“Phony soldiers” update: Condemn ABC News!
posted at 11:48 am on October 1, 2007 by Bryan
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Brian Maloney has the low-down with video and a transcript: ABC News used the phrase “phony veterans” in a story about, what else but phony soldiers, in a story about the likes of Jesse MacBeth two days before the infamous Rush Limbaugh comment.
In fact, on Monday, 24 September, the network’s Charlie Gibson introduced a segment reported by Brian Ross regarding a number of “phony veterans” now under investigation for falsely claiming to have served in wartime. One of those mentioned in the story is none other than Jesse MacBeth, the same fake soldier referenced by Rush during the program in question.
So if the Democrats are all set to pass a stupid, pointless resolution condemning Rush, they ought to add ABC News to it. If they’re interested in more than just nailing Rush because they don’t like his politics, anyway. Because unlike the MoveOn “General Betray Us” ad, what Rush said actually had factual context. He was talking about actual phony soldiers.
No, I don’t think that there’s a connection between the ABC story and Rush’s comment, other than the obvious: There is a phony soldier phenomenon going on out there, and several phony soldiers have been touted by several leftwing anti-war groups over the past few years. That’s what ABC News was reporting on, and that’s what Rush was talking about.
Now, a word about all of this. Some liberals out there want Rush removed from Armed Forces Network broadcasts. They’re all drafting letters to send to Congress demanding Rush’s removal. That’s because they hate Rush, they always have, and they’re opportunistically seizing on this issue to get him removed from broadcasts meant mainly to entertain US troops serving overseas who don’t have access to Rush’s show otherwise. It’s not really about this particular comment; it’s about Rush’s long record of effectively countering leftwing politics.
But they’re not asking what military members actually want done. Are they offended by what Rush said? I doubt that they are, but no one is asking them, certainly not the liberals. And this is relevant, because Rush was added to AFN in the first place because military members wanted him added. They wanted him, they wrote in and asked to get him, and he was added. So if military members serving overseas want him removed, fine, remove him. But the liberals who claim to support the troops even while not supporting the war ought to do our fighting men and women the courtesy of actually asking them what they want done here, right? And they would, if this controversy was about more than blind Rush hatred.
And another word about this. Some of you conservatives who have jumped on the anti-Rush bandwagon really ought to get your facts together. You’ll claim superiority with the standard “I’m not really a fan of Rush” line and then go on to just ape what Media Matters says about him, or compare Rush to Rosie O or what have you. There is no comparison between a radio pundit who rain or shine supports the US and supports the troops and a former comedienne who hasn’t been funny in years and who constantly and consistently rails against the US no matter what it’s doing and no matter where it’s doing it. Rosie O doubted the confession of 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and is a hard core 9-11 Truther. She is blatantly anti-American. So get your facts straight and stop making idiotic, invalid comparisons between people who couldn’t be more dissimilar. This fratricidal tendency that we have on the right is not helpful and is foolish and will end up muzzling more and more effective spokesmen and women on the right. Media Matters will try to pick them off one by one. It didn’t start with Rush and it won’t end with Rush either.
Look at it this way: If you help Media Matters and their fellow travelers on the hard left take down Rush, do you think that bunch will be satisfied? Or will they just lay in wait for the next right side pundit to smear? The latter, of course. They tried nailing both Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh in one week. They would have gone after Michelle or Laura Ingraham or anyone else they could have if they had found a convenient quote to pull out of context and tar them with. And with Soros’ money behind them, Media Matters has a staff of people who are paid to do just that: Monitor broadcasts to find something that a commentator on the right says that they can pull out of context and feed to CNN and MSNBC to engineer a potentially career-ending smear. That’s the game. If you’re a conservative and you’re following along with it, I’m sorry but you’re being foolish. And you’re being used by dishonest people who are paid to stifle rightwing pundits ahead of next year’s elections.
So stop helping them. You’re just being taken along for a ride by people who’ll shut every single commentator on the right down if the opportunity arises.
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Well said Bryan
bj1126 on October 1, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Dead-on analysis as usual Bryan.
infidel4life on October 1, 2007 at 11:55 AM
:thumbsup: bryan
trailortrash on October 1, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Rush rules as you do Bryan!
robo on October 1, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Great stuff, Bryan.
