Rep John Hall on Rush and Iraq

[cal04]

...as a matter of fact, Markos...
Dems ARE condemning Rush Limbaugh for his repeated attacks against our service members. Enough is enough.

I know that there is a back and forth about whether another condemnation is worth the time. I happen to believe it is in this case. Therefore, I'm introducing a resolution that shows emphatically that Congress will not condone ad hominem political attacks on U.S. troops. On Monday,I’m introducing legislation to express the Sense of Congress that this body rejects and condemns Limbaugh’s heinous remarks, and will continue to engage in a debate on ending our involvement in Iraq that eschews character-based attacks on our Armed Forces. Hopefully, this will end the back and forth so we can focus our efforts on ending the war.

Like many of you, I believe ardently that the REAL issue is that this war has been a mistake from the beginning, has been terribly mismanaged by President Bush, has undermined our national security, and that it is time to bring our troops home. There are strong feelings on both the right and the left, but as the war in Iraq is debated throughout our country we must endeavor to make sure that arguments are confined to the military policy in Iraq, and that passions do not boil over and lead to personal attacks against the men and women of our Armed Forces.

Radio host Rush Limbaugh had the audacity to personally attack veterans of the Iraq war who have spoken out against the war by calling them, "phony soldiers."

It is nearly impossible to think of a more direct insult to the character of the men and women who have served our country honorably, risking life and limb in the process, than to be called "phony."

Limbaugh’s comments sought nothing less than to belittle the efforts of these brave men and women, and to cheapen their exercise of the right to free speech that they volunteered to defend.

Regardless of whether one supports or opposes our continued military involvement in Iraq, it is completely inappropriate to attack the character of those who do not hold public office, have not entered the political sphere, and have honorably served their country at the risk of their own lives.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/28/182951/795