Richard WarnickLimbaugh: Only ‘phony soldiers’ oppose Iraq occupation
I’m not a betting man, but if I were I’d bet everything I own that the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will not spend any time debating this. In case you haven’t heard, Rush Limbaugh thinks members of the military who dare to express doubts about being stuck in a failed occupation in the middle of Iraq’s religious civil war are “phony soldiers.” Media Matters has the whole transcript, from yesterday.
Of course, this is not the first time Rush has attacked the patriotism of anyone who disagrees with him. But Limbaugh hypocritically called the MoveOn.org Petraeus/Betrayus advertisement “contemptible” and “indecent,” as if he were offended on principle. Well, what would you call an ignorant loudmouth who never served in the military when he refers to Iraq veterans as phony soldiers?
Over on HuffPo, Jon Soltz reminds us that the majority of troops on the ground in Iraq, and those who have returned, do not back the occupation. They know better than anyone that Bush’s “stay the course” policy has no hope of success. That includes Major Generals John Batiste and Paul Eaton. That includes the seven 82d Airborne soldiers who wrote a New York Times op-ed last month. Two of them have since died in Iraq, and another has been seriously wounded.
UPDATE: Via HuffPo– Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), the first Iraq War Veteran elected to the United States Congress:
“Someone should tell chicken-hawk Rush Limbaugh that the only phonies are those who choose not to serve and then criticize those who do. I served proudly, so did two of my fellow paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne who spoke out and died just weeks ago. Generations of American veterans have worn the uniform with pride and we know it is no contradiction to serve your country and still disagree with the Bush-civilian leadership that mismanaged this war.â€
UPDATE: Let’s credit White House spokesperson Dana Perino for contradicting Limbaugh at today’s press briefing:
Perino 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.”
Pressed specifically about Rush’s “phony soldiers” phrase, she added: “It’s not what the President would have used, no.”
UPDATE: Not for the first time, I’m glad I’m not a betting man. Via TPM Election Central– Apparently Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) will be introducing a resolution on Monday to condemn Rush Limbaugh for his “phony soldiers” remark. Everyone else is free to disagree, but I thought the lesson of the MoveOn ad brouhaha was that the U.S. Congress should have better things to do than chastise Americans for exercising their right of free speech. What was that famous quote? “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” (not Voltaire, as it turns out).
UPDATE: Limbaugh now claims that his “phony soldiers” remark referred to “genuine phonies,” which he says are people who falsely claimed to have served. Limbaugh’s example of a “genuine phony”? Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), a 30-year Marine officer who earned the Bronze Star for Valor, two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
UPDATE: More idiocy as Limbaugh gets attacked by VoteVets.org and makes a fool of himself responding to the ad.
