Limbaugh’s Got The Story - If Anyone Will Listen
NRO:
On Monday evening, September 24, Rush Limbaugh was struck by a story that appeared on ABC’s World News with Charles Gibson. “A closer look tonight at phony heroes,” Gibson said in his introduction to the report, which was about men who claim to be veterans but are not. In the story, reporter Brian Ross discussed two men who claimed to have served in wartime, possibly to receive free veterans’ hospital and other benefits.
And then this: “Authorities say the most disturbing case involves this man, 23 year-old Jesse Macbeth,” Ross continued. “In a YouTube video seen around the world, Macbeth became a rallying point for anti-war groups, as he talked of the Purple Heart he received in Iraq and described how he and other U.S. Army Rangers killed innocent civilians at a Baghdad mosque.” Ross played video of Macbeth saying, “Women and men, you know — while in their prayer, we started slaughtering them.”
As it turns out, none of that happened. Macbeth was in the Army for just six weeks, was discharged before completing basic training, and was never in Iraq. “Last week in federal court in Seattle,” Ross concluded, “Macbeth offered an apology for defaming the real American heroes as he admitted to lying about his service record and his supposed atrocities.” Ross’ story was headlined “Phony War Vets” on the ABC News website.
Among the viewers that night was a person who works for Limbaugh’s radio program. “My call screener saw the ABC News report and he told me about it,” Limbaugh told me yesterday. Limbaugh decided to make the story the subject of his commentary for Tuesday, September 25, a commentary that played in the morning on the 600 stations that carry Limbaugh’s show. “We researched it and put the commentary together,” Limbaugh continued. “In our research, we also found a story on FoxNews.com from, I believe, May 20th on Macbeth that had ‘Phony Soldier’ in the headline. We also found a press release from the U.S. Attorney, Western District of Washington, on 9/21, who had successfully prosecuted eight of what he called ‘Fake Soldiers’ who had defrauded the VA system.”
So Limbaugh told Macbeth’s story in the commentary and added his own words about the people who had made Macbeth a hero. “They have to lie about such atrocities because they can’t find any that fit the template of the way they see the US military,” Limbaugh said. “In other words, for the American anti-war left, the greatest inconvenience they face is the truth.
During his program the next day, Wednesday, September 26, Limbaugh spoke to a somewhat emotional caller who claimed to be a Republican fed up with the war in Iraq. After a long and sometimes testy exchange, Limbaugh cut to another caller, a man named Mike in Olympia, Washington who said he had served two tours in Iraq. Discussing war critics on the left, the caller said, “What’s really funny is they never talk to real soldiers. They pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue — “
“The phony soldiers,” Limbaugh said.
“The phony soldiers,” the caller repeated. “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.”
“I was thinking of Macbeth when I said ‘phony soldiers,’“ Limbaugh told me. As the caller talked, Limbaugh told a staff member to print out the previous day’s commentary on the ABC “Phony Heroes” story. After “vamping” a bit while the commentary printed out, Limbaugh moved on.
“I want to thank you, Mike, for calling. I appreciate it very much. I gotta — 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. And they have their celebrities. One of them was Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth…” Limbaugh read the entire commentary from the day before and wrapped up that segment of the program. From there, he moved on to a discussion of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
And that was that — until the next day, September 27, when Media Matters, the liberal media watchdog group, posted a story headlined, “Limbaugh: Service members who support U.S. withdrawal are ‘phony soldiers.’“ “During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show,” Media Matters reported, “Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq ‘phony soldiers.’“ Media Matters included a transcript — with some extraneous remarks edited out — of Limbaugh’s broadcast.
Within a few hours, a half-dozen congressional Democrats had denounced Limbaugh’s remarks. “How dare Rush Limbaugh label anyone who has served in the military as a, quote, ‘phony soldier?’“ asked Illinois Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “Rush Limbaugh owes our military and their families an apology,” said Maryland Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
The next day, September 28, Limbaugh used his program to explain the “phony soldiers” remark at some length. As part of that explanation, he played a tape of the original September 26 program. He cut some extraneous material out — “for space and relevance reasons, not to hide anything,” he told me — and then found himself again under attack from Media Matters for “selectively edit[ing]” the clip. Media Matters did not claim that Limbaugh had cut anything substantive out — he did not — and in fact his cuts were similar to the cuts Media Matters itself made when it published an edited version of the transcript of Limbaugh’s original broadcast. But it was one more dart to throw at Limbaugh.
