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Honoring All Those Who Serve

Posted September 27, 2007 | 06:58 PM (EST)

Read More: Iraq War, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldiers, Soldiers Against The War, Soldiers In Iraq, Breaking Politics News

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Someone should tell chicken-hawk Rush Limbaugh that the only phonies are those who choose not to serve and then criticize those who do. I served proudly, so did two of my fellow paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne who spoke out and died just weeks ago. Generations of American veterans have worn the uniform with pride and we know it is no contradiction to serve your country and still disagree with the Bush-civilian leadership that mismanaged this war.

When someone like Rush Limbaugh says that soldiers who disagree with the failed strategies of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are "phony soldiers," you have to consider the source.

Rush Limbaugh, who, in January, called Vietnam veteran Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) "Senator Betrayus" for disagreeing with President Bush, has made no secret of his disdain for those who serve and speak out. Where was Rush Limbaugh when it came time to serve his country?

What's more, where was Limbaugh's outrage when Max Cleland, a Senator who left three of his limbs in Vietnam was smeared on television? Where was Limbaugh when Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) service was called into question in the form of millions of dollars in campaign ads?

My service was questioned last year during my campaign for Congress. Fortunately, the swift-boat attack on me didn't stick because people in my district in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and across America know that if someone wears the uniform and serves their country they've earned our respect regardless of political party.

Sadly, the political debate in this country has devolved into who can be more outraged at the latest smear attempt on those who should be thanked and praised for devoted service. Rush Limbaugh's phony outrage and derisive words call into contrast that which we all must honor: our Armed Forces currently fighting for their lives and our freedom all across the world. We need to be vigilant and speak out against those who question the value of that service -- and that goes for people on the right and the left.

The real issue is how best to quickly, safely and successfully end this war. It's time for Limbaugh, Cheney and Bush to end the partisanship and work with those of us who want a change.


Prior to being elected to Congress, Patrick Murphy served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Bosnia in 2002 and then to Iraq in 2003 and 2004. In Iraq he served with the 82 nd Airborne where he was awarded the Bronze Star for service. He is a former West Point professor and criminal prosecutor.

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collapse herky211 See Profile I'm a Fan of herky211

Where do I start?
Three wars for me. All three have been questioned as to their validity. It is the duty of non coms to speak out when they truly believe that senior officers are making mistakes. They have been silent. I am a very confused old soldier. We are attacked by people from several nations and we attack the one nation that wasn't involved. I said to my superiors that this was going to get ugly before we went in and have paid dearly for it ever since. Rush and his comments are something we have to deal with. So many people believe his garbage and it truly is a shame.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:08 PM on 10/05/2007
collapse dadw5boys See Profile I'm a Fan of dadw5boys

Want to help the Veterans?
Get the ROAD BLOCKS out of the way!
Take this example: A Veteran get out of the Military after Vietnam. He goes to the V.A. and has several check up's. One of them is a hearing test. The Doctors tell the Veterans his hearing is OK.
Years go by and he deals with his disability then his rating is increased to 50% or 70 %.
He is then given another round of test.
The Doctor come to the Veteran and says, "Sir, Your hearing has not changed very much in almost 30 years since you got out of the Military. Here are the 2 hearing aides you have needed all those years!
Now imagine your the Veteran who has lost many jobs, divorces, and lots of problems where you just simply misunderstood things. Your ability to work with people had been stressful and often confrontional.
Now the Veteran wornders would I still be married and have my children around me if I could have only been able to hear better and communicate better. Would he have been able to work his way up in business and not be fired or laid off. The Veteran remembers some many people saying, "You just don't understand." If I could have heard them I could have understood he thinks.
SEE WHAT I MEAN. The V.A. should have given the Veteran the hearing aides or at least told them he needed hearing aides 30 years ago even if his RATING DID NOT ALLOW IT.
The Veteran had to re-enter society and adapt but the V.A. actually HANDICAPPED the Veteran by with holding vitial information.
THIS IS JUST ONE THING VETERANS HAVE TO DEAL WITH!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:30 AM on 09/30/2007
collapse DEMatHEART See Profile I'm a Fan of DEMatHEART


Hello! It's the METHOD that can hurt the MESSAGE, no matter who delivers it.

