's Mark Mays. There's an "S" on the end of his name.”
So, now that Senator Reid is trying to make something good come from all of this mess, although Senator Reid did cause some of it, Mr. Limbaugh will attack him ruthlessly. Furthermore, he continues to correct the Senator in mis-saying Mr. Mays’ name, when Mr. Limbaugh always misuses the name of the Democratic Party, insisting on calling it the Democrat Party.
What can we take away from all of this? Firstly, I think that we have to understand that it’s okay to say you were wrong. Both Mr. Limbaugh and Senator Reid refuse to do so. Somewhere along the line it became unacceptable to say that a mistake was made or that what was said was not understood. I find that reprehensible.
Second, I think that we have to be very careful and take the time to analyze in depth what is happening rather than just looking at the surface of the equation. Mr. Limbaugh uses his vitriolic attacks on the Democrats to make money, it’s how he makes his living and I don’t necessarily have a huge problem with that. But, he must understand that these attacks are not going to go unnoticed. Also, he must realize that by supporting his Party when it attacks entertainers and private citizens he is welcoming those attacks against himself.
Thirdly, as partisan supporters of our respective Parties, we should be able to see when what is being said is not really for our benefit, but for the benefit of politics. Mr. Limbaugh is doing this to generate publicity and Senator Reid is doing the same thing. Both of them survive because they are in a continuous popularity contest and they must play to their constituencies. This kind of garbage will end when the people stop paying attention to it, it’s pointless and does not serve the best interests of the country.
Lastly, I think the Senate should be above this kind of thing. Heck, I think the whole Congress should be above this kind of thing. When Congress attacks MoveOn.org or Mr. Limbaugh or even President Ahmadinejad, they are taking time away from much more critical matters and playing to the masses. It’s reprehensible to my mind. The business of the country is not going after MoveOn.org or Mr. Limbaugh; it’s taking care of infrastructure, taxes, immigration, health care, the welfare of our troops and this mess in the Middle East.">
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