Limbaugh Offers Inconsistent Explanations For "Phony Soldiers" Comment

Media Matters For America:

On the October 2 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, responding to criticism of his September 26 comments characterizing service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as "phony soldiers," Rush Limbaugh again asserted that he had been referring to multiple military imposters -- including Jesse MacBeth -- rather than service members or former service members with whom he disagrees. Limbaugh asserted: "The next ruse the left is saying: 'He couldn't have been talking about MacBeth because he used the plural. He said "phony soldiers." He didn't say phony "soldier." ' " Limbaugh continued: "Again, this is a willful and missing of the context of this program. We have discussed many of these phony soldiers over the course of the past few months. We discuss them constantly. MacBeth was just the latest." Earlier in the program, Limbaugh described MacBeth as "the man I was referring to and others like him as 'phony soldiers.' " But immediately after the controversy erupted over his comments, Limbaugh offered a different explanation, inconsistent with his claim to have been referring to MacBeth "and others like him": As Media Matters for America documented, during the September 28 broadcast of his show, Limbaugh twice claimed that rather than speaking generally of soldiers who support withdrawal from Iraq, he was "talking about one soldier with that 'phony soldier' comment, Jesse MacBeth." Indeed, the transcript (subscription required) of the September 28 broadcast that is posted on Limbaugh's site shows Limbaugh asserting: "I was talking about one soldier with that phony soldier comment, Jesse MacBeth.

Read the whole story: Media Matters For America

Comments

[oogabooga]

It was funny how Mr. Limbaugh supported our troops one Christmas season. He had a big campaign about donating a year's subscription for his Web site to the GI's overseas. Well, there was just one catch. Mr. Limbaugh said his listeners should "donate" $50 to him so he could give a year's free subscription to his Web site. Gee whiz, if Mr. Limbaugh really supports the troops - and already makes $50 million a year - why would he refrain from DONATING the subscriptions all by himself?

[Peabodies]

Limbo is risking loss of his perch on Army Radio Network(whatever it's called), and that's something he doesn't want to lose, cannot afford to lose. I hope this does it. His speech has been pure venom for some twenty-plus years. Be gone, you vile demagogue! Shame on you for the harm you have caused to this country.

[Sanjong Thapa]

Did you know that phony soldier Jesse MacBeth's real name is Jesse Al-Zaid?

The "phony soldiers" smear still hasn't died down. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) wants to censure Rush. Didn't he make Rush an honorary senator? Democrats must be worried about the Pandora's Box they've opened. By wrongly accusing Rush of dishonoring the troops, they've stipulated that the troops shouldn't be dishonored, which is what they do constantly in words and deeds.

The Mad Bomber of Bosnia, General Wesley Clark, was called on the carpet by Rush yesterday and was given the once over by Tucker Carlson of MSNBC. Clark wants regulated political speech with a rating system like we have with movies. What a moron! Carlson called the idea "Orwellian" and he was correct.

In an absolutely hilarious fundraising letter about Rush, Senator Harry Reid writes, "It's one thing to call me 'Dingy Harry' -- it's another to insult our men and women in uniform." You can't make these things up, folks.

[LIR]

Meanwhile, that tranny beeatch Man Culter is out with a new bit of lies and phoniness in a new book. Media Matters quotes a new gem from the tranny that condemns Democratic women voters...o­f course, since she isn't a real woman herself, she would think this way:

An October 2 New York Observer blog post featuring excerpts of an interview with right-wing pundit Ann Coulter quoted her as saying: "If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat [sic] president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Go on fantasizing, Ann...I really think your hormone treatments have made you crazier than ever.

[mcnary]

Smoke screen....­. they are stealing the oil....wak­e up!

[CaseyBabes]

Go back to sleep. The country runs on oil. Anyway, the topic is Limbaugh making various explanations about his phoney soldier comment.
So what if he used singular or plural, singular is a reference to MacBeth (al Zahid) or as plural, them or those, as in those "phoney soldiers who...." lie about their insignificant service and wind up exposed or in jail.
Face it, Moveon fucked up royally making the stupendous of all fuck ups by an ad calling a loyal soldier a traitor. This has turned the nation into a reflective mood, in effect, "does this nation really want a party (democrats) in charge that is controlled by a very dangerous 527 group?" Sure, that question will not be answered in a second, but it is out there and the dem party leadership had to deflect the question, so Rush baby, you're it. The entire party, supporters, NYTimes, Wash Post and rest of the worthless media, have gone after Limbaugh with a vengence 'cause he is a hated figure of dems and media (jealous of his success, and arrogance).
Y'all know Limbaugh ain't anti military, hell, he's responsible for the largest charitable program the USMC benefits from, and, what right winger would be anti military? It don't equate (except in dem parlors).
This has been one of the easiest articles to respond and I'm quite sure the few intelligent democrats on this site will wise up to the democrat party and join those of us as Independents after seeing the danger of Moveon -- jumping party is something the country really needs. (We even have a bunch of enlightened republicans here, too.)