ALL groups need a time-out from the inflammatory, disruptive tactics they've been employing lately. From Swift-boats, to MoveOn, to FreedomWatch and Rush Limbaugh - it's the METHODS they're using to deliver their message that angers the public and whittles away at their credibility!

I am a MoveOn supporter, but I did not like the negative ad they placed BEFORE THE HEARINGS even began. What did they THINK the Republicans would do? MoveOn handed the Republicans a diversion on a silver platter!!!
Anything to divert the issue of the debacle in Iraq.

MoveOn, of all groups, should realize that the Republican Congress is obsessed with patriotic symbolism. And they took up this issue with righteous indignation and vengeance!

By "attacking" Petraeus as they did (with lousy timing, I might add), MoveOn created a HUGE issue which resulted in the Republicans asking the public to choose between a questionable "liberal group" and a "decorated general." Are you a patriot or not? It's the old "bait and switch," as President Clinton said. Hypocritical yes, but no surprise...

I believe Congressman Murphy did what he felt right on his vote to condemn the MoveOn ad, JUST AS HE WOULD VOTE ON ANY RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN A PERCEIVED ATTACK ON ONE'S CHARACTER.

Murphy was himself a victim of character assassination during the 2006 election - and he publicly took a stand against his Republican opponent and their operatives. He was lauded for standing up to the Swift-Boat tactics of his opponent.

I'm sorry, but MoveOn does not deserve special immunity just because they're against the war (and I agree with them on that!). Even if they funded Murphy, they have to earn his respect - just as he had to earn their trust in him.

All political action groups should be held to the same standards, but Congress should not be forced to police them. My only regret is that Congress allowed the resolution to come to a vote in the first place.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:52 AM on 09/29/2007
collapse onegandolf1 See Profile I'm a Fan of onegandolf1

Rep. Murphy, How is it that you can vote for a bill criticizing MoveOn for it's add of a politition/general, and not insist that the language be changed to include Max Clelland, John Kerry and John McCain? Such a vote is unacceptable.

Don't worry, I've already said the same to Bob Casey. But we in PA are watching!!!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:00 AM on 09/29/2007
collapse Democrab See Profile I'm a Fan of Democrab

Russshhh states in his transcript that his sole "phony soldier" is now doing 5 months in prison.

I guess if he'd been praising the war, he would have gotten off the hook like Limbaugh.

Russshhh didn't get 5 months, he didn't get a minute of jail time for his drug crimes.

Thats because some right wing sphincter judge pooped him out of his last mess.

Those crooks he got elected in 94 owe him big time for spreading their manure, not carrying their water.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:55 AM on 09/29/2007
collapse nippersdad See Profile I'm a Fan of nippersdad

Mr. Murphy:

I am still trying to get my head around how you stabbed your Blue America/progressive campaign contributors and the Constitution in the back with your vote on the MoveOn ad, and now have the gall to cry foul when Rush (anal cyst) limbaugh has the temerity to criticize soldiers just because you were one yourself. We didn't send you to Congress to exercise your petty personal grievances. Don't waste our time.

This is no slam at the military, who are doing the best they can with the criminal enterprise that the Bush Administration has foisted off on them. I'm just amazed that a so called progressive can't see that it is all of a piece. If your supporters and the Constitution mean nothing to you, how can we believe that your proposed legislation is nothing more than vanity run amok?

Fact is, whether originating it or voting on it, ANY legislation condemning free speech is an abrogation of your oath. Period. Your vote on the MoveOn ad was a betrayal of your supporters. Period. Any attempt at tit for tat legislation is going to make us look like hypocrites as well.

