[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 159 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         BIDDING ON EBAY LETTER

  Mr. REID. Madam President, earlier this month, I came to the floor to 
discuss some comments made by Rush Limbaugh.
  Following my remarks, more than 40 of my Senate colleagues and I 
cosigned a letter to the chairman of Clear Channel, Mark Mays, telling 
him that we wanted him to confer with Rush Limbaugh regarding the 
statements he made. I have since spoken to Mark Mays about this. Mark 
Mays, in fact, called me regarding this letter.
  This week, Rush Limbaugh put the original copy of that letter up for 
auction on eBay. We did not have time or we could have gotten every 
Democratic Senator to sign that letter. But he put the letter up for 
auction on eBay and, I think very constructively, left the proceeds of 
that to go to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.
  What is the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation? It provides 
scholarship assistance to children of marines and Federal law 
enforcement personnel whose parent dies in the line of duty, as well as 
health care assistance for disabled children of fallen troops.
  What could be a more worthwhile cause? I think it is really good that 
this money on eBay is going to be raised for this purpose.
  When I spoke to Mark Mays, I think he and I thought this probably 
would not raise much money--a letter written by Democratic Senators 
complaining about something.
  This morning, the bid is more than $2 million. We have watched it 
during the week. It keeps going up and up and up, and there is only a 
little bit of time left. But it is certainly going to be more than $2 
million. Never did we think this letter would bring money of this 
nature; and for the cause, it is extremely good.
  Now, everyone knows that Rush Limbaugh and I do not agree on 
everything in life, and maybe that is kind of an understatement. But 
without qualification, Mark Mays, the CEO of the network that has Rush 
Limbaugh on it, and Rush Limbaugh, should know that this letter they 
are auctioning is going to be something that raises money for a 
worthwhile cause.
  I do not know what we could do more importantly to help ensure 
children of our fallen soldiers and police officers who have fallen in 
the line of duty have the opportunity to have a good education. Think 
about this: More than $2 million. This is going to really help. That 
is, again, an understatement.
  There is only a little bit of time left, so I would ask those who are 
wanting to do more--they can go to eBay and search for ``Harry Reid 
Letter'' and it will come up. I would encourage anyone who is 
interested, with the means to do so, to consider bidding on this letter 
and contributing to this worthwhile cause.
  I strongly believe when we can put our differences aside--even Harry 
Reid and Rush Limbaugh--we should do that and try to accomplish good 
things for the American people. This does that--more than $2 million 
for a letter, signed by this Senator and my friends.

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