[JessWonderin]

" . . . will wise up to the democrat party . . " ?????? Just set off the Bullshit Detector!!!! YEA RIGHT, "US INDEPENDENTS" .....

[supergranny]

anyone interested in sending limbaugh a love note? his property can be found on the Palm Beach County Tax Appraiser site. Google that and plug in his last name. There is an RH Limbaugh in there. Property assessed at $38million. cute huh? Florida is a very transparent state. We have homestead protection which is why people move here besides the weather, only the US govt. or your mortgage can take your homesteaded property. Like the human elephant that he is he has an obscene property/compound. You'd think w/all that $$ he'd get some lipo or have a 24 hour nutritionist slapping his pudgy hands reaching for those snacks.

[Qbear]

Only apt description of RUSH the legend

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/absoluteAsshole.JPG

[MyLadyMacbeth]

is that his S&M flick audition photo?

[Earl]

The photo fails to convince me that his "AM antenna" is really functioning.

[Qbear]

you need to clean the little bit of vomit off my keyboard.

[zendem1]

In that photo, Rush looks like he's ready to go off to war. Or maybe hum showtunes. Or type out an e-mail to Mark Foley.Look­s like an air-brushed whale zipped up in a body bag.

[Trittydi]

Alright - keep the headline - can you ditch the picture already?
*

[wadenelson1]

Love the photo? Leather jacket with no shirt?

My oh my, if he were tapping HIS foot in the next stall --- I'd beat the crap out of him!

[infideltexan]

You libs realize that clinton is winning your nomination and will lose both the whitehouse and congress. She will drive you right off the cliff, where you belong. It's going to be fun to watch your meltdown after she loses.

[innerpeace]

infidel-Most liberals aren't big Hillary supporters.

[mari2JJ]

Golly you have me giggling away. Cannot tell if you are delusional or you are jesting. After the stint of Republicans and their long record of screwing everything they touch, ANY Democrat would be better than the Bush junta. I sort of feel sorry for you. There is nothing ahead for your party but a very long period of being out of control of all branches of the government. Clinton has very little to do with the outcome of this election. Most of us, even Republicans like me, will vote for a total change based on the dismal record of this administration and the record of the rubber stamping of his program by the Republican House and Senate. Frankly, I am working and paying to get a fresh wind blowing in our nation. I did not leave the Republican party. It got so disgusting that it pushed me out.

[Qbear]

Bet they had to kill a whole herd of cows to outfit the fat f*ck in leather.

[NotALib]

Does anyone actually take Media Matters seriously? They are less reliable than the National Enquirer.

[mari2JJ]

We tend to enjoy folks who are honest and who check their facts. Thank God for Media Matters.

[nowaterboardUSA]

Somebody break out the Fabreeze and kill the stank fart that is Rush!

[CaseyBabes]

Or maybe get out the Fabreeze for al Zahid. Who's he? Well, uh, sorry about this folks but his adopted last name is MacBeth, right, the "phoney soldier." And al Zahid is a proud member of the Iraqui vets against the war. Sorry lefties, but y'all got stank farts all over ye, AGAIN.....­.......

[akoop]

Yes the left is stuck with MacBeth, someone who's story has been discredited and left the 'left' red faced by the deception. And, like the 'cut and runners' they are can release themselves from that dead weight and move on (hee hee)

The 'right' however, is stuck with Limbaugh and apparently going to 'stay the course'. Unlike the 'lefties' who recognize the damage done by one who deceives, the 'neo-cons' unable to admit a misstep will cling to Rush and the 'dittoheads' like a fouled anchor chain in a storm and take the ship down as well.

[KBAR]

Macbeth follows a grand tradition of fake soldiers whose “war crimes” confessions have been used by the Left to slander the service of our troops. For example, Micah Ian Wright, author of the 2003 anti war best seller "You Back the Attack," was an Army Ranger and Combat veteran feted at USC’s Annenberg School and in media like the Washington Post until he was finally “outed” as a complete fake. Many similar examples of phony “soldiers” used by the Left for war crimes confessions are documented in B.G. Burkett’s bestseller Stolen Valor. Indeed, the problem was so endemic that a Republican Congress in 2005, at the urging of many veterans, passed “The Stolen Valor Act” finally criminalizing activities such as those of Macbeth.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/waw/press/2007/sep/operationstolenvalor.html

[rabun666]

This picture posted of Rush is obviously doctored, he back to being the fat ass drug addict he was before all the surgery he had done to create a svelte new Rush. Remember, Rush is deaf from listeneing to his own insane blathering's. He had surgery to correct that also.He's back on the drugs to say such disgusting comment about the very troops in Iraq that protect him.