If you want to make Republicans look like the hypocrites they are, then you need to forward articles of impeachment in the House; now. Hit them where they cannot spin the facts, in an investigation into high crimes and misdemeanors. Anything less just looks like a man who feels that his own personal ox has been gored and his constituency look like sore losers in a debate we did not actually lose.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:23 AM on 09/29/2007
collapse teachervet See Profile I'm a Fan of teachervet

According to this Chickenhawk, I'm one of the phoney soldiers, although I spent 20 years in uniform and a combat tour in Iraq. As others have posted, what can we expect from this cowardly little bottom feeder? Rush & his ilk bother me a whole lot less, however, than those in positions of real authority who betray the men and women in uniform, as well as their sworn oaths "to support and defend the Constitution," the same oath I took as an enlisted man.

I'm talking, of course, about the senior military officers, our Representatives and Senators, and men and women in the Executive branch who continue to use the lives of our servicemen and women--and the lives of the Iraqi people--as rhetorical devices to perpetuate their illegal, unjust, and inhuman war. In all my years of service, I never once met a soldier who wanted any of his or her comrades to die as a result of his or her death. Why, then, do these people blather on about honoring the fallen by continuing to produce more fallen? This is betrayal of the highest sort, of our military, and more importantly, of our nation.

Rep. Murphy, your condemnation of this pathetic little Chickenhawk is appropriate. Can it be followed up by your working to 1) bringing our occupation of Iraq to an end, 2) adequately funding the VA to provide for those Americans who will suffer from their having been shamefully and callously used for Bush & Co's personal ends, and 3) reparations for the Iraqi people for having destroyed their country & society in the name of "democracy?"

If interested in the stories of some more "phoney soldiers," visit http://www.ivaw.org

In the beginning of change...the patriot is a scarce man, who is brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him; for then it costs nothing to be a patriot ~Mark Twain

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:33 PM on 09/28/2007
collapse NorCalNative See Profile I'm a Fan of NorCalNative

Representative Murphy, I am proud to claim men such as yourself as patriotic citizens of the United States. In your new career, rhetoric has replaced bullets and bombs. But, as you are aware the language of public discourse can be dangerous as well.

Much of what we are seeing today in defense of the war, by the right-wing is simply an attack. Attacks on the message and attacks on the messengers in order to distract from real problems and real solutions.

I would ask you if I had the opportunity what your vision of a successful conclusion to the war looks like. Will we still have military bases in Iraq after we bring troops home?

I honor and support men and women who protect this country from harm. I have severe moral difficulty supporting those who are obviously where they are in order to protect economic interests. Every sovereign nation has this right, however, I believe corporations and not citizen concern are the motivators for this expanse of American Empire.

Also, according to a recent DARPA conference, the U.S. is spending One Million dollars for every dollar our enemy is spending in defense of Iraq. This is the insanity of the Bush administration which Democrats are enabling.

Any Democrat who is not spending his/her time trying to save the constitution from Bush and his cronies is practically useless as far as I'm concerned. If you voted against the MoveOn ad I disagree with you strongly.

Troops need to understand the right to criticize civilian leadership is NOT criticism of the troops. Let me repeat, NOT THE SAME THING whether it comes from the left or the right. As a military person now in Congress shame on you for not understanding the difference. The difference is huge and anyone who doesn't get it is buying into right-wing propaganda.

You and others have risked your life for my right to tell you this and for that I am extremely grateful.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:29 PM on 09/28/2007
collapse dochemlock See Profile I'm a Fan of dochemlock

I too served in the military, USMC. I've been against the Iraq war from the start. For Limbaugh to call anybody a phony is "The pot...". We need to keep attacking these nutjobs who speak for a small minority of idiots. Keep stuffing their own words right back into their fat mouths. O'reilly is already on the defensive even calling Al Sharpton to be his token guy. rush has no credibilty when speaking of the military. He shouldn't even be allowed to say "Military". It was his fat ass that kept him from serving "His Country" when he was called upon.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:19 PM on 09/28/2007
collapse Drill See Profile I'm a Fan of Drill

Abu Osama al-Tunisi is now dead. God Bless the U.S. American Military!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:06 PM on 09/28/2007
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