Posted by The Crux | Irony can be beautiful -- or it can take a big chunk out of your butt. Last week, Senate Republicans sponsored a substance-free resolution that condemned 1) a MoveOn.org newspaper ad that questioned General David Petraeus' credibility, and 2) all negative comments about any other military personnel.
Some Senate Democrats voted for it, fearing either: 1) that voting against the resolution might make them appear un-supportive of our troops or 2) that an ad gracing the bottom of bird cages threatened national security. (See roll call vote.)
Days later, Rush Limbaugh -- who had avoided Vietnam military service, reportedly claiming student status and cysts in the anal region -- said that soldiers who oppose the Iraq war are "phony" soldiers. Only God could've executed this irony with better timing.
Friday, Democratic Senate leaders wrote a letter asking Clear Channel radio to apologize for Limbaugh's anti-troops remark. It gets better....
Some Dem senators also essentially told their Republican colleagues: sign our letter (or risk being labeled anti-troops). It seems the goose is about to drown in the gander's sauce. The letter states, in part:
"Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr. Limbaugh’s unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast. We trust 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 ... and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments."
Borrowing from last week's Republican playbook, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) plans to introduce on Monday a House Resolution --
"Honoring all Americans serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and condemning the attack by broadcaster Rush Limbaugh on the integrity and professionalism of some of those Americans." (Crooks & Liars)
I think it's way out of bounds for either house of Congress to formally condemn any legal exercise of free speech; however, I'm delighted that politicians who used the MoveOn ad to distract attention from real issues are falling prey to their own tactics. Maybe they'll finally learn that cheap tactics can come back and deliver painful butt-bites (and stop using them).
A South Dakota Moderate commented:
"As with the MoveOn resolution, the Udall version is totally meaningless and a waste of time but it will be interesting on one front to see if Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, who had no problem voting to condemn MoveOn’s right to free speech, will be as willing to do the same to Republican mouthpiece and never ending blow hard, Rush Limbaugh."
Joe Gandelman provided history and context:
"I used to listen to Limbaugh and loved him when the first President George Bush was in office. He blasted Democrats AND the Bush administration. He was becoming a problem for Bush 41 on his right flank. But then Bush invited him to sleep over in the Lincoln bedroom, and Limbaugh’s pitch seemingly changed. He became an almost rip-and-read defender of the RNC, with his shows seemingly being one long press release….
"But the fuss over Rush is one more sign of how principles (how DARE anyone impugn the loyalty and motives of someone who serves in the military) are tossed out the window and qualified when someone on the same political 'sports team' gets into trouble. If your guy does it, you look for a way to say it isn’t the same thing so it’s OK. And the bar on political discourse is lowered yet another notch." (The Moderate Voice)
AmericaBlog points out:
"Senior Democrats have called out Limbaugh for his venom, which is usually what's needed to make a story 'real' in the eyes of the MSM. So why the double standard - when Dems are accused of dissing the troops, it's a front page story for weeks. When Republicans actually diss the troops, it's no big deal."
The White House and presidential candidate Mitt Romney both distanced themselves from Limbaugh, though their criticism was mild (TPM & Huffington Post). Time's Ana Marie Cox quotes Sen. John McCain: "If Mr. Limbaugh made the remark he is reported to have made, it reflects very poorly on him and not the objects of his offensive comment."
Other politicians have also spoken out against Limbaugh's remarks and hypocrisy (Media Matters). Among them is Iraq war vet and congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PN), who responded on the Huffington Post:
"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....
"Rush Limbaugh, who, in January, called Vietnam veteran Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) "Senator Betrayus" for disagreeing with President Bush, has made no secret of his disdain for those who serve and speak out. Where was Rush Limbaugh when it came time to serve his country?
"What's more, where was Limbaugh's outrage when Max Cleland, a Senator who left three of his limbs in Vietnam was smeared on television? Where was Limbaugh when Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) service was called into question in the form of millions of dollars in campaign ads?
"My service was questioned last year during my campaign for Congress. Fortunately, the swift-boat attack on me didn't stick because people in my district in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and across America know that if someone wears the uniform and serves their country they've earned our respect regardless of political party."
Other BN-Politics' Posts:
* MoveOn Pulls a Rush Limbaugh and War Supporters are Outraged?
* Bill O'Reilly Suprised that Black Folks are ... Folks
* Bill O'Reilly Says Racism is Dumb and Proves it
* Why Dems Beat Republicans in Gallup Poll, Even on National Security
The legislative grandstanding over what war opponents can call the over-ambitious General Petraeus amounts to a Senate resolution on whether Moveon must show good taste (or a lack of it) by calling the General names. The US Senate and good taste are an interesting pairing, no?
On the other hand, Rush calling grunt soldiers in the war zone "phoney" would really be hilarious— if it weren't so sad and desperate. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Limbaugh hosting his show from Baghdad lately. I'm sure he'll be there soon.
Posted by: Bill | September 30, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Exceptionally well said, Bill.
Posted by: The Crux | September 30, 2007 at 08:51 PM