Honoring All Those Who Serve
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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As a resident of Congressman Pat Murphy's district(PA-8th) from Bucks County,Pa I could not be more pleased to have him represent me in Congress.
As the ONLY veteran of the Iraq war in the 110th Congress he has the moral authority and credentials which he has exercised early and boldly by aligning himself with an early troop drawdown and indictment of the failed policies of the President and his cronies.
AS far as Rush Limbaugh,Murphy should not stoop to the level of the crass commercial political sideshow that Limbaugh spews forth for big bucks on his jingoistic radio program which only serves to lower the level of meaningful political discourse in our nation to the very bottom.
At best Limbaugh is a "psychopathic entertainer" appealing to the purience and sickness of the extreme conservative right wing whose days are numbered.
Murphy has a vibrant future. Limbaugh is a pathetic relic of a dying past. You can bet on that.
Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa
http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com
Dr. Lippin, I couldn't agree with you more! I am also one of Patrick's constituents, and we couldn't be more proud of him as a person, as a veteran and as our congressman.
We worked hard to get him elected last year, and we will work equally hard to keep him in office next year!
Patrick, we'll see you at OctoberFest this weekend!
I won't waste my breath on LimpBall, who got out of his service in Viet Nam because of growths on what has now become his head!
PEACE
thxs braindeadsorry
YOU ARE NOT YOUR BLOG HANDLE AT ALL!
Be Well,
Rick Lippin
http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com
Rep. Murphy,
You make your district proud!
And on the flip side, I have a dumb cop in the House of Reps who has voted for the war every darned time..what is that now 17 times? (well maybe he wasn't there on the first vote). I admire Rep. Murphy. He is bright,articulate and knows from what he speaketh. Plus he is a leader.
Thank you for posting your thoughts, Rep. Murphy. Well said.
I concur, I might add.
Patrick:
Somewhere along the way, this country lost it's direction. The country that produced Martin Luther King and John and Robert Kennedy floundered about after the assassinations of all three.
The warmongers took over. They were quickly followed by greedy military contractors and benefactors. And all were supported by a political and religious ideology that was the antithesis of everything the founding fathers stood for.
Forty years later, America remains in a malaise of unfinished business and unkept promises. Jena, Louisiana reminds all of us that we still have not bridged the racial divide. Our country is extremely divided politically. And homophobia, the fear that provides us with an excuse to hate even our own family members, remains our most intractable hang-up.
The byproduct of our phobias is Limbaugh. He's a bigot with a history of drug addiction. He fears everything he is not, ridiculing men so much greater than he because they remind him of his endless shortcomings. In the absence of fearless greatness, the vacuum is filled by a cowardly bully.
His name is Rush Limbaugh. And he cannot stand to see this country live out the true meaning of the Constitution.
Thank you for pointing him out. And thank you for your service to our country.
All of you good people encouraging Rep. Murphy to seek a MoveOn style condemnation for Rush ought to look at his vote in the House, he voted to condemn a the group that helped put him in office. Nice.
Yep, damn.
Make up for it man.
Follow President Clinnton's lead.
Geez.
A resolution like the gop did on the Move on ad is in order.
Force a vote on it.
I disagree. It was WRONG to censure MoveOn ...
and it would be wrong to censure Limbaugh.
What happened to freedom of speech???
Marlyn,
I agree with you 100%. It is not only wrong for Congress to censure the press, it is unconstitutional. The way to fight fascistic bullshit as spouted by The Man With The Anal Cyst is to air out the ignorant hatred that he spews.
excellent point! freedom of speech seems to be held in remarkable contempt by many in our country. Any representative who took the oath to defend the constitution that voted to censure any periodical for any statement is a traitor in dereliction of duty. every fascist in the 4th branch is squealing with joy that congress so willingly condemned freedom of speech.
one can only hope that the open disdain for freedom of speech that an overwhelming number of our representatives display is not a prelude to legislating it into that box marked, "Dead Letter" where freedom of the press; habeas corpus; Amendment VI; Amendment IX; and other constitutional freedoms lie.