2Brave2Bscared on October 1, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Armed forces are going to miss Rush and ABC…
This is where the Repubs need to step up and laugh at how stupid the left is. They should make a mockery of the left, concerned about this, when so much more important things are happening.
Mock, mock, mock, mock…point your fingers at them and laugh. The left are the court jesters.
right2bright on October 1, 2007 at 12:04 PM
This “controversy” is no different than the “magic negro” comment Rush got flak for. That phrase originated in a LAT article, which Rush did say on his show, and HE gets slammed for it. It’s stupid, juvenile, and one of the many trademarks of the left.
wherestherum on October 1, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Hear, hear, Bryan!!
tickleddragon on October 1, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Any “conservative” names for those of us who haven’t been following this very closely?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on October 1, 2007 at 12:08 PM
The Congress should stop spending its time with condemnation votes and work on controlling spending, among other important issues.
dedalus on October 1, 2007 at 12:10 PM
You are right Bryan, and I hope that means that in the future, you will not jump on the Anti Ann Coulter bandwagon as fast as you have in the past.
JayHaw Phrenzie on October 1, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Look, we call ‘em like we see ‘em here. The current controversy over Rush is entirely phony. Coulter actively seeks out controversy and sometimes she goes too far.
Bryan on October 1, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Sick em Bryan………You go boy……
doriangrey on October 1, 2007 at 12:13 PM
re: JayHaw Phrenzie
Ditto.
safarial on October 1, 2007 at 12:14 PM
I’d like to add an Amen, too BP.
well said.
“Rack ‘im”
Mike D. on October 1, 2007 at 12:18 PM
And I’d say the same thing to you that I said to him. You guys are taking a one-size-fits-all-controversies approach to this, which is just as wrong as the conservatives who are aping Media Matters. Take each situation on its own merits.
Bryan on October 1, 2007 at 12:19 PM
So, your position is we should fight against the knee jerk liberal attacks against conservative commenters, except Ann Coulter.
I smell a whiff of hypocrisy.
JayHaw Phrenzie on October 1, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Don’t miss Rush today at 1 PM. Justice Thomas 90 minute interview. Last night Justice Thomas on 60 minutes was great and took no crap with silly questions from the interviewer, whoever the interviewer was. 1st time I have watched 60 minutes in 10 years or more.
We must not let up on Media Matters until the MSM is forced to cover it. Keep up the pressure and we need to address their tax status.
Wade on October 1, 2007 at 12:29 PM
The local clown who holds down the highly coveted Saturday morning spot on Rush’s local station took the expected liberal tack: immediately after replaying Rush’s comment (the whole thing, in context no less), he of course said, “But what Rush said isn’t the real issue here.” Of course not! The real issue is all of those poor soliders (real ones) who do oppose the war and get “beaten up” for it every single day.
You know, like… like that one guy. You know, and that other one. What’s his name. Well, he wasn’t physically beaten up, but he’s not supported. You know what I mean.
And of course, the first caller after this comment urged the station to do the right thing and drop Rush (how dare he insult the troops like that!), regardless of the cost to the station. Nevermind that Joe Saturday doesn’t have a job anymore if Rush stops paying the bills.
saint kansas on October 1, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I think Rush can be a pompous windbag, but he is also right most of the time. I listened to his “phony soldier” comment when the show was aired. When taken in context he is talking about the Jesse Macbeth’s of the world. Of course media matters twisted what he said. Any one who listens to what media matters has to say and beleives it has a strong suspension of beleif.
As far as Coulter goes, I agree with most of what she says, but she deliberatly goes out of her way to be offensive and “in your face” about it. Their are times when that is necasary, but she goes that route almost every time. And she does so knowing that she is giving the left what they want, another sound bite to paint the conservatives with as broad a brush as possible.
Wyrd on October 1, 2007 at 12:33 PM
That smell is coming from something other than me dude. We call ‘em like we see ‘em, period. End of story.
If you can’t understand that, that’s your problem.
Bryan on October 1, 2007 at 12:33 PM
so how long before you to are on the media matters hit list Byran ?
