Dump Rush - My Letter to Sen Webb

Rush Limbaugh's latest "Phony Soldiers" smear, and his pathetic attempts to cover it up, has seriously pissed me off.  Seriously enough that I have now written to my senators, Webb and Warner, requesting that Limbaugh be pulled from the Armed Forces Radio Television Stations (AFRTS) network.

My letter below:

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Dear Senator [  ],

I am writing in regards to radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, his recent slander against "phony soldiers," and the fact that his show is aired on Armed Forces Radio Television Stations (AFRTS).

I am a 22 year navy veteran who joined in 1974.  I volunteered for military service not too long after Mr. Limbaugh used the excuse of a cyst on his buttocks to avoid serving our country in Vietnam.  

I am proud of the years of service to our country.  I am proud that I did my small part to ensure that every citizen of our country could continue to enjoy the rights given to us by God, and protected by our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.  Of any right protected by our Bill of Rights, I value free speech as the most important; I consider this right as the bedrock foundation that all other rights flow from.  

I am and have been from the very first, deeply opposed to our present war in Iraq.

On Mr. Limbaugh's September 26 show, he characterized service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as "phony soldiers."  Since then, he has not only refused to apologize for this statement, he has denied it ever happened, claimed "Media Matters" is attempting to falsely smear him, and has even edited his tapes to prove he never said what millions of listeners did in fact hear him say.

Mr. Limbaugh has the right of free speech, as does every other person living in this country.  However, in Mr. Limbaugh's own words (spoken in late 2003 after radio commentator Howard Sterns' show was canceled) "he has the right of free speech.  He does not have the right to a platform."  Mr. Limbaugh’s "phony soldiers" statement is a personal insult from a man who was too cowardly to serve our county when he had the opportunity.  I am furious that this man would insult the many thousands of our brothers and sisters still in uniform serving our country in Iraq, while holding personal opinions that our presence in Iraq is wrong.

While Mr. Limbaugh has the right to say what he wants, he does not have the right to say it on the AFRTS networks that are broadcast to our fellow soldiers, sailors, and airman around the world, one hour each day, five days each week.  Mr. Limbaugh already has more air time than any other radio commentator of any political viewpoint.  Enough is enough.

I respectfully ask that you support Retired General Clark and other political leaders in forcing the Department of Defense to cancel the "Rush Limbaugh Show" on AFRTS.  There is no reason for Mr. Limbaugh to have a platform that allows him to insult the people who still serve to defend our country.

Please have this man's show removed from AFRTS.

Sincerely Yours,

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I didn't bother writing to my congressman, Tom Davis, as he is one of the wingnut supremes.  I doubt Warner would take action but he might - he's actually a pretty decent human being.

Please feel free to use this letter as a base of your own.  I ask that everyone write to your own congress critter with the request to "Dump Rush" from AFRTS.  

Enough is Enough.