Rush Limbaugh got $2.1 million for charity
by auctioning the complaint letter that 41 Democrats signed and
sent to Clear Channel after Limbaugh called soldiers who oppose the
Iraq war "phony soldiers." (Washington
Post , NY
Times, & USA Today)
It was wrong
for elected officials to condemn Limbaugh's private speech, and it was equally wrong for officials to officially condemn MoveOn.org's criticism
of David Petraeus -- which was also protected private
speech.
Via formal resolution last month, congressional Republicans sought to condemn negative comments about any military personnel. Days later, Limbaugh made the
phony-solider remark.
Limbaugh bellowed about MoveOn's referring to Petraeus as "General Betray Us." Nine months earlier,
Limbaugh called Sen. Chuck Hagel "Senator Betrayus,"
after Hagel disagreed with President Bush over the Iraq war. (Media
Matters) Even more ironic, Hagel
is a decorated combat veteran, while Limbaugh dodged military service,
reportedly due to anal cysts.
In Orwell's Animal Farm, some people were more equal than others.
Apparently, in our nation's political debate, some people's free-speech rights
are more precious than others'.
Memeorandum has a
good blogger roundup.
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