Ever since Moveon.org made its clumsy and irresponsible attack on General David Petraeus, describing him in ads as "General Betray Us," the cultural left has been looking to paint the right as equally irresponsible. Media Matters, which monitors right-wing talk radio, believes it has found the evidence right out of the horse's mouth. The horse, in this case, is Rush Limbaugh. Apparently some in Congress are even considering a resolution to condemn Limbaugh.
I've carefully reviewed the transcript of Limbaugh's September 26 program, as provided by Media Matters. I invite you to read it for yourself. What it shows is that Limbaugh is indeed guilty of simplistic argument and dismissive bravado. But he's not guilty of smearing troops who happen to oppose the Iraq war as unpatriotic. This is the heart of the Media Matters accusation, and it implodes upon scrutiny.
I'd like to say, in the manner of sports broadcasters, "Let's go to the videotape." Here let's examine the transcript. First a caller named "Mike in Chicago" says, "Well, I'm a Republican, and I've listened to you for a long time, and you're right on a lot of things, but I do believe that we should pull out of Iraq. I don't think it's winnable. And I'm not a Democrat, but I just--well, sometimes you've got to cut the losses." To which Rush should have said, "But you're not in Iraq, Mike, so how do you know it's not winnable? Can you possibly make that decision from your front porch in Chicago?" Instead Rush said, "Mike, you can't possibly be a Republican," and then followed that up with, "Cause you sound just like a Democrat." The caller persists, "I used to be military, okay? And I'm a Republican." Still, Rush refuses to believe the guy. Here Rush's skepticism is entirely pigheaded. Clearly there are Republicans who don't agree with Bush's Iraq policy, just s there are Democrats who do.
The next caller, another Mike but this time from Olympia, Washington, informs Rush that as a 14 year active duty army officer he supports Bush. Then he says of the left, "What's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers out that come up out of the blue and talk to the media." Rush responds, "The phony soldiers." The caller adds, "If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve." Now clearly the caller thinks that all real soldiers support the war, and this is clearly untrue. Surveys show high degrees of military support for Bush, especially among those who have served in Iraq, but even if 75 percent of the troops supports Bush, that still means 25 percent do not.
Who was Rush referring to when he made the reference to "phony soldiers"? Did he mean all soldiers who oppose the Iraq war? The context leaves this ambiguous. But later in the show Rush clarified. He gave an example of a phony soldier who reported atrocities in Iraq until it emerged that the fellow was never in Iraq. There have been several other cases of phony information attributed to military sources. The New Republic printed horror stories from Iraq penned by a pseudonymous writer identified as "Scott Thomas." Turns out his full name is "Scott Thomas Beauchamp" and that much of what he said is either exaggerated or fabricated. When Beauchamp's fellow soldiers protested that the events he described simply could not have happened, the New Republic launched its own investigation, still ongoing.
Media Matters writes that "Limbaugh boldly stated that any troops who call for a withdrawal of troops in Iraq are 'phony soldiers.'" Actually, this is flatly untrue. Rush did not say this, boldly or otherwise. It is Media Matters that is stretching the facts with the obvious goal of smearing Limbaugh and covering up for Moveon.org. I'm not sure why Congressmen get involved in this kind of thing, but if Congress passes a resolution condemning anyone, it should be Media Matters and not Rush Limbaugh.
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ocqdumxfex at 10:51AM on Jan 24th 2009
3. Congress seems to have wasted a lot of time condemning people and political groups lately. Which is sad, because they're just getting less done and their approval ratings will continue to sink lower. How about starting the confirmation process of Michael Mukasey? Or why not work on tweaking legislation enough so that the president doesn't veto it? This would be an effective way to spend time in congress. But, no, they have to discuss Rush Limbaugh and MoveOn.org. It's not up to congress to decide what is politically correct or not. Unless vile things are said within their own public sector by government employees, as was the case with Robert Byrd, or Trent Lott, then it should not be their duty to comment on it.
Tony Messinger at 10:49AM on Oct 3rd 2007
4. Mr. D'Souza, I knew it would be only a matter of time before you demonstrated your complete, knee-jerk obliviousness to anything but the hard-right Republican Party line...To defend a self-styled "entertainer", who never served due to an "anal cyst", over soldiers who actually are fighting and being killed or wounded shows the depths of your intellectual and moral dishonesty.
AzValu at 10:51AM on Oct 3rd 2007
5. Dinesh . . . I think all the Republicans who want to keep "toeing the party line" should make the ultimate sacrifice; they should all go over to Iraq, pick a rifle and start "defending America". One of your heaviest stalwarts, Alan Greenspan no less, has categorically stated that this was is for nothing more or less than oil; this is an oil war started by a President who is in the oil business. A permanent presence in Iraq gives us a great degree of control over the vast oil reserves controlled by that country. All we have to do is figure out how to get rid of or control those pesky "terrorists". One man's "terrorist" is another man's "freedom fighter", it depends on who's country has been invaded. Funny, I'll bet the Englsih called American colonist "terrorists for fighting for their own country. Lest we think the writer is partisan, I am no lover of the Democrats either; they are so mushy and undecided it makes you sick. At least the Republicans seem to have a sense of direction, even if it is the wrong direction. As to "Cruch" Limbaugh, I still cannot figure out why he did not go to jail for sending his Latina maid out to buy his drugs.