I would think that would be a badge of honor .
is it any wonder why i get most of my real news coverage from HA & MM site and the ladies of talk radio {Laura Ingram, Tammy Bruce and Melody Morgan}
Now all thats missing is HA stream and i can finally turn off my tv :)
Mojack420 on October 1, 2007 at 12:34 PM
The same could be said for all the insane Bush bashing that has occurred over the years. Obviously, neither Bush nor Rush are perfect, but they are not the demons that the leftist moonbats have made them out to be, and the conservative whining has plucked my last nerve.
Thanks, Bryan. You are abso-bloomin-lutely right.
Mommynator on October 1, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Thank you. Great piece, Bryan.
I won’t name names, but I was terribly disappointed to see a normally great blogger say he hasn’t listened to Rush in 20 years and then went on to demand an apology.
JammieWearingFool on October 1, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Yes she does but I think because if she did not she would get no coverage in the MSM. I think it is a great marketing strategy, and gets her point out to many more people.
Wade on October 1, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Way to go Bryan!!!! You are my hero!!!!
Winebabe on October 1, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Bravo, Bryan! Thanks for saying it.
petefrt on October 1, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Fairness Doctrine 2.0 (beta)
LakeRuins on October 1, 2007 at 1:04 PM
And furthermore, if they really want some good comments from Rush they need to back to the late 80’s or early 90’s when Rush was popular but not really as well known. I discovered him while on recruiting duty, in my goverment vehicle which only had an AM radio, during those long trips into rural America. You know doing a job regular Americans won’t do.
LakeRuins on October 1, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Well, Rush just apologised to the troops….
on behalf of media maters!
I think media matters is way over their head now, this will backfire just like move on is.
Wyrd on October 1, 2007 at 1:13 PM
That’s what you read into Bryan’s post?…I smell a whiff of stupidity.
right2bright on October 1, 2007 at 1:21 PM
I LOVE RUSH!! ALWAYS HAVE, AND PROBABLY ALWAYS WILL!
Troy Rasmussen on October 1, 2007 at 1:24 PM
What a shame, I missed that name.
right2bright on October 1, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Watch for the AprilOrit’s of the world to make some goofy comments here real soon.
I’m holding my breath….while I insert the cricket tape.
………………[crickets chirping]…………………..
Mcguyver on October 1, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Bryan, I think you should guest-host for Rush. :)
GT on October 1, 2007 at 1:50 PM
I heard that on my way back from lunch. I started thinking, I imagine that MediaMatters is now reporting that “Rush apologized to the troops.” Then Rush came back on after the commercial break and said the same thing. I, too, think they have bitten off more than they can chew this time. But it’s just another thing that will become “legend” in liberals’ minds — doesn’t matter whether it is truthful or not. They will repeat it like a mantra for months (years) to come.
lan astaslem on October 1, 2007 at 1:58 PM
That or they will get out the super industrial sized plunger and try to ram it down the memory hole as soon as they realize how big a hole they just blew in their own foot….
doriangrey on October 1, 2007 at 2:02 PM
I adore Rush. I have learned to much from listening to him for the last 15 years. He makes sense to me. It’ll be a cryin’ shame if he’s taken off the Armed Forces Network broadcast.
Totally OT, and I apologize in advance, but I need some assistance - I am hosting a book club. We read Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor. Can those of you who have read it help me out with some discussion questions? I though about posting this on the Open Thread Saturday, but it’s so far down on the list that no one will see it. Sorry Bryan.
pullingmyhairout on October 1, 2007 at 2:04 PM
I used to think that also before I really started listening to Rush’s show.
Since then, I listened to what was Air America, now I know what real pompous windbags are.
Kini on October 1, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Sounds like Congress is pursuing this insane attack on Rush as we speak.
infidel4life on October 1, 2007 at 2:48 PM
That should read “Democrats in Congress.”
infidel4life on October 1, 2007 at 2:49 PM
MM has the resolution that Mark Udall whore of Media Matters , I mean, representative from Colorado, is going to introduce to congress today on her site. I immediately sent an e-mail to him and told him to “get off his butt and research something before following the Media Matters crowd”. I also said that his resolution was “a piece of unadulterated garbage.” Yes, I purposely left the word congress in lower case.
