Limbaugh brought his Democrat-bashing to U.S. troops in Afghanistan

[Pirate Smile]

From Media Matters:

"Limbaugh brought his Democrat-bashing to U.S. troops in Afghanistan

While in Afghanistan to highlight America's ongoing relief efforts in that country, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh delivered a partisan attack against a "political party," an apparent reference to Democrats, in a discussion with American troops. Recounting his remarks during a phone interview with guest host Roger Hedgecock on the February 22 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Limbaugh noted that he told the troops he wouldn't "go politically correct on them" by hiding liberals' "opposition" to the troops and their mission:

LIMBAUGH: And, by the way, folks, if you're wondering, I didn't go politically correct on them. I told them exactly who's saying what about them in an opposition fashion. I told them what I think is the sort of phony-baloney, plastic-banana, good-time rock 'n' roller of some members of the American left saying they support the troops but they don't support their mission --

And I haven't run into anybody who has snickered. They're eager for the truth here.

Later in the program, Limbaugh explained that when a soldier asked him whether the U.S. should permit Afghanistan to adopt its own system of government, Limbaugh replied to a group of troops:

LIMBAUGH: And I said, "There are a lot of people in America who don't trust free people to do the right thing. I won't mention a political party -- you all know it -- and I won't mention the ideology -- you all know it.

But I have no desire to tell the Afghans they have to do it this way, they have to do it that way. Give them their freedom and let them figure it out. I trust it."

Right-wing news website NewsMax.com covered Limbaugh's remarks to the troops in Afghanistan on February 23, reporting that Limbaugh "skewer left wing war critics for undermining their mission."

It isn't clear who is paying for Limbaugh's trip to Afghanistan or if he is being paid for his time, as Media Matters for America has noted."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200502230009

[Mugweed]

1. Eager for the truth?

And listening to Rush? Oh boy, that's rich. You know, from my recollections Al Franken has never used a USO tour in the ME to trash or aggrandize any particular political party. It's fitting to see that Mr. Oxycontin himself can't manage to simply entertain, but has to drag his bullshit opinions into it.

[Canuckistanian]

11. You're right.. listen to Rush, eager for truth....

Some cognitive dissonance there.

[skids]

2. Looks like they want those troops coming home angry at us...

Those they do allow to come home, that is.

Nice captive audience they have there to convey their one side of the argument.

I think we Dems should do something really nice for troops whenever some of them get back. It's obvious what the R's are trying to do here.

[ElectroPrincess]

5. Not too much to worry about ...

I had the opportunity to talk with a recently discharged soldier last week. He told me that many troops HATED Rush's broadcasts.

My take as to why = the more a person suffers and is close to death, the more their priorities do NOT include partisan politics.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Thank ElectroPrincess

for the reassuriance.

[Cha]

23. Very similiar to my thoughts..thanks

for verifying it!

[Just Me]

25. Yep. Rush is as hateful an anti-American American as ya' can get.

He doesn't have nearly the following he thinks he has.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. I agree

What if someone in their family is a democrat? What would happen? Rush isn't helping with anything. He's only making matters worse and I fear what will happen when they come home. :\ According to Franken when he was over there all they watch is the Fox network. So they're already hating us. *sigh*

[Inland]

3. Revisionist, who was against the war in Afghanistan? Bush, maybe,

as he diverts all our troops, time, and money from Afghanistan to Iraq. Now Afghanistan is run by warlords except for Kabul, where the europeans are holding down the fort. What a drug addled liar Rush is.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Right. This is Afghanistan, not Iraq.

[PA Democrat]

4. Maybe Congressman Waxman could find out

if any taxpayer funds were spent to have Rush push his right wing agenda. If I were a soldier of liberal persuasion, I'd be pretty damn mad to have the pimple-assed chicken-hawk denigrating MY political party.

[benddem]

13. Of course it is taxpayer funded

he is there with the executive of US Aid. He wouldn't be there if it wasn't tax payer funded. He said he can't go on USO tours because they only take liberals. The man is a liar.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. That's false

When Franken was there he was with a country singer named Darryl Whitley I believe and he sang at the RNC. So it's very non-partisian. Franken proped Whitley and said he had a nice 9/11 song and he was a talented singer. I heard a few minute's of him on the RNC and he has a nice voice and all. I already missed majority of his performance so I just flipped the channel.

[TexasLawyer]

26. Colin Quinn went to Iraq with the USO

to do a comedy show--He's very conservative and is very vocal about it too.

[gratuitous]

7. Really Rush?

And which party, do you suppose, just submitted a budget that cuts veterans' benefits? Hint: They're not in power right now.

I look forward to Mr. Lamebrain's in-depth analysis of how the proposed cuts "support" the troops.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. Lardbutt went to Afghanistan?

Did he get confused and thought it was Viet Nam?

[izzie]

9. Some times I am happy I am so old I will not have to go back ===

to the 1880's with the rest of country. It is going to be a lot of fun. I do pity my children and their children.

[King Coal]

10. This is so disgusting.

I wish Clark would address this.

[Career Prole]

12. Hey Pigboy...come visit Merkel, TX next. I'll put you up at my place.

You piece of shit.

[tabasco]

15. Soldiers aren't as stupid as these mf'ers think.

A lot of the troops I served with would laugh at a cowardly chickenhawk like Rush.

[ArtVandaley]

18. sick sick sick

No matter who you are or what you believe, when you visit the troops you thank them for their sacrifice and leave politics out of it. Anything else is a classless move. Can you imagine what would happen if a liberal did this? Wouldn't happen, because we have more class, but still, the liberal would be cruxified!

[ucmike]

19. limbaugh will probably get military benefits

for his time in the war zone. then the connecticut cowboy will give him one of those shiny republican medals of honor like he already passed out to his trio of victorious iraq campaigners.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. "... phony-baloney, plastic-banana..."

One must bow one's head to such great art.

[The Unknown Derelict]

21. Oooooh....what a 'Rush'

And, by the way, folks, if you're wondering what I am wondering, why did they let an alleged 'criminal' & hypocrite (who is under investigation) leave the country.

If this were anyone else they would probably....(you guess it)

[Cha]

22. That's just wrong..you know there are more

than a few Democrats in the military..:wtf: do they think when that shithead asshole starts dividing the soldiers with his rants on good ol' Democrats?

[TexasLawyer]

24. An earlier DU thread on the Rush trip

I wonder if my hero David Brock reads DU?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1618151

[Pirate Smile]

27. Thanks.

[pdxmom]

28. I'd actually like to hear a tape of everything he said to the troops

because it's impossible to counter it unless you know what was actually said. I think Limbaugh's ego and mouth are too big and he's too impetuous to not slip up and specifically talk about certain people..and by talk, I mean lie. The right wing media needs to be confronted head on when they pull that crap.

[MissWaverly]

29. Hmm, is this another example of payola!

Why did Rush not go with the USO like everyone else, if he's going on taxpayer's dollars and is spreading a partisan message, he's a paid shill for Bush. Didn't the GAO say no more federal money for government propaganda????