Re: Phony Soliders

Why do so many of the darlings of the Democrat party and their useful idiots in the Washington press corps turn out to be fraudulent, bogus, phony soldiers? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003895483_webmacbeth21m.html

Wow. Like to see every Republican on record on this one.

Right now, the right is trying to change the subject, as they always do, to challenge the authenticity of the transcript as they do the service of anyone who does not subscribe to their politics(think Bauchamp and SBVs).

It's all a distraction to avoid answering this question: Is it wrong to call a soldier "phony" if they don't agree with the war? Rush Limbaugh could clear this up real quick but telling us whether he thinks you can serve honorably in the military and not categorically agree with Bush's war.

Difficult for him to say, after berating the soldier who called and said he thought they should pull out for not really being a Republican. A lifelong Republican and loyal listener to Rush's show, and the only criteria for saying he's a "phony Republican" is the same one for calling him a "phony soldier": He isn't a Bush stooge.

End of story.

Senator McCain is kidding, right? Limbaugh never ever apologizes or retracts anything.

Tom: Which of the seven sergeants are you referring to, hero? The two who are dead? or the one who is lying in Rahmstein hospital with permanent brain damage?

Ignore Tom, he's un-American Traitor.

Tom, see Beauchamp, Scott: http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/beauchamp_updated.php

Or Vets, Swiftboat.

If you can't handle the reality, you attack the authenticity.

So let's just all agree there's a special place in hell for anyone who calls a soldier "phony" just because they categorically agree with Bush, shall we? Right, Tom? If Rush DID say this, you would be horrified, I'm sure. And I wish I could have seen the rage when you hear your party shot down a bill that denounced attacking ANY veteran's patriotism, rather than limiting it to denouncing liberal groups who disagree with Bush. I bet that made you angry.

So by all means, let's all demonsrate how Rush and the Republican Party would never have questioned a veteran, and pass that Democratic bill that honors service, not partisan leanings. I'm sure you're all on board this time.

"don't" categorically agree, that is.

Good for McCain.

I think Tom was talking about Matt Sanchez.

So McCain "doesn't" feel Rush needs to be kicked out of the country?

Tom is talking about Rush's defense today, which is that the "phony soldiers" -- plural -- is actually one Matt Sanchez, because he followed the remarks about the -- plural -- "phony soldiers" with an update about Sanchez (singular). How that absolves Rush I'm not sure.

But that's why this part of McCain's comment -- "If Mr. Limbaugh made the remark he is reported to have made" is a critical weasel remark, because McCain can satisfy all sides with the convenient out he left for himself.

"So McCain 'doesn't' feel Rush needs to be kicked out of the country?"

Of course not. Rush is a Republican.

Rush didn't say that soldiers who oppose the war are phony. He didn't say the sergeants were phony. He specifically was referring to Jesse MacBeth, who was portrayed as an Army Ranger who saw atrocities in Iraq, when he actually never made it out of boot camp. He was, indeed, a "phony soldier".

Media Matters can edit and doctor transcripts as they choose...they remain liars.

If you are surprised by this, you don't know much about John McCain.

-Ben

Matt, point to the part of the transcript where Limbaugh mentions Macbeth.

Rush explained what he meant. He clearly stated that the soldiers who opposed the war are not "phoney."

Rush hates the military, and O'Reilly is a racist. A great week for Bush.

Sorry -- MacBeth.

"...objects of his offensive comment."

What an incredibly stupid way to say "soldiers who are against the war."

Will someone ask Dana McLiarPants or whatever her name is if Darth Cheney will be appearing on Limpball's program again?

Rush was talking about soldiers (plural). In fact, it was said in response to caller who stated he was a soldier who wanted to bring the troops home. He never mentioned anyone named Jesse. He made references to the previous caller, Chuck Hagel (Sen. Betray Us as Rush called him), and Gordon Smith.

Listen guys Tom can't possibly respond at the moment what with being deployed; he’s to busy right now fighting in Iraq. Right Tom, incidentally what are you Army? Marine? Oh and what’s your rank? We’re all so proud of you.

"Listen guys Tom can't possibly respond at the moment what with being deployed"

He's on a special assignment with Jeff Gannon and Sen. Craig.

Matt is this you second or third tour of duty.
Your just so goddamned brave and so cleaver too.
Hope you got the good body armor. Are you in the same platoon as Tom? Good luck on your assignment with Jeff Gannon and Sen. Craig. (I wouldn’t bend down to grab that grenade if I were you.)
God Bless you and God Bless America
(Why Should God Bless America La la la la)

I think that is the first time I've seen McCain imply that anyone who doesn't agree with the war is not a traitor.