MNDavenotPC on October 1, 2007 at 2:51 PM
Ooooh, Rush just slammed Dingy Harry and challenged him to a face-to-face on the air! Reid is unarmed in a battle of wits with Rush.
infidel4life on October 1, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Like I said on Michelle’s site, I wrote to Udall as well, calling myself Jessie Macbeth and giving a phony Colorado address for my contact info. Because I’m a phony constituent. And I’m fed up with my representation. I mean, I might not be a real Colorado resident, but I’m sure my experience reflects the views of most Colorado residents, so it’s OK, right? So don’t dare call me a phony.
saint kansas on October 1, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Memo to the AprilOrits of the world. This too, can happen to you.
Mcguyver on October 1, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Ha Ha, saint kansas! someone should have “Tommy” write Sen. Reid about it.
maggie katzen on October 1, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Memo to the AprilOrits of the world. This too, can happen to you.Mcguyver on October 1, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Huh?! Do I need a rubber band, some tweezers and a swiss army knife to understand what a AprilOrits is.
Kini on October 1, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Dude. You stole all the thunder. The comments are all “ditto”. Heh.
Jaibones on October 1, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Though I don’t think anyone would be shocked if Rush had seen the ABC story, which then popped to mind in response to his caller.
Karl on October 1, 2007 at 3:47 PM
Anything would work better than AprilOrit’s brain.
Mcguyver on October 1, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Content of an email I just sent to Rush:
leepro on October 1, 2007 at 4:12 PM
I think that this is just linkbait for Rick Moran et al. I don’t know how anyone can interpret Rush’s comment to mean he is talking about actual soldiers. The context is perfectly clear.
Kind of sad that they need to repeat leftwing smears to increase their traffic.
Bill C on October 1, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Amazingly astute, Bryan, once again.
MadisonConservative on October 1, 2007 at 4:48 PM
Great post Bryan!
fratricidal - good word!
The sad thing is that the ‘outside’ does not understand that Rush absolutely, positively supports the troops, in more ways than one. So in the eyes of the blind, they will believe what the MSM shove down their throat as news every evening. Most ppl don’t have the time or energy to really know what is going on in this country politically.
Ever watch ‘Jaywalking’ on the Tonight Show? Sad, but true.
lsutiger on October 1, 2007 at 7:18 PM
The Clinton disinformation machine is at full throttle. Funny how everyone under attack is conservative…
T J Green on October 1, 2007 at 7:47 PM
Ah, better ….
deepdiver on October 1, 2007 at 8:00 PM
the job thing keeps me from listening most days but I do love Rush. Thanks Bryan and everyone else. We should laugh at the left every chance we get since they do appear to be a joke now.
kahall on October 1, 2007 at 8:04 PM
The ‘phony soldier’ phenomenon is not new. Most men have some desire to be a hero, some have so much that they will lie about their service.
When Jessie Macbeth first started wagging his forked tongue, someone posted a link to a forum of former Army Rangers. There was more than one account a real retired Ranger confronting someone who merely played one on the internet.
When asked “What did you do in the big war?”, no one wants to reply, “Aw, I shoveled shit in Louisiana.”
fluffy on October 1, 2007 at 8:38 PM
You know you’re at the top of the heap when the enemy swings about and lowers their big guns on you every chance they get.
Rush = the top of the heap
Rush’s detractors = the scum of the gutter
Those who mention ‘drugs’ or ‘getting high’ when describing Rush are even bigger fools than those who try to paint him a racist. Pathetic, little punks, too lazy or dishonest to present his quotes in context or address the point he made. Just sohhh small, those people.
Rugged Individual on October 2, 2007 at 3:32 AM
Yeaaah. Saint Rush. If it were Al Franken saying this stuff you’d be all over him like stink on crap.
“I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve.”
Too many whites are getting away with drug use…Too many whites are getting away with drug sales…The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too. [5 Oct 1995]
I am addicted to prescription pain medication. [10 Oct 2003]
Bradky on October 2, 2007 at 7:33 AM
Talk about goofy - you should be heartbroken about your party and what is happening to it - and concentrating on the bigger picture.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119127620102645595.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us
AprilOrit on October 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM