Joe Conason: Limbaugh’s “Phony Soldiers” Slur

[kevinmc]

-SNIP-

Two days later, under heavy critical fire for using those words, he claimed to be the victim of a “smear.” He served up a neatly trimmed transcript of the Sept. 26 program, omitting more than a minute and a half to make it seem as if his “phony soldiers” reference was intended solely for an anti-war activist who had allegedly masqueraded as an Army vet. That falsified transcript has provided fodder for Limbaugh’s defenders, a motley assortment of bloggers, Fox News personalities, and a Republican congressman from Georgia who has actually introduced a resolution commending him.

Not content with insulting the troops, the Limbaugh clones seem to think any soldier who examines the transcript will be too dumb to figure out how they have tampered with it. It is equally telling that both he and his defenders change the original phrase “phony soldiers” and say “phony soldier” instead—because the plural belies his alibi and emphasizes his nasty intention.

While today he whines because Media Matters for America, the progressive watchdog group, caught and publicized his slur, he cannot escape what the audio proves.

Only in a media environment where conservatives have long felt exempt from scrutiny would Limbaugh still feel free to mock the military service of those who disagree with him. He is, after all, a certified chicken-hawk who cheered on the Vietnam War as it ground up tens of thousands of young Americans, but saw no reason why he should serve. His local draft board in a Missouri county, where his family enjoyed political influence, granted him a 1-Y deferment after he dropped out of college and forfeited his student deferment. Explaining how he escaped the draft, he has cited both a “bad knee” and a cyst on his backside that supposedly rendered him medically unfit. .........

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20071004_limbaughs_phony_soldiers_slur/

[Kiouni]

1. Its funny because Rush is a "cyst on his backside" too

We have so much in common!

[BridgeTheGap]

2. He IS a cyst on our nation's ass

which is quite a feat given the asshole he is.

[Demeter]

3. Limbaugh Is a Phony American

and so are his supporters, regardless of the free speech aspect.

[Felix Mala]

4. Rush has been feeding his audience delusions for so many year, they're addicted to them...

Prescription provided by Dr. Transcripts.