[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 25993-25994]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           FREEDOM OF SPEECH

  Mr. REID. Freedom of speech is one of the country's most cherished 
values. Nothing sets us farther apart from the countries and regimes we 
oppose than our belief that everyone's opinion matters--everyone's--and 
that everyone has a right to express it. That is why when we hear 
things on the radio and other places that are offensive, by and large 
we tolerate them. But last week Rush Limbaugh went way over the line. 
While I respect his right to say anything he likes, his unpatriotic 
comments cannot be ignored. During his show last Wednesday, Limbaugh 
was engaged in one of his typical rants. This one was unremarkable and 
indistinguishable from his usual dribble which has been steadily losing 
listeners for years, until he crossed that line by calling our men and 
women in uniform who oppose the war in Iraq ``phony soldiers.'' This 
comment was so beyond the pale of decency we can't leave it alone. Yet 
he followed it up with denials and an attack on Congressman Jack 
Murtha, who was a 37-year active member of the Marine Corps, a combat 
veteran.
  We have been debating the Iraq war in the Senate and throughout the 
country, not for months but for years. There are good, patriotic 
Americans who favor the war and good, patriotic Americans who oppose 
President Bush's first getting us into war and the way he has handled 
the war. Neither party holds a patent on patriotism. I know all of my 
Republican colleagues would agree with this, or at least I hope so. Yet 
Rush Limbaugh took it upon himself to attack the courage and character 
of those fighting and dying for him and for all of us. Rush Limbaugh 
got himself a deferment from serving when he was a young man. He never 
served in uniform. He

[[Page 25994]]

never saw a person in the extreme difficulty of maintaining peace in a 
foreign country engaged in civil war. He never saw a person in combat. 
Yet he thinks his opinion on the war is worth more than those who have 
been on the front lines. What is worse, Limbaugh's show is broadcast on 
Armed Forces Radio which means that thousands of troops overseas and 
veterans here at home were forced to hear this attack on their 
patriotism. Rush Limbaugh owes the men and women of our Armed Forces an 
apology.
  This past Friday, many Democrats joined me in drafting a letter to 
the chief executive officer of Clear Channel, Mark Mays, that we will 
send out this week. Here is what we wrote:

       Dear Mr. Mays: At the time we sign this letter, 3,801 
     American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and another 
     27,936 have been wounded. 160,000 others awoke this morning 
     on foreign sand, far from home, to face the danger and 
     uncertainty of another day at war. Although Americans of 
     goodwill debate the merits of this war, we can all agree that 
     those who serve with such great courage deserve our deepest 
     respect and gratitude. That is why Rush Limbaugh's recent 
     characterization of troops who oppose the war as ``phony 
     soldiers'' is such an outrage. Our troops are fighting and 
     dying to bring to others the freedoms that many take for 
     granted. It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh would 
     criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American 
     right to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous 
     remarks before, but this affront to our soldiers is beyond 
     the pale. The military, like any community within the United 
     States, includes members both for and against the war. Senior 
     generals, such as General John Batiste and Paul Eaton, have 
     come out against the war while others have publicly supported 
     it. A December 2006 poll conducted by the Military Times 
     found just 35 percent of service members approved of 
     President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, compared to 42 
     percent who disapproved. From this figure alone, it is clear 
     that Mr. Limbaugh's insult is directed at thousands of 
     American service members. Active and retired members of our 
     armed forces have a unique perspective on the war and offer a 
     valuable contribution to our national debate. In August, 
     seven soldiers wrote an op-ed expressing their concern with 
     the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, since then, two of 
     those seven soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in 
     Iraq. Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected 
     to Mr. Limbaugh's unpatriotic and indefensible comments on 
     your broadcast. We trust you will agree that not a single one 
     of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving 
     overseas is a ``phony soldier.'' We call on you to publicly 
     repudiate these comments that call into question their 
     service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize 
     for his comments.

  Just as patriotism is the exclusive realm of neither party, taking a 
stand against those who spew hate and impugn the integrity of our 
troops is a job that belongs to both parties. I can't help but wonder 
how my Republican colleagues would have reacted if the tables were 
turned--if a well-known Democratic radio personality had used the same 
insulting line of attack against troops who support the war. The letter 
I read will be available on the Senate floor all day. During the votes, 
after the votes, colleagues on both sides of the aisle will have every 
chance to add their names to it. I encourage all to do so. If we take 
the Republican side at their word that last week's vote on another 
controversial statement related to the war was truly about patriotism, 
not politics, then I have no doubt they will stand with us against 
Limbaugh's comments with equal fervor.
  I am confident we will see Republicans join with us in overwhelming 
numbers. ``Confident'' is the wrong word. ``Hopeful'' is the right 
word. I am hopeful we will see Republicans join with us in overwhelming 
numbers. Anything less would be a double standard that has no place in 
the Senate.
  I ask my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to join together 
against this irresponsible, hateful, and unpatriotic attack by calling 
upon Rush Limbaugh to give our troops the apology they deserve. I hope 
all will sign this letter.

                          ____________________