And that was just the beginning. In the coming days, Democrats in Congress, stung by the controversy over MoveOn.org’s “General Betray Us?” ad and resentful of being outmaneuvered by Republicans who pushed for resolutions condemning the ad, pushed hard against Limbaugh. “What’s most despicable is that Rush Limbaugh says these provocative things to make more money,” said Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in a speech delivered on the Senate floor. “So he castigates our soldiers. This makes more news. It becomes in the news. More people tune in. He makes more money. Well, I don’t know. Maybe he was just high on his drugs again. I don’t know whether he was or not.”
Finally, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that Limbaugh had gone “way over the line.” “This comment was so beyond the pale of decency, and we can’t leave it alone,” Reid said. Reid and 40 other Democratic senators signed a letter to Mark May, CEO of Clear Channel Communications, calling on May “to publicly repudiate these comments.” May, who said he had carefully read the transcript of Limbaugh’s remarks, declined.
Where the controversy goes now is not clear. Democrats, and particularly their supporters in the left-wing blogosphere, are pressing for payback over the MoveOn.org affair. But Limbaugh’s explanation will likely make it harder to make the clear-cut case against him that Republicans, and some Democrats, made against MoveOn. The fact that Limbaugh, on the original September 26 program, brought up the ABC report, unbidden, to explain the “phony soldiers” remark suggests that that indeed was what he had in mind at the time he said it. That’s also supported by the fact that he had recorded a commentary on the story the day before, and that he printed out and re-read that commentary on September 26 as he explained “phony soldiers.” It was clearly on his mind.
And even though there are political arguments on all sides of this controversy, independent-minded critics who look at Media Matters might conclude that its political motivations are simply too strong to merit serious consideration. In addition to its ties to major Democratic donors and to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Media Matters is a deeply politicized organization down to its lowest levels. In the past few days, it has posted eleven stories on the Limbaugh matter. Those postings were written by, among others, Julie Millican, a veteran of the Kerry campaign, MoveOn.org, and the Democratic turnout organization America Coming Together; Sarah Pavlus, formerly of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; Andrew Ironside, who worked for the Howard Dean campaign; Adam Shah, a lawyer who worked for the Alliance for Justice, the organization best known for opposing President Bush’s judicial nominees; Jeremy Schulman, a former spokesman for Colorado Democratic congressional candidate Dave Thomas; and Matthew Gertz, former deputy campaign manager for Connecticut Democratic congressional candidate Diane Farrell, as well as intern for New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer.
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Rush
Harry Reid
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:43 amReid, Pelosi et al are not interested in the truth whatsoever, just the continuance and expansion of their own power & control as well as their perpetual manipulation of the intellectually disengaged masses that populate the left leaning elements of society.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 amAnyone who has ever listened to Rush knows exactly where he stands on our MILITARY HEROES. To him they are indeed MILITARY HEROES.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:06 amReid and Pelosi are writing their exit tickets-good riddance.
I heard the show in question and read the transcript. The Dhimis are lying once again. Just how much more are we going to take from them is the bigger question; because it seems more and more to me that we’re dealing with a bunch of spoiled children who are pushing the envelope way too far. One might have the impression that the libtards are trying to start a civil war?
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 amI am truely starting to believe that the dumbocrat liberals in Washington actually accept the fact that they condescend our very existence. They lie, cheat, rape, and steal their way to the top, and damned be any who get in the way.
This country is headed for collapse rapidly. I served my time in the military. I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC. I would have no qualms over another “revolution” of sorts. Take back D.C., fire the current government, and send every citizen back to school to be “un” indoctrinated before they would be eligible to vote again.
I really and truely wish that stupidity was painful to the stupid. Reid, Pelosi, Obey, etc. would all be rolling around on the floor in pain for thinking for a second that the common citizen is that dumb… Relax, Aim, Breath, Squeeze………..repeat as necessary.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:44 amDan(the Infidel)
Civil war?..Then you have to accept the premise that the Libtards have guns and ammo…and know how to use ‘em..
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 amThat’s just the thing; nobody with a brain will listen.
It’s very much like the controversy over Ann Coulter and her comments about the “Jersey Girls”. (Or her CPAC appearance for that matter.) They only hear bits and pieces of what was said and don’t look any closer at the subject. The result is a hasty conclusion.
It’s kind of funny though. Since when do most liberals and Democrats think of our troops in such a lofty manner anyhoo? It’s patently obvious all they’re doing is grandstanding.
Just like the eternal fuckheads that they are.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:53 amSteve m:
“Civil war?..Then you have to accept the premise that the Libtards have guns and ammo…and know how to use ‘em..”
Nope I do not accept your premise. Most of the libtards that I run into are more interested in MTV, video games or partying than buying a gun and going to the range.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 amDan (The Infidel)
I couldn’t agree more, the dummycrats are pushing for a civil war. I am going to the range and just started Krav Maga lessions. Bring it on fucktards. I am not going down without a fight. I am sure it will not be much of a fight since most libs like to bury their heads in the sand.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:39 amI think this whole thing works to Rush’s favor. You are known by your enemies. It is fascinating that these metrosexuals in the Senate need to make up a lie through distortion and then use that lie to attach Rush. God, how they hate him! Which is shorthand for God, how they fear him.
This will create blowback on those girly-men.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:51 amNot my premise, merely an intellectual excercise…we all know those pukes don’t “have a set”.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:53 amTh. Jefferson thought that the occasional spilling of blood was needed to insure our great American Democracy…If it ever comes to that Libtards lose…hands down, or as the case may be “Hands Up!”
This is an intellectual exercise:
Question: You are walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner and is running at you while screaming obscenities. In your hand is a .357 Magnum and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
Liberal Answer: Well that’s not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that is inspiring him to attack? Could we run away? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Is it possible he’d be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me or would he just be content to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.
Conservative Answer: I’d shoot him.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:00 amSteve m:
Love the hands up line. That’s my view as well.
Wendy, Irish Gal… good points as always…Beer time…
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 amAt least Paris and OJ are below the fold for a while.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 amIrish Gal:
Amen!
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pmHere is the link to the site for “American Thinker” which beautifully and thoughtfully lays out the modus operandi of all the surrendercrats uproar. I encourage you all to read it:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/10/phony_soldiers_phony_outrage_a.html
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm“One might have the impression that the libtards are trying to start a civil war?”
I’ve been thinking this for some time.
“Nope I do not accept your premise. Most of the libtards that I run into are more interested in MTV, video games or partying than buying a gun and going to the range.”
Not to mention most of them aren’t in any kind of shape for prolonged fighting. Little faggots will probably snap in two trying to fix their hair in the middle of a fight.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:15 pmAh, poor little Rush…getting some of his own medicine and he whines like a little kid…nope, the comedian put his foot in his mouth up to his ass and is now spinning like a top…
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm“Ah, poor little Rush…getting some of his own medicine and he whines like a little kid…nope, the comedian put his foot in his mouth up to his ass and is now spinning like a top…
”
Now THAT’S funny!
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:19 pmYou actually believe Rush cares what Reid, MediaMatters, et al, think about him.
The libs hung themselves on their own lie and he wants to prolong it so everyone gets to see it for the lie it is and them for the liars that they are.
Jeez you guys are stupid.
I guess the ass above me (lucslawyer) can’t read.
You fucking idiots are looking to get any conservative with a smear since you got caught smearing General Petraeus. Fact of the matter is, when Rush said ‘phony soldiers’ he was referring to the anti-war shitheads you all uphold who pose as military servicemen while having never actually served in uniform, or in any capacity for that matter. You defile the uniform, you denigrate others’ military service, you attempt to smear them every chance you get, and then you have the nerve to accuse someone else of the same, under questionable circumstances. Hypocrite.
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pmRush is poor, bwaaahahahahahahahahah….
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:45 pmRush, as usual, had the analysis dead-on: the Libtards just seized on his comments to shift attention away from the fact that their Prez candidates are all RETREATING FROM RETREAT in Iraq, and thus enraging their Lunatic Base… this is just a welcome diversion to channel the Frenzied Furies of Soros & Co against a handy target.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:24 pm