Good for him.

"Rush didn't say that soldiers who oppose the war are phony."

Um, yes he did. I heard the audio. Limbaugh also stated that you "can't be against the war and be a Republican". This was said to a self-identified former soldier and Republican who disagreed with Limbaugh's position on the occupation of Iraq.

The Repubs are pitchin' a mighty small tent...

"He would be well advised to retract it and apologize."
Sort of how I feel about McCain saying this-
"I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation"
and
"But, no, I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles.... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith."

McCain's fall in the last 8 years is sad.

I hadn't heard about this and I am shocked. Rush Limbaugh - a man who dodged the draft because he had a pimple on his butt - is bashing the men and women serving in Iraq - the majority of whom are for withdrawal? That disgusts me to my core.

quote grape_crush: The Repubs are pitchin' a mighty small tent...

Hahaha, a penis joke. I love it.

Rush has trouble pitchn' a tent. Oxy'll do that to a guy.

Let's see. War support is around 30% of the general population. So if Rush says you can't be a Republican and be against the war -- he's called Chuck Hagel "Senator Betray Us" after all -- then that means the Republican candidates will be stuck with 30% of the vote. I say we take the bargain. Way to go, Rush!

Posted by Chicken Hawk
September 28, 2007
Listen guys Tom can't possibly respond at the moment what with being deployed; he’s to busy right now fighting in Iraq. Right Tom, incidentally what are you Army? Marine? Oh and what’s your rank? We’re all so proud of you.

Been there; done that, son. Not just nearly four years as an officer in the U.S. Army, but nearly four years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, including combat leading a platoon of infantrymen (sorry, to the politically correct crowd, but the feminists (e.g., Hillary Rodham) have yet to impose their orgasmic fantasy of having infantrywomen in the U.S. military). You? The 13th Battalion of the 5th San Francisco MorOn.org Regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Nancy Pelosi?

So, Tom, does your respect for soldiers extend to those who think we should pull out? What did you think of the Swiftboat Vets attacks on Kerry? Did it make you angry to see your party refuse to vote to respect people based on military service, in favor of a bill that selectively insisted only one man can't be attacked by one group, just because he supports the President?

"orgasmic fantasy"
Project much?

People like Tom allow me to understand why guppies eat their young.

Tom never served in the army. He's a 15-year-old member of High School Republicans trying to talk big. Pay no attention to him.

This is truly negligent "reporting" on Tumulty's part. If she's going to provide a quote like this, she might want to at least acknowledge the other side:

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/09/28/media-matters-leads-dishonest-smear-on-rush-limbaughs-phony-soldiers-line/

Is Tumulty a real reporter, or just a hack?

The party of Family Values (see Craig, Larry; Foley, Mark; Gingrich, Newt; JulieAnnie, Rudy and Vitter David)

The party of Support the troops aka Walter Reed, 15 month deployments, cuts in Veteran Care and Swiftboaters.

Tom - miltary man, A legend in his own mind.

Wow, people from "hot" "air" talking about journalism.

Somebody find out if Jamil Hussain exists, Quick!!!!

Even if Tom is who he says he is, he definitely has a burr up his buttendski. No women infantryman... ooo, owie. Would he turn down a helicopter ride out of a firefight if the pilot were a woman?

Bet we could really get him going with a 'death to DADT' discussion.

TLB: It is offensive enough that Time.Com has Juan Williams defending BillO. If I didn't 'know' the spew of BillO, I could almost buy the Juan explanation of that hack's crappola. But, Rush... naw, it's time to throw the lime on that smelly pile to keep the flies away.

Wolf Blitzer must have worn himself out attacking MoveOn over the last 2 weeks. He had no energy left to mention the draft dodging, drug addict Rush Limbaugh even once.

Rush didn't say anything remotely resembling (in context) what the liberals are claiming he said. Go to YouTube or to http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2007/09/rush-limbaugh-troops-controversy-media.html to hear the entire segment. The Lefties ought to be ashamed of themselves and THEY SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR LYING TO THEM (but of course they aren't and they won't). Check it out. Its amazing what lies they can come up with.

Neil, Rush's audio was edited, REMOVING the context: http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280009?f=h_latest

Uh-oh. We must be on Drudge. They've started coming. . . .

