Tag Archives: armed forces radio

Comparing Rush Limbaugh to Bill Maher is either remarkably dishonest or really stupid

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For one thing, Bill Maher is a COMEDIAN! Yep, Maher has said mean things about Palin and sometimes he goes too far — but most of the time it’s funny — because that’s what he does for a living. By now, everyone who is not in a coma should understand that Maher’s a politically-based comedian who does a show on HBO (pay channel!) and stand-up comedy.

On the other hand, Rush Limbaugh is broadcast on public airwaves for three hours a day, five days a week — including taxpayer-funded Armed Forces radio (AFN) — and has been allowed to set the tone and conversation on issues affecting everyone with the GOP establishment, while he sits atop the Republican Kingdom on his Big (huge!) Royal Throne of Grandiosity. There’s absolutely no comparison. Look at the influence that the GOP has given Limbaugh:

Limbaugh and George HW Bush: 

Early in the summer of 1992, Roger Ailes, who was working for President Bush, made the connection. The president invited Limbaugh to accompany him to the Kennedy Center and spend a night at the White House. Bush personally carried Limbaugh’s bag from the elevator of the White House residence to his room, a gesture Rush never forgot. That night he called his mother and brother from the Lincoln bedroom. “Guess where I’m sleeping tonight,” he said. Bush might not be Reagan, but he was the president of the United States. [page 81]

Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan: 

Limbaugh proudly read the letter to his audience on the December 21, 1992, edition of his television show [via Nexis]

LIMBAUGH: “Ronald Reagan, December 11th, 1992. Dear Rush, thanks for all you’re doing to promote Republican and conservative principles. Now that I’ve re” — and lis –and listen to this, folks. Listen to this. “Now that I’ve retired from active politics, I don’t mind that you’ve become the number one voice for conservatism in our country.”

I — I mean — you know, that’s — that’s — that’s not just a, “Hey, Rush, nice to know you. Hope you enjoyed my letter,” kind of sentence. There’s a — there’s something very serious in that, and I was – I — I was so proud.

It goes on, “I know the liberals call you the most dangerous man in America, but don’t worry about it. They used to say the same thing about me. Keep up the good work. America needs to hear the way things ought to be. Sincerely, Ron.”

Limbaugh and George W Bush — RECENT history: 

August 1, 2008: During his 20th anniversary show on August 1, 2008, Limbaugh received a surprise phone call from President Bush, Jeb Bush, and George H.W. Bush — “people who consider you friends and really appreciate the contribution you’ve made,” as the president put it. George H.W. Bush told Rush he was “proud of you, always,” and asked how “our man” Roger Ailes was doing. Jeb Bush told Limbaugh: “One of the great things about your show is it’s broadcast in the Sunshine State, for which a whole lot of Floridians are very grateful, including me.”

November 9, 2010: Bush’s most recent appearance (to date) was on November 9, 2010, as he was promoting his recently released memoir, Decision Points.

In the final days of the Bush presidency, Limbaugh traveled to Washington for what one of his guest hosts called a “secret meeting.” Limbaugh later revealed that the “meeting” was a private “farewell luncheon” at the White House with President Bush. As Limbaugh described it, the lunch was actually a surprise birthday party for Limbaugh, complete with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by Bush and his aides, and “a little chocolate microphone.”

And the apologies, the tears, and the kissing of the ring!

  • Michael Steele
  • Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
  • Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)
  • Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)

There’s MUCH more…

So if someone tries to say that Limbaugh’s an “entertainer” or “comedian” like Maher, it won’t work. He may be absurd and ridiculous to most of us, but he’s been taken very seriously by the Republican Party for two decades.

And that rather embarrassing fact is on them.

Armed Forces radio debates dropping Limbaugh amid mounting criticism: let’s get this done!

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“No one in the Army listens to [him] anyway. AFN carries him for the retired white 65 to 90 crowd.” — American soldier, deployed to Afghanistan, who was not authorized to speak about Limbaugh.

Republican shock jock Rush Limbaugh covers his face as an ex-Marine calls him a "Nazi" during a radio segment in 2009. Screenshot via YouTube.
image: RawStory

Unfortunately, the white 65 – 90 crowd also includes Pentagon officials and top military brass, most of whom would like to ‘shape the young minds‘ they lead, to fit with their conservative military-political aspirations.

I’ve said this several times before, but it bears repeating: AFN and Armed Forces radio is funded with tax payer dollars — yours and mine. On the serious side of that fact: it’s simply unacceptable for more than half the taxpayers in America (if not more) that part of the taxes we pay to the federal government are going into Rush Limbaugh’s bank account! Period. On the less serious side of it: that means we’re actually subsidizing Limbaugh’s Viagra co-pay. In other words, the taxpayers are paying him to have sex! See how that circled around and actually works?

Amid mounting criticism, Armed Forces radio debates dropping Limbaugh

Will the Pentagon pull Rush Limbaugh’s radio show from the armed forces radio network?

Broadcast to troops in bases throughout the world and aboard US Navy ships, the network’s self-described mission is to provide “a touch of home” for service members overseas.

Yet as the furor over Mr. Limbaugh’s description of a Georgetown University student as a “slut” reaches troops overseas, US military veterans as well as soldiers serving in Afghanistan are asking the Pentagon to drop Limbaugh’s radio program from its lineup.

An organization of some 100,000 US military veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, VoteVets.org, is also circulating a petition calling for the removal of Limbaugh’s show from the US military’s network, and signatures on it are growing everyday, says Maj. Jon Soltz, the chairman of VoteVets.org.

There are currently more than 11,000 military veterans and family members who have signed the petition.

[...] For now, Pentagon officials say they have no plans to drop the show. “Our goal is to provide a wide array of programming for service members overseas that would be available to them stateside,” says Pentagon spokesman George Little. “Airing programming on the American Forces Network does not constitute endorsement of what is said or shown.”

That said, Mr. Little adds, “We always take seriously the feedback of our service members.”

The U.S. Army pulled their ads from Limbaugh’s radio show. It’s time for AFN to do the same. From last week:

Female Veterans Demand Rush Limbaugh’s Show Be Pulled From American Forces Network — Rush Limbaugh has a freedom of speech and can say what he wants, but in light of his horribly misogynistic comments, American Forces Radio should no longer give him a platform. Our entire military depends on troops respecting each other – women and men. There simply can be no place on military airwaves for sentiments that would undermine that respect. When many of our female troops use birth control, for Limbaugh to say they are “sluts” and “prostitutes” is beyond the pale. It isn’t just disrespectful to our women serving our country, but it’s language that goes against everything that makes our military work. Again, we swore to uphold our Constitution, including the freedom of speech, and would not take that away from anyone – even Limbaugh. But that does not mean AFN should broadcast him. In fact, it shouldn’t.

TAKE ACTION: