WILL THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE BALLS TO KICK LIMBAUGH OFF ARMED FORCES RADIO?

Yesterday John Amato, Lucas Gardner and myself spent some time with Congressman John Hall talking about, among other things, his plans to introduce a motion to "condemn" Rush Limbaugh for his virulently anti-military remarks the other day-- the "phony soldiers" episode. Hall represents a district that includes West Point and one of the cadets there is his nephew. He's an outspoken member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and he's become one of Congress' most knowledgeable experts on the kinds of traumatic brain injuries that used to kill soldiers and are now leaving them in a severely debilitated state. This kinds of condemnations are largely viewed as game-playing by voters who would rather see Congress deal with ending the occupation of Iraq and starting down the road to a more equitable and just society, a road the rogue Bush Regime has veered sharply away from. And it isn't just game-playing; it's Republican game playing. This kind of diversionary tactic gets peoples' minds off the real issues. Democrats' want peoples' minds on the real issues. They aren't as practiced or as vicious and they don't do it as well.

Front and center went right to the Senate, though, where Harry Reid excoriated Limbaugh as the day began. Here's what he had to say:

Freedom of speech is one of our country's most cherished values. Nothing sets us further apart than the countries and regimes we oppose than our belief that everyone's opinion matters, and everyone has the right to express it. That is why, when we hear things on the radio that are offensive, by and large, we tolerate them.

But last week, Rush Limbaugh went way over the line-- and while we respect his right to say anything he likes, his unpatriotic comments cannot be ignored.

During his show last Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh was engaged in one of his typical rants. This rant was unremarkable and indistinguishable from his usual drivel, which has been steadily losing listeners for years-- until he crossed that line by calling our men and women in uniform who oppose the war in Iraq "phony soldiers." This comment was so beyond the pale of decency that it cannot be left alone. And yet, he followed it up with denials and an attack on Congressman Jack Murtha, a 37-year active member of the Marine Corps.

We have been debating the Iraq war here in the Senate and throughout the country for not months, but years. There are good, patriotic Americans who favor the war - and good, patriotic Americans who oppose President Bush's handling of it. Neither party holds a patent on patriotism. I know all my Republican colleagues would agree with that.

Yet Rush Limbaugh took it upon himself to attack the courage and character of those fighting and dying for him and for all of us. Rush Limbaugh got himself a deferment from serving when he was a young man. He never served in uniform. He never saw in person the extreme difficulty of maintaining peace in a foreign country engaged in civil war. Yet he thinks that his opinion on the war is worth more than those who are on the front lines.

And what's worse-- Limbaugh's show is broadcast on Armed Forces Radio, which means that thousands of troops overseas and veterans here at home were forced to hear this attack on their patriotism. Rush Limbaugh owes the men and women of our Armed Forces an apology.

Reid then went on to reveal a letter he drafted to one of the GOP propaganda outlets, Clear Channel Communications and Bush financier/CEO Mark Mays. The right-wing network hosts Limbaugh's hateful programs and Reid wants them to repudiate him and his remarks. He ended his speech with something that was either sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek or extremely naive:

I am confident we will see Republicans join with us in overwhelming numbers. Anything less would be a double standard that has no place in the United States Senate. I ask my colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, to join together against this irresponsible, hateful, and unpatriotic attack by calling upon Rush Limbaugh to give our troops the apology they deserve.

Harkin's approach was more... forceful, not just condemning Limbaugh's remarks but pointing out the obvious, that he is willing to make these hateful odious statements "to make more money," which is why Reid's letter to Mays and Clear Channel is a complete waste of time. A license revocation would work a lot better. Harkin wondered aloud if Limbaugh's outburst was caused by him being "high on his drugs again."

As for Republicans doing the right thing... Well, how about the right-wing thing? Neo-fascist Georgia congressloon, Jack Kingston, whose rubber stamp voting record is a disgrace to his constituents, made an idiot out of himself-- and out of Georgia-- today by introducing a resolution commending Limbaugh.


UPDATE: WES CLARK WEIGHS IN: TAKE LIMBAUGH OFF ARMED FORCES RADIO

Limbaugh has always been viciously disparaging towards General Clark, and all other members of the military who don't toe the right-wing propaganda line. He refers to General Clark as Ashley Wilkes from Gone With The Wind, and, oddly, neither the House nor the Senate ever condemned him for it. Today, though, General Clark called on Congress to take the disrespectful and divisive hate-monger off Armed Forces Radio, not because of what he says about him but because of how vile his comments have been to active duty servicemembers he disagrees with. Long overdue!