Rush Limbaugh is a traitor to our nation and a betrayor of our troops. It is a citizen's right in this country to question the leaders of this country. The right/Republicans think patriotism is following unquestioningly. In America that is not the case. It is not only our right to question, it is our duty. I served in the Navy 5 years during peace time. I stood my watch with pride and honor. Rush Limbaugh enjoys his constitutional freedoms because those of who served. The only phonies are those who never served and then question the service of those who have. Which makes Limbaugh the biggest phony of all. Start a new campaign: Limbaugh: Phony American!
If serving your country would mean helping out during natural disasters and rebuild afterwards.
If serving your country would mean working in hospitals, mental institutions and retirement homes.
If serving your country would mean being a big brother or sister to orphans.
If serving your country would mean helping a homeless person back on their feet.
If serving your country would mean helping elderly people to live independently.
If serving your country would mean beautifying parks and neighborhoods.
If serving your country means controlling our borders and preventing illegal immigrants to flood the country by the millions.
If serving your country would mean anything constructive and life preserving I would be all for it.
However, it looks like serving your country means invading foreign countries and killing people and nobody who signs up for that has my approval and I see no pride in enriching the armament industry
Mitt Romney thinks his sons who are helping him in the Presidential campaign are serving the country.
While I applaud your service to your country, sir, I can't help be disappointed that once again the Congress is straining out gnats and swallowing camels. While you and your fellow House members were marginalizing the First Amendment rights of those who would call into question politically appointed military leaders, you avoided the real issues of the war. Now you want to continue the campaign, deifying the military and condemning those who question it, whether right or left.
After Bill O'Reilly, there is probably no human on earth I more despise than Rush Limbaugh. Yes, sir, he's a chickenhawk. Yes, sir, his comments are repugnant. But our Constitution guarantees even the right to make an ass of one's self by speaking out. That's one of the unfortunate byproducts of guaranteeing free speech.
When you served in the military, sir, you vowed to support and defend the Constitution. As a member of the House of Representatives, it is a sacred trust. Condemning anyone, left or right, for exercising the right is a violation of that trust. Doing so while the nation has countless more pressing problems is unconscionable. Little wonder approval of Congress is at an all-time low.
Your point is necessary. However, what Limbaugh said says more about his listeners than he.
Agreed, targeting Limbaugh for making a fool of himself is hardly sporting. What about taking on some bigger game?
Thank you Cogressman Murphy for you service to our country. Thank you to all who have served and serve for your sacrifice.
Thank you to rush chickenshit hero of the right wing haters for giving the haters someone to look up to.
Patrick I agree you should introduce a resolution condemning Rush. As for nothing happening, The people who listen to him and agree are the same ones who condemned Kerry (a decorated and wounded Vet) also Max cleland. They are the ones who praised (Cheney draft dodger, Bush Missing from duty, Shelby who lied about Max, but never served). If they still praised them after learning this they will never think straight. To cheer Rush is really going nuts.
I served in the Navy 1959 to 1963 and I loved it and was proud to serve. But It now hurts to see the troops killed and maimed now. I hate to see these young lives wasted for a lie.
Rep. Murphy,
Thank you for serving our country while Rush bloviates and betrays the true America. Limbagh is the most surprised shmuck in the world that people still listen to his crap! He's the chicken hawks' chicken hawk!
Well old RUSHIE lived with his mommy till he was 42. He worked at Mommy's Radio Station till he found a topic.
Now here he is in all his glory to tell people how to be Americans.
Never had to find a job. MOMMY GAVE HIM ONE.
Never married till he became a Republican hit.
(GOT A WIDE STANCE TOO RUSH?)
What do you expect from a guy like this ETHICS?
GET REAL.
Patrick,
Whatever you do, don't allow the Democrats to pass another stupid piece of meaningless legislation condemning Rush Limbaugh for exercising his right to say stupid stuff.
Instead, advise the Democratic "leadership" to publicly apologize to MoveOn.org for forgetting who their friends, who busted their asses trying to get Democrats elected, are.
I rang doorbells for Patrick last year.
I completely support your request. The Democrats need to get to work and leave righteousness to the right.
Thanks for your comment.
All of the Fox "holes"...Wallace, Hume...up to Murdoch himself, should be confronted and forced to answer whether they agree with Limbaugh's statement.
Time for Franken to write another Rush book.
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