Oh, and just to remove all doubt about this Macbeth sideshow -- Limbaugh has since listed those "phony" soldiers by name: Jack Murtha, a decorated war vet.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/28/limbaugh-outrage-amplified-troop-and-dems-responses

No, Rush doesn't question the patriotism of people who disagree with him!

September 28, 2007

JOIN AS AN ORIGINAL COSPONSOR OF A RESOLUTION

HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES AND

CONDEMNING RUSH LIMBAUGH'S ATTACK

ON "PHONY SOLDIERS"

Dear Colleague:

On September 26, 2007 the broadcaster Rush Limbaugh told a nationwide radio audience that members of the Armed Forces who have expressed disagreement with current policies of the United States regarding military activities in Iraq are "phony soldiers."

On Monday I will introduce a resolution honoring all Americans serving in the Armed Forces and condemning this unwarranted attack on the integrity and professionalism of those in the Armed Forces who choose to exercise their constitutional right to express their opinions regarding U.S. military action in Iraq.

For more information or to cosponsor the resolution, please contact XXXXXXX in my office at xxxxx.

Sincerely,

Mark Udall

So, Karen, did you bother to check the story out before blogging? Apparently not. If you had you would not have smeared Rush like you did. If you listen to the full broadcast you will realize mediamatters edited it to fit their point of view. Most of the people on this blog are not capable of listening to the broadcast & forming an unbiased opinion. You judge the comment based on who said it. You want him to be guilty so you ignore the truth. And Karen, like most Time Swampland bloggers, will refuse to answer anyone that disagrees with her.

VOR - does any of this really surprise you? The moonbattery here is almost legendary, but fun to watch, so long as the people doing it never get anywhere near an important position where they have to make decisions that matter.

http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/09/why_drudge_is_a_disgrace_1.html#comments

It's funny the same people who claimed that the MoveOn Ad accused all US soldiers of being traitors are now worried about accuracy.

Voice of Reason, did you read any of these comments before you posted? If you had, you would know that there is no longer any question that Rush has called veterans "phony" (if there ever were), and his "exhonerating" audiotape was edited.

Game over. Give it up.

No it does not surprise me. But you hope against hope to get through to some. Even if you don't convence them, maybe convence them to do some research.

Like the one directly above this one? Try researching.

Karen, as a "journalist," I would think you'd show a little bit of interest (not to mention shame) in the media story this and the O'Reilly story have unearthed: that the mainstream media — you included — are using a leftist, propagandist Democrat website, Media Matters, as a daily tip sheet for news stories. Your industry has become bloated and lazy. You don't "cover" anything, you simply parrot out-of-context and dishonest propaganda from the Democrat Party. And you publish their nonsense without a shred of actual reporting. For God's sake, not one reporter has actually called Rush Limbaugh — the SUBJECT OF THE STORY — to get a quote. It's called "right of reply," and it's in virtually every Journalism 101 textbook. When you're going to do a hit piece on someone, you call him and ask him to respond. When you fail to do that, the public has the right to assume that: 1) you are engaging in politics, not journalism; and 2) you are afraid that his or her comments will undermine the propagandist narrative of your story.

And this is why, in most public opinion polls, journalists fall somewhere far below used car salesman (but not quite as low as Democrat-controlled Congresses).

Keep it up, though, as I'm quite pleased the average citizen doesn't believe one word you people write.

Sen. McCain:

"Any American who risks his or her life to defend us has earned the respect and gratitude of every American citizen, irrespective of their views on this war. 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. I expect most Americans, whatever their political views, will have the same reaction. He would be well advised to retract it and apologize."

Remember kids, facts are propaganda, especially if the facts disagree with the Republicans!

All the Rush and BillO clones attacking Media Matters. You do know that MM was formed to supply a liberal clearinghouse because right-wing groups (paid for by Mellon-Scaife) like Brent Bozell and the Media Research Center were running around playing 'gotcha' against liberals? So a liberal version was created to monitor right-wing media.

Stop whining now that there are two people playing the game. Unlike MRC, Media Matters will at least link to the original material so you can judge for yourself.

Did you see that Rush actually phonied up the version of the event when he put up his defense on air and on his site?

In fact, the clip he aired omitted a full 1 minute and 35 seconds of discussion that occurred between Limbaugh's original "phony soldiers" comment and his subsequent reference to MacBeth.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280009?f=h_latest

I have no problem whatsoever with Rush's comments. Yes, I read the whole transcript and I heard the exchange (via replay) this afternoon.

