Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, a veteran of the Vietnam War, called the comments a "disgusting attack."
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen is blasting conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh on his outrageous comment that soldiers who support withdrawing from Iraq are "phony soldiers".
“Rush Limbaugh’s personal attack on our men and women in uniform is reprehensible. It minimizes the sacrifice our troops in Iraq and their families are making and has no place in the public discourse. Rush Limbaugh owes our military and their families an apology for his hurtful comments that minimize their service to our country.”Excerpt of “The Rush Limbaugh Show” (September 26, 2007, Premiere Radio Networks):
LIMBAUGH: "Save the -- keep the troops safe" or whatever. I -- it's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people.CALLER: No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media. LIMBAUGH: The phony soldiers.CALLER: The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they're willing to sacrifice for their country.LIMBAUGH: They joined to be in Iraq. They joined -- CALLER: A lot of them -- the new kids, yeah.LIMBAUGH: Well, you know where you're going these days, the last four years, if you signed up. The odds are you're going there or Afghanistan or somewhere.CALLER: Exactly, sir.
Senator Chris Dodd's Communications Director Hari Sevugan (Dodd is running for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination) released the following statement on Rush Limbaugh's comments impugning the troops: "It's ironic, if not remotely surprising, that Rush Limbaugh - who makes his living shooting his mouth off - would impugn the patriotism and service of American troops simply because they have voiced their opposition to this failed policy. It's clear that he has no idea what the brave men and women of our armed forces are ostensibly fighting for."
Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications Inc., which syndicates Limbaugh's radio program defended the talk-show host Wednesday over his controversial "phony soldiers" remark, saying it's "unfair" to assume the comment was directed at combat troops opposing the Iraq war.
"Given Mr. Limbaugh's history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn't share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq," Mays said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Democrats Blast Rush Limbaugh for Phony Soldiers CommentSalem-News.com