Makendoo at 10:57AM on Oct 3rd 2007
6. To discuss Rush Limbaugh and ANYTHING factual in the same breath is ludicrous. Rush admits his show is purely entertainment so anything he says is pure fiction....meaning not getting your underwear in a bunch. But we also know that the reasons for going into Iraq were also fiction and have cost american lives. That is FACT!. A soldier can have an opinion as to the legitimacy of the war but still serve his country...just ask the hundreds of thousands of Vietnam Vets....We did exactly the same thing....hated the war but served with honor...unlike Bush and Cheney. Anyone who has been to war and seen it and supports it as a means to an end is an idiot. Anyone who served will tell you that!
zarnicki at 9:08AM on Oct 5th 2007
7. Media Matters writes that "Limbaugh boldly stated that any troops who call for a withdrawal of troops in Iraq are 'phony soldiers.'" Actually, this is flatly untrue. ** from above comment**
And your statment here is flatly out LIE. I'm a news junky and I've never heard anyone on the media saying that Limbaugh said ANY TROOPS. For your information, the media stated that Limbaugh used the plural word as in soldiers, NOT A SOLDIER. Not much difference but your statement is misleading as usual.
The hypocricy in repubs is getting out of hand. Repubs wasted time talking about moveon.org's ad on the floor of Senate and even voted to condemn it but Limbaugh is off the hook.
Does Freedom of Speech only apply to fat, wild hippo like Limbaugh?
Faye at 11:09AM on Oct 3rd 2007
8. Oh wait...that drug addled gasbag is still taken seriously? D'Idiot and his twaddling pals wet themselves when MoveOn takes an ad in NYT, but Rush, well, he's not really attacking anyone...blah blah blah.
Betcha the Chimp in Cheif won't close a press conference by calling is radio waterboy "disgusting." Just more hypocrasy from the right, with DD mouthing the party line like a good plantation slave.
Tim at 11:42AM on Oct 3rd 2007
9. It's much clearer in this form, D'nesh, but I think you knew that.
From the Transcript:
CALLER 2: 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 2: 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.
End
It's clear what Limbaugh said, soldiers who don't support the war are "phony soldiers".
tom at 11:43AM on Oct 3rd 2007
10. Actually / factually - the Move on Ad did not call Petraus "Betrayus" it was posed as a question!
Robert E. Quillen at 11:53AM on Oct 3rd 2007
11. Does anyone still listen to the fat, drug poppin' windnag anyways? Why take the time to condemn him, his words do that daily. As for Dinesh, he is trying really hard to be the next Limbaugh. This guy makes me laugh on a daily basis. He uses no facts to back up anything he ever says. He blames Media Matters for taking this out of context. Rush plainly stated that anyo of the soldiers that oppose this war are "phony soldiers". rush has never been near combat so he wouldn't know a real soldier from a phony one. It is funny how he and his party speak for the soldiers, but have never put on the uniform. George put on the uniform, but it was for a photo op. Dinesh, you are so irrelevent!
runtune at 12:11PM on Oct 3rd 2007
12. Dinesh D'Souza is an effing idiot.
Steven at 12:12PM on Oct 3rd 2007
13. If brains were dynamite, Limbaugh would not have enough to blow his fat ass out of his chair!!
I also served in the military, and I would be more than happy to meet fatso face to face!!!
Ray Wall at 1:53PM on Oct 5th 2007
14. Your a joke. Yes a joke. And I know this is not the best way to get your attention, but I have had it with Inidian people, well at least for the most part(and I am assuming you are, and if your not well, as they say all spanish people look alike, and I've hear a million times).I am majoring in political science (not that you care, but for the sake of my point) and every Indian person in my class are diehard elephants!I dont understand why they belong to a party that really has no interest of helping minorities. It bugs the hell out of me to see how they assimilate into the American culture (white American culture) as if they are expecting a reward from the white man. Do you expect Rush to give you a cookie for defending him? The bottom line is that Rush probably said those comments, along side other racially motivated statements as well(although that is besides the point). Do you honetly think that he even cares about this article? I liste to Ruhs, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levine I'd say almost everyday, and I have heard some crazy comments come from these guys. Their show is simply not intended for minorities, they do not and will never share the smae perspectives as us, or at least most of us. So you have written an article attacking Rush, and I hope congress goes after him. You may be a cool guy, that I dont know, but wake up and smell the coffee, ya dig?
Roberto at 12:45PM on Oct 3rd 2007
15. Dinesh is oart of the right wing propaganda machine that is called out to defend their own and attack the opposition whenever they believe they can score politically. Rush Winbag has spewed hatred and contempt for anyone who doesn't agree with him. This man questioned Michael J. Fox's Oarkinson's disease, and he treated as a joke. He once refered to Chelsea Cliinton as a dog. Its really pathetic that GWB, Cheney, and Rush Limbaugh are gungo-ho for war and did everything they could to get out of the Vietnam war. Dinesh himself never served in the militaty. Rush Limbaugh, most of talk radio, and Fox News have no credibility. They sold their souls to the Republican party and so has Dinesh
Lolly Nag at 1:06PM on Oct 3rd 2007