"Phony soldiers" is right. And yes, plural.

I know exactly who he meant right off the top of my head. And it wasn't just Jesse MacBeth, but that's the most obvious and most recent of them. There's also Micah Wright. And then there are people like Scott Thomas Beauchamp, who is a real soldier but with phony stories, and James Massey, his pathetic, lying USMC equivalent.

These guys are very obviously phony soldiers, and in some cases, never set foot in Iraq at all.

The Media Matters' take is thoroughly dishonest.

Megadittoes, brah!

Jason Van Steenwyk,
What were your thoughts on Rush's berating of the veteran caller they were discussing, who was a Republican and longtime Rush listener, but still thought they should withdraw. Rush berated him for being a phony Republican. Do you agree that disagreeing with Rush on that one issue alone means you can't be a good Republican, but can be a good soldier?

Besides, it's moot. In Rush's defense, he called actual vets phonys by name (unlike in this trumped up case), so it's now undeniable Rush has called veterans "phony" for not agreeing with him. He did this today! So what exactly is your point? Even if you don't think he did in this one instance, he has many other times, and said far, far, worse.

So, if you feel it's disrespectful to call someone who has served a "phony" for not sharing your political views, then Rush has been disrespectful -- today. If you don't have a problem with calling people like Murtha phonies, then why the hissy fit?

Do you think anyone who serves deserves respect? Or do you simply WISH Limbaugh had said what he's been accused of saying?

Your News Blog is such a joke. All you had to do is go to his website and confirm the remarks. Either you do not have the ability to accurately gather facts and report AND/OR you are bias group. Thereby making your Blog pointless for information and news. Most of all, you should have known this wasn't true! Rush Limbaugh is the biggest supporter of the military and their family. This is just another example of the "drive-by media" and brings your party down another notch.
Semper Fi

Incredible. Ignorance taken to the extreme. I was listening to Rush as he said this, so where in the media and liberal howling is the small insignificant detail about Jessie Macbeth?

Who? Right.

Richard Poulin: "All you had to do is go to his website and confirm the remarks."

I did. Limbaugh edited his remarks to make himself look better...I heard the unedited audio. Limbaugh said that a person couldn't be a Republican and question the US occupation of Iraq and that it's only the 'phony soldiers' that speak out publicly against the occupation, while 'real soldiers' want to be in Iraq.

..At least that is what I heard on the radio. Limbaugh and others can try to spin it any way they want, but Limbaugh said what he said.

I know all this won't sink in to those that have been Limbaugh-tomized, but those people aren't much interested in truth anyway.

I swear to God never heard of this Macbeth character before the "phony soldier" kerfuffle. I still don't know who she is. Must be popular with rightwing loonies or something.

Please let us pick our own heroes, dittoheads.

SF Bear-- I think MacBeth is the Ward Churchill of 2007-- previously obscure right-wing hate figure.

memekiller:

You lost me. What in the world are you asking?

Listen everybody since the Petaeus betrayus each side is trying for the gotcha moment so they do not have to talk about the war and kids who are dying there.Unfortunately the American public is easily diverted from the real conversation.It is like waving a set of keys in front of a child.These statements that each side is getting on the other give politicians of either party the chance to pontificate on really nothing but how freaking patriotic they are while they do nothing to show their patriotism by rising above party loyalty and working to remedy this disaster in Iraq.I implore the American public for the lives of our kids over there to not allow their attention to be diverted from the real deadly real issues.

If Limbaugh was only talking about one person why did he use the term "phony soldiers", which is plural?

Thanks for letting me post again.

Meme, yes I did read the posts. I also listened to the whole exchange by Rush. Did you? The point Rush & some of the posters here are trying to make is the MSM, Karen included, are doing a lousy job. They are too lazy to check their sources or call Rush for a comment. We all know the politicians are too stupid to think for themselves. Someone tells them something & they take it as the truth & comment on it. But the media is suppose to research. The MSM is just a puppet of the liberal wing of the democratic party. That or they are lazy fools.

I am beginning to think that the mainstream media are too incompetent to work at McDonalds, much less be entrusted with bringing us the news. Apparently only a single reporter from Reuters even bothered to call Limbaugh's office for his side of the story. Had they done so, they may have averted another episode in the series of professional embarrassments. Its ironic that Tumulty probably figured that since she was "blogging" she didn't need to follow journalistic process, yet I noted that dozens of real blogs waited to report the story until they had both sides.

Time Magazine--what a joke.

