Thread: Turn the tables! Don't enter if your thin skinned

By now many of you have heard about Rush Limbaughs "phony soldier" comment and the reaction it got on the senate floor!
The letter that Sen. Harry Reid sent to clear channel to remove Rush from the airwaves is now being auctioned on E-Bay, by Rush, to support the Marine Corp- Law Enforcement foundation!Quite clever, and good for our troops and law enforcement!

Whatever you think of Rush and his politics you have to admire a man who can have shit piled on him and manage to turn it around for the good of others!

I don't know how to do links so maybe someone could add the E-Bay link and the Fox News video entitled "Turn the Tables".

There has been126 bids so far and the current bid is 51,100.00!

2 days and 23 hours left!

Oh, 100% is going to the chosen organization!

For the Europeans among us: what is this about?
Just so I know what we are discussing?

As I understand it Rush made a comment on his radio show about a "phony soldier",a man who claimed to be in the special forces and had first hand information on the atrocities the american soldiers were committing against the Iraqi's! Upon investigation it was uncovered that this man was never in the special forces and never in Iraq as a soldier,in fact he was booted out before he finished boot camp, and to top it off, it turns out his birth name is Arabic! He wasn't using his birth name when making these claims.
This one phrase,"phony soldiers" was then taken out of context and blown out of proportion! It is believed that since Rush has the ear of a large percentage of our country's conservatives that this was actually a political move to silence Rush!

Rush Limbaugh is a conservative radio show host that fields calls and debates with them. One gentleman called in claiming to have been in the military and saying that we should pull out immediately from Iraq. Rush calls this leaving in defeat and disagrees with it. A gentleman called after the first, saying that people like that weren't soldiers and Rush called them phony soldiers.

Senator Harry Reid's letter basically says that Rush stepped over the line of free speech and was entirely offensive to those soldiers who oppose the war.

I'm not going to debate as to whether or not anyone was right or wrong (though I like Rush quite a bit). I will say that he is protected by the constitution just as much as the Dixie Chicks when they were in London. I can't stand what they said, but you didn't see Congress attempting to end their careers. Free speech was designed just for this reason- so people with unpopular opinions can say them.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I will say that he is protected by the constitution just as much as the Dixie Chicks when they were in London. I can't stand what they said, but you didn't see Congress attempting to end their careers. Free speech was designed just for this reason- so people with unpopular opinions can say them.

...maybe not congress, but the entire population of the US. Not too mention a few death-threats. Made me listen to them that much more, knowing they have a spine and the guts to speak out. Good documentary too.

Originally Posted by edk442

...maybe not congress, but the entire population of the US. Not too mention a few death-threats. Made me listen to them that much more, knowing they have a spine and the guts to speak out. Good documentary too.

The entire population of the U.S. was not against the Dixie Chicks ---- most people did not have as much of a problem with what they said as much as where they said it. They would have guts if they would have said it in Texas --- not saying it to a population that largely felt like they do ---

I would have respected them if they would have said it here.

Would you have respect for a Canadan musician who went to the U.S. and bad mouthed your government or prime minister? --- I hope not.

And if you think that it takes guts for Americans within the Hollywood/ Music/Entertainment field to say something bad about a conservative/rightwing president then you don't understand how things work here. They will always have jobs -----


Justin

Also for the Europeans amongst us that may not know. (semi off the original topic but just to enlighten)

Generally the term conservative is assigned to Republicans and supporters mostly because of issues pertaining to areas such as abortion, marriage, etc.

While the term liberal is generally assigned to democrats and supporters for their same stance on the same issues.

It's interesting to note, however that the "conservatives" generally support the death penalty, quite a drastic and extreme measure, while "liberals" generally oppose the death penalty.

Another generality is that "conservatives" typically (not always) espouse traditional "Christian" values, which scripturally would be exclusive of the death penalty. "Liberals" generally espouse modern, and some would say, antithetic values compared to traditional Christianity, yet oppose the death penalty, which would adhere to the scriptures supporting the era of forgiveness (i.e. the "5th dispensation").

Rush is a die hard Republican and anyone who disagrees with 100% republican views are subject to scorn in his show.

I applaud the man for not backing down in the face of adversity.

PS if anyone wants to debate anything off topic with me I'll gladly accept gentlemanly emails or private messages so this thread doesn't become hijacked

I live in US, but I don't follow the news very closely and I've missed this whole thing...
Just went over and tried to find out what happened by reading the transcript of the show and the letter from the senators.

My impression is that this is another blown-out-of-proportion thing from both sides for purpose of rallying their respective audience. Why?

Side 1 - Limbaugh:
- at the time of the show Limbaugh had no idea if the first caller is a phony soldier or not.
- the second caller is the first to use the phrase 'phony soldiers', making a general statement about how the other side never talks to real soldiers, therefore they hold the views they hold. Limbaugh seems to agree that any real soldier is bound to be looking forward to serving in Iraq

Side 2 - Senators:
- their claim is that he has publicly insulted all soldiers who do not agree with the way the war in Iraq is being handled (even while serving there) and they quote a group of these. They demand a public apology, not an end of his career (which may be the same, I don't know)

I cannot see that Limbaugh made such an insult in any direct way so that it would warrant a resolution from the Senate. But in the larger contest of the interview I think that was the overall impression I'd get. He had just accused a caller for not being a republican because all republicans according to Limbaugh want to be in Iraq until the 'job' gets done. Also I'd disagree with the spin that he is the innocent private citizen who has gotten assaulted by the government for expressing his views.

I have a friend who signed up to the National Guard and wanted to go and serve in Iraq. He did go and served for about 9 months. He then proceeded to look for and find a way to change the structure of his initial commitment so that he does not get send there again. I believe he would agree with Limbaugh that US should not be setting any time table to pull out, but he also believes that he has done his share.

So, again, I think it's blown way out of proportion for political purposes. And in case you were wondering I would not be bidding on that auction - I've already gotten an autograph of the senior NY senator soliciting my support for a cause I ended up voting against. And that letter is already recycled together with the one by the national republican convention or some similar entity.

Originally Posted by gugi

- the second caller is the first to use the phrase 'phony soldiers', making a general statement about how the other side never talks to real soldiers, therefore they hold the views they hold. Limbaugh seems to agree that any real soldier is bound to be looking forward to serving in Iraq

The transcript I posted doesn't have things that way.