Reid Reads Limbaugh the Riot Act
Senate Majority Leader Asks Clear Channel to ‘Publicly Repudiate’ Talk-Radio Host Over ‘Phony Soldiers’ Comment
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/2/2007 6:58:00 AM
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is seeking signatures for a letter calling on Clear Channel Communications to "publicly repudiate" talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh and get him to apologize for comments he made about U.S. troops.
Reed, who started drafting the letter Friday after Limbaugh's comments last week, took time on the Senate floor to condemn what he said was Limbaugh's attack on the troops. Limbaugh had used the term "phony soldiers," but it was not entirely clear whether he was referring to all soldiers who criticized the war or a single soldier whose criticism had turned out to be fabricated. Limbaugh later said he was referring to that single soldier.
‘Our troops are fighting and dying to bring to others the freedoms that many take for granted," Reid wrote to Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays. "It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh would criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American right to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous remarks before, but this affront to our soldiers is beyond the pale."
A spokeswoman for Clear Channel was not available for comment, and Reid's office had not returned a call for information on how many senators had signed on, although one talk-radio host talking up the controversy reported that some 40 senators had done so.
In the wake of the failure or an immigration-reform bill opposed by conservative talkers, some top Democrats called for a reimposition of the Federal Communications Commission’s Fairness Doctrine, which used to require broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues. The commission’s dropping of the doctrine in 1987 as unconstitutional helped to spur the rise of conservative talk radio, most prominently Limbaugh.
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"Reckless (lost-the war) Reid" should know that if the troops aren't complaining, something is wrong. At the same time, Limbaugh would have been correct if he had referred to more than one soldier instead of just the one now-jailed prevaricator that Reid seems to appreciate.
Reid is part of the left-wing advocacy that wants to shout down anyone with whom they disagree, and wants to kill talk radio as we know it.
Jim Moneyhun - 10/3/2007 10:28:00 AM EDT -
It seems to me harry reid as a double standard. He defends what we are doing in Iraq now. Tomorrow he will be say it's wrong. It's like obama saying he would attack Pakistan. Why can the left say things that are not heard or ignored, but when the right tells the truth it's turned around? Ever American but harry reid knows who Rush was talking about. The sad part is the people who keep sending scary harry to Washington. Who was the Democrat that said the troops was stupid?
Jeffrey Cole - 10/2/2007 6:36:00 PM EDT -
WOW Can Harry Reid spin the words any more than he just did????
Where was he when Murtha was ripping on the troops?? How about O Donnell? Good grief.
Watch out folks! This is just the beginning of clamping down of some broadcasts. VERY scary!
Kevin Wagner - 10/2/2007 2:30:00 PM EDT -
why all this hype about what rush said about one soldier,where were all these people who want to jump on rush when rosie odonnel called our armed forces terrorist?? i hope the american people will wake up and get all the people who are now in politics out and vote some people who really care about america.our leaders remind me of kindergarden kids argueing over who's toy it is.
mr. gibson - 10/2/2007 12:55:00 PM EDT
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