Jason,
What's your point? That Rush would never impugn the reputation of a veteran's service based on politics? The only reason you're trying to claim this example is a fraud is because the media is running with it, but there are many other examples. For instance, in Rush's defense, he called an active service man and Vietnam veteran "phonies" by name because they disagreed with him politically. That's beyond question. He coined the term "Betrayus" for Senator Hagel, another Vietnam vet. he also said, "I want to respectfully disagree with the president on the last part of what he said. I am going to challenge the patriotism of people who disagree with him because the people that disagree with him want to lose." Immediately preceding the "phony soldiers" (plural) comment, he berated a veteran, Republican and Rush listener as being a "phony Republican" for disagreeing with him on one issue: the war. He said Hacket, an Iraq Vet, was a "staff puke" who only joined the military to "pad his resume" -- he served, you see, but as a Democrat, his service was -- how do you say it? -- phony? Yes, that's the word.

Do you challenge any of these examples? Unless they are all made up, Rush has done exactly what he has been accused of doing: questioning the patriotism of veterans who don't share his vision of the war. If you think Rush would never do such a thing, then please, disprove the above examples. If you think he did and don't care, then what's your problem? You think it's okay for Rush to attack veterans based on their politics. If you think it's wrong, then why are you a hypocrite? Surely, the Democratic resolution to denounce ALL attacks on veterans, rather than one liberal group's right to question the General Bush is hiding behind, for any objective, non-partisan person, is a reasonable thing to do. So why would you support Republican efforts to prevent this respect from extending to any veteran, regardless of whether they categorically support the civilians in Washington?

These are the questions you're trying to avoid because if you answered truthfully, it would be clear this outrage has nothing to do with service at all, but political affiliation. In the public sphere, if we ever discuss whether the determining factor of respect is service rather than politics, you'd lose, because you'd be placed in the uncomfortable position of explaining why this doesn't apply to Kerry, Cleland, Hacket, Murtha, Clark, Beauchamp, etc.

Love the War, hate the soldier. Unless they agree with you.

I think MacBeth is the Ward Churchill of 2007

So, some unknown loser that the right is trying to use against the left even though no one has any clue what the hell they are talking about?

Memekiller:

Honestly, I don't know where to begin with you, because your characterization of Limbaugh's remarks in this case borders on the delusional.

First of all, Rush didn't denigrate this caller's service at all. Rush said that if he was so keen on withdrawal, he couldn't really be a real Republican.

I don't necessarily agree with that - you could be a Republican isolationist moron, for example, and still hold a voter registration card that says "Republican."

But as a criticism, it's hardly beyond the pale. The airwaves are thick with liars who say "I'm a Republican conservative BUT..." and then advocate surrender. But they're either lying libs or dumbass Ron Paul acolytes.

So, to directly answer your question, I have no problem at all with Rush suggesting this guy is a phony Republican. Fair game. And Rush didn't denigrate his service.

I think you probably have a point about the Hackett episode, if it's been reported accurately. Rush was wrong to say that.

I wrote out a response here:

http://iraqnow.blogspot.com/2007/09/phony-soldiers.html Feel free to comment there if you like.

If you're any more coherent there than here, I'll respond.

According to reports Rush yesterday designated Jack Murtha, a decorated war veteran, as another example of a phony soldier. Only the most partisan of hacks can defend this man any further.

It's not a matter of defending Rush or not. He can defend himself. The point is the MSM refused to do any research or work themselves. They rely on groups like Media Matters & Moveon to do the research & prepare the reports for them. On the same token, they have used right wing groups in the same manner. Karen, Ana, & the rest are lazy talentless hacks. They blog the opinions of others calling their opinions & refuse to answer or acknowledge anyone that disagrees or points out the flaws in the arguments. The bloggers here are so anti-republican that they are easy prey for the MSM phonies.

Jason,
If you listened to his remarks, and did your own research, you would know that Rush's response to the caller saying he was a Republican and used to be in the military was, "And I, by the way, used to walk on the moon!"

Voice of Reason,
You want to go into hysterics to act as though it is impossible for Rush to ever say anything like this. He not only can, but has, many, many times before, as I listed above. Rush calls military folks "phony" all the time because they disagree. If you're in denial about this particular instance (a cynic might believe because this one happens to get mentioned ) then do you condemn him for calling Murtha a "phony soldier" yesterday?

Has Rush actually ever served in the military himself?

http://www.newyorkforhuckabee.blogspot.com

Yes, I listened to his remarks. You're deliberately twisting his words.

I don't believe the caller was a committed Republican either. I took Rush's wisecrack to be directed at this, not at his military service.

There is simply no reason to assume that Rush was doubting this caller's service, as opposed to his party affiliation.

You're simply embarrassing yourself, memekiller.

Meme, I never said Rush never said anything like that. I said he can defend himself. On this occation he was referring to a convicted phony. By the way, Murtha is a discrace. Not because of his military service, but because of the statements & lies he has made while in congress. John Kerry is a liar & disgrace. he lied about his Viet Nam record & lied about what our brave soldiers did there.

My statement is unchallanged by you. Karen, Ana, & the rest of the MSM are too lazy to do their own research, or seek comments from the people they are attacking. They rely on partician extremist groups like Media Matters & Moveon for their reports. Then they have the sheep on both sides who believe anything they hear. Sadly it appears you fall into that group.

"Has Rush actually ever served in the military himself?"

No he didn't serve. However, that does not prevent him from accusing those who did serve of being phonies, simply for disagreeing with his point of view. Not only does he hate soldiers, I guess he hates the first amendment as well.

"Not only does he hate soldiers, I guess he hates the first amendment as well."

That is consistent with the extremist Right. It isn't a surprise that Liberals are not permitted to speak on a Republican discussion board, unlike Liberal boards where everyone can speak. Rush will question whether you are even a Republican if you have a different view than him. That is typical among those who detest freedom, and insist on uniformity.

Jason and Voice, thank you for illustrating my point so beautifully. You both agree Rush is right to call them phonies! You just think it's wrong to attack him for it, so you claim he never said what you and he believe, not because you don't agree with what he said, but because it's playing badly on Countdown. You can see why he called them phonies: because that's what his audience likes to hear!

This is all rhetorical posteuring. He attacks veterans he doesn't agree with for being phonies, you agree they are phonies who need to be attacked! You just don't think he should get any heat for saying what you all believe! So stop being such weanies and just say it. Stop hiding behind this charade and proudly say, the veteran, a Republican and longtime Rush listener, doesn't, as Jason says, "believe the caller was a committed Republican either." Stop evading and admit it. They're phonies! Rush thinks so, you think so, you have no problem with him saying so, you just don't want the media to let the rest of America know how you feel.

ok, dems. here's your chance to get beyond moveon.org.

don't blow it.

No. He called them phonies because they are, quite literally, phonies.

Micah Wright, Jesse MacBeth, and Amorita Randall, to name a few.

I'm calling them phoney soldiers straight out, and naming names.

rush is a fool and a sunshine patriot, pick up a weapon, go volunteer, do SOMETHING besides talk, then maybe you'll be taken seriously. Until then, you're nothing!

Jason,
As an aside, I used to write for a sketch comedy group at the University of Arizona where Micah was on the cast. I know him quite well. My roommate was in the army rangers, and I wrote some sketch about an "army ranger sensitivity seminar" and Micah said, "You know, I was in the Rangers in Panama." One of the other cast members made some crack about how there was no way he could have been in the Rangers because the timeline didn't work out -- he would have been in high school -- but he kept insisting he was. I couldn't tell if he was joking or not. My roommate talks to him for three minutes, and says to me -- he wasn't in the Army Rangers. I didn't even tell him anyone was suspicious.

So, you can imagine how hilarious it was to see him exposed in the Washington Post. (His dad was military, by the way -- if Micah was telling the truth). The guy was wacked, no doubt about it, and I ripped him a new one on my blog as well.

As you can see, I could care less about his political persuasion -- the guy was a lying sack of sh!t, and got his just desserts. But he was always sort of a con-man, more than a little wacked, and never serious. I remember he pretended to be crippled at Disney World to get in front of the line.

So, we're all agreed, anyone who says you're a "phony" just because you don't agree politically (as Rush did Hacket and Murtha), deserves what they have coming to them?

Rush was absolutely right about Murtha.

He was a real Marine, long ago. But Murtha is a slanderer and defamer of our troops (that was Rush's point) - and is actually getting hauled to court for it.

Murtha's real, but his accusations are reckless and, we now know, phony.

Rush didn't excoriate Murtha because he didn't agree politically. Rush excoriated Murtha because he's a backstabbing cretin with no regard for the truth or evidentiary processes.

It's unbelievable to see people, who like to wrap themselves in the flag, continue to defend a person who has slandered our troops, simply for having a different point of view than him.

I hope they continue to defend the indefensible as it speaks volumes about them.

Jason,
So, is there a veteran who does not categorically support Bush's war who is honorable, and whom Rush would not be right to call "phony"?

Not a single member of the MSM has mentioned Rush's slanderous attack on the troops yet this morning.

I guess they wore themselves out attacking MoveOn?

Shorter Jason: We honor anyone who wears the uniform, regardless of their views of the war, except Kerry, Murtha, Hacket, Cleland and Beauchamp are all dishonorable because they have slandared our soldiers by not categorically supporting the war.

And the longtime Republican, Rush listener, and veteran who called is a phony Republican because he did not categorically agree with Bush's war.

From a 'phony':

http://armyofdude.blogspot.com/2007/09/real-deal.html

No. Kerry, Murtha and Beauchamp didn't slander our soldiers by not categorically supporting the war.

Kerry and Murtha and Beauchamp (and Massey and MacBeth) slandered our soldiers by slandering our soldiers.

You keep trying to obfuscate the difference between people who simply oppose the war, and people like Massey and Murtha and Beauchamp and MacBeth who resort to slander and lies in order to score points.

You do this for the purpose of scoring points against Rush Limbaugh. Rush is fair game, of course. But you shouldn't have to distort his words in order to score points.

You're intellectually dishonest.

So are you, linda. You know perfectly well that no one implied that "Dude" was a phony.

Memekiller:

Yes, there are a number of veterans who do not categorically support Bush's/Clinton's/Kerry's/Edwards' voted for that Bush would not be right to call "phony."

Yes, Jason. You and Limbaugh do not slander veterans just because they disagree with you on the war. It's just that every veteran who disagrees with you whom you can name is a traitor for saying/doing unconscionable things: saying things about your war you don't believe. There ARE veterans whom disagree with Bush whom it would be wrong to call phony. You just can't think of any. But you'll concede, hypothetically, such non-Republican soldiers can exist to provide you cover for calling all the veterans who disagree with you "phony" soldiers and Republicans today.

Let me throw another veteran out there who disagrees with Bush on the war: General Clark. I'm sure Jason has many reasons he is a traitor as well.

How about some others -- the soldiers who wrote the NYTs editorial? The ex-Generals who criticized the war?

Red herrings, all of them. None of them remotely relevant to the discussion.

For instance, point out where I called anyone a traitor.

Excuse me. "Phony".

This text is quoted shortly after the Phoney Soldier bit was originally aired.

"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. They have their celebrities and one of them was Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth. Now, he was a "corporal." I say in quotes. Twenty-three years old. What made Jesse Macbeth a hero to the anti-war crowd wasn't his Purple Heart; it wasn't his being affiliated with post-traumatic stress disorder from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. No. What made Jesse Macbeth, Army Ranger, a hero to the left was his courage, in their view, off the battlefield, without regard to consequences. He told the world the abuses he had witnessed in Iraq, American soldiers killing unarmed civilians, hundreds of men, women, even children. In one gruesome account, translated into Arabic and spread widely across the Internet, Army Ranger Jesse Macbeth describes the horrors this way: "We would burn their bodies. We would hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque."

Now, recently, Jesse Macbeth, poster boy for the anti-war left, had his day in court. And you know what? He was sentenced to five months in jail and three years probation for falsifying a Department of Veterans Affairs claim and his Army discharge record. He was in the Army. Jesse Macbeth was in the Army, folks, briefly. Forty-four days before he washed out of boot camp. Jesse Macbeth isn't an Army Ranger, never was. He isn't a corporal, never was. He never won the Purple Heart, and he was never in combat to witness the horrors he claimed to have seen. You probably haven't even heard about this. And, if you have, you haven't heard much about it. This doesn't fit the narrative and the template in the Drive-By Media and the Democrat Party as to who is a genuine war hero. Don't look for any retractions, by the way. Not from the anti-war left, the anti-military Drive-By Media, or the Arabic websites that spread Jesse Macbeth's lies about our troops, because the truth for the left is fiction that serves their purpose. 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. In other words, for the American anti-war left, the greatest inconvenience they face is the truth."

Memekiller: Yes, I am absolutely calling some so-called "soldiers" phony.

There are two variants: People who lie about their service record (e.g., Micah Wright, Jesse Macbeth,) or lie about the things they saw or witnessed while serving overseas (e.g., Amorita Randall, Scott Beauchamp, James Massey).

Nobody, anywhere, is calling anyone who didn't lie about their record or their actions a phony.

I just love the leftwingnuts who piss and moan about Limbaugh daring to point out that some of the individuals in MoveOn.org's anti-war campaign are phony. Jesse MacBeth, Scott Beauchamp, and Adam Kokesh, have either fabricated stories about themselves or their fellow servicemembers and don't have the decency to be ashamed. Added to this circus of phonies are Democrats who embellished their records to impress their constituents. Tom Harkin claimed he flew combat missions over Vietnam when in fact, he was a ferry pilot who flew between Japan and the Philippines. John Kerry took a movie camera to Viet Nam to "reenact" his adventures, conned the Navy out of 4 Purple Hearts for Band-Aid "wounds" (one of which was self-inflicted), and threw someone else’s medals over the Whitehouse fence. He then lied and slandered his Swift Boat comrades during the Winter Soldier investigation.
Al Gore, while a SP4 journalist in Vietnam, was assigned a bodyguard at the request of his Senator father. This fine collection of dirtbags fits right in with the modern Democratic party.
I'm an Iraq war veteran---twice over. I have the documentation, assignment orders, and a DD214 that I'll compare to anyone of the "records" of the MoveOn.org sycophants.
SFC Cheryl McElroy
US ARMY (RET)

Bottom Line

The TROOPS LOVE RUSH LIMBAUGH and they KNOW he has supported them while Democrats have not. Rush meant the fake soldiers Liberals often invent like Jessie MacBeth.

Why is Tumulty not being truthful in any way? Look to me like she has a partisan agends. At the very least any good reporter should make some attempt to fairly report the other side's position. Not here though. How much does the DNC pay anyway?

I am speaking on behalf of my daughter who is in Iraq right now (third time), who is a liberal democrat, who opposes the war, yet does her job regardless of hardships and hazards, who has earned two bronze stars and seven distinguished service citations for her performance. "Phoney soldier" indeed.

Since 9/11, my daughter has missed every family milestone - every holiday, every birth, and every death. I call it “Family Interrupted.” With each passing year, there is always the empty place at the family dinner table. I watch the evening news and note the losses of other families, hoping my daughter’s name will never appear on a casualty list. "Phoney soldier" indeed.

I think you can well understand my rage over this remark.

About that Jingo Limbo comment, it offends me to the point of wanting to hunt him down like a dog and push in his face and pluck out his eyes.

SFC Cheryl McElroy, you speak for and represent only yourself. You don't support the troops unless you support ALL the troops, including democrats and liberals and those holding a different opinion than yours. There are liberals and Democrats who also serve in the military, and suffer hardships, and bleed and die when their country calls. Your remarks are disrespectful and hypocritical.

BTW, my daughter outranks you. She is a Captain.

swampcracker, your comments to SFC McElroy are 100% correct, and your daughter has not been maligned. Rush Limbaugh has for years been one of the most consistent supporters of the military regardless of their personal political views. He was indeed talking about a true "phony soldier," Jesse MacBeth. YOU ARE BEING LIED TO. Please take the time to research this for yourself and you will find that, like many things these days, things are not what they seem.

Rush discussed the "phony soldier" Jesse MacBeth and his ilk on Monday and Tuesday of the week in question. Then, when it was brought up in a phone call on Wednesday, he used the phrase coined by ABCNews to describe MacBeth, and Media Matters jumped on that phrase and took it out of context.

Swampcracker

I am not a Rush fan by any stretch. But I have to admit, after listening to the tape, he did not say anything near what sen. Reid, and Media Matters, is lying about.

Why don't you listen to the tape, or at least read the "FULL" transcript before you spout off. You have been fed a complete "lie". But, most liberals choose to shelter themselves in the lies they are fed by the Stalinist Democrats.

I would also like to point out a very important fact. We have an all volunteer military. Nobody has been forced to serve in the military. Anyone that "volunteers" for the military understands they may have to put their life on the line.

Many people volunteer for the military because they want to get something out of the Federal Government; such as education funding for example. So why cry foul when one faces what they "volunteered" for?

Swampcracker, I respect your daughter for serving. I respect your daughter's opinion. But I do not respect Harry Reid and the other Stalinist Democrats who pull words out of context to "create" a lie. It is because of the Stalinist spin doctors that I can no longer vote for a Democrat. They cannot be trusted.

To all the soldiers and vets posting here, and families of them, THANK YOU!!

This lie about Limbaugh's statements does you all a disservice. Yet another example of Congress using you.