Purple Heart Recipient Stands Up to Limbaugh's Vicious Attacks

Posted by Amanda Terkel at 5:26 AM on October 3, 2007.

Amanda Terkel: Brian McGough to Rush, "I can assure you that I am no suicide bomber and that I can think for myself."

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This post, written by Amanda Terkel. originally appeared on Think Progress

In a new Vote Vets ad released today, Brian McGough, an Iraq war veteran who received the Purple Heart, challenges Rush Limbaugh: "Until you have the guts to call me a 'phony soldier' to my face, stop telling lies about my service."

In response, Limbaugh today attacked McGough, comparing him to a suicide bomber and suggesting that someone "pumped him full of these lies about what I said":

This is such a blatant use of a valiant combat veteran, lying to him about what I said and then strapping those lies to his belt, sending him out via the media and a TV ad to walk into as many people as he can walk into.

This man will always be a hero to this country with everyone. Whoever pumped him full of these lies about what I said and embarrassed him with this ad has betrayed him, they aren't hurting me. They are betraying this soldier.

In McGough's case, Rush's comments are especially tactless. McGough's injury in Iraq "resulted from a real-life suicide bomber." On DailyKos, McGough responds to Limbaugh:

I can assure you that I am no suicide bomber and that I can think for myself. [...]

Rush, your phony soldier comments pissed me off. The audacity of someone like you who never had the courage to stand and fight for what you believe in makes my head spin. That is what made me stand up and state my convictions in front of a camera. I wanted to point out that you are wrong. I am not a phony soldier. [...]

In the commercial I just taped, I told you unless you had the guts to say something to my face, stop telling lies about my service. Well you haven't had the guts to say it to my face, but I am waiting and the offer is still on the table.

Evidently, according to Limbaugh, pretty much everyone lies and has ulterior motives...unless they agree with him.

UPDATE: Media Matters and Digby have more.

Tagged as: iraq war, limbaugh, us troops, vote vets

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.

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YES!!! [Report this comment] Posted by: yucel81x on Oct 3, 2007 6:12 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] First of all, I am happy to see that this soldier survived the conflict in Iraq and as an American citizen, he has my support and gratitude. Secondly, I commend him for saying something! I don't care if you're right-wing or left-wing. You're entitled to your opinion. But people like Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, etc... they don't care about facts. They don't care about the truth. All they care about is earning ratings by being controversial and by convoluting the airwaves with their own political rhetoric. Support the troops does not mean supporting the war! They are NOT synonymous. I support the troops. I want them to have the best equipment, the best resources, the best care that our system can offer them. However, when they're being sent to fight and die needlessly in a conflict that was started on false allegations and is being perpetuated by politics and the greed of those in power, that is NOT supporting the troops. For Limbaugh to make such an irresponsible statement as that is just pathetic, and how he has any listeners left is beyond me. But again... that's just my opinion. If you agree with Limbaugh... that's your opinion, and you're nothing short of a moron to me. Sorry! To the soldier in this video... you are a true hero sir! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] mealy-mouth swiftboater [Report this comment] Posted by: KaptainSpiffy on Oct 3, 2007 7:05 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] jabba the hut speaks! and, no surprise, he continues the us-them dogma. divide and conquer. there is no center ground where gentlemen meet any longer. just a fat, pasty white bastard with a personal agenda badmouthing those who disagree with him. rush, pull carl rove out of yer a and move off the airwaves. you won't be missed. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] ow [Report this comment] Posted by: drsivana99 on Oct 3, 2007 7:38 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'm not sure how anyone would be able to "pump" this soldier "full of lies" about what Rush said, when what he said was recorded, broadcast, transcribed and heard by millions of people. Is he also suggesting that this man is too stupid to know that? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] thekidde [Report this comment] Posted by: thekidde on Oct 3, 2007 8:33 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Why are Rush Limpdick, Bill Orally, Shawn Hankypanky on the air with their outright lies and phony innuendo? Because a large portion of the American population are uninformed sheep who will believe any racist, misogenist, elitist crap that comes along as long as it conforms to their ignorant prejudices. Just as Joe McCarthy used the "threat" of Communism (doomed to fail anyway) to make a "name" for himself, these lying, phony, chickenhawk mouthpieces for the wing-nut right, use fear and ignorance to pander to the dumbest, least informed of American citizenry. It is no wonder Limpdick's followers call themselves dittoheads - Rush says crap and they say "ditto", regardless of reality. Maybe a requirement is that Rush's dittoheads are all on Oxycontin? It is time to boycott sponsors of these "Tokyo Rose Bushies" and let the media know that crap belongs on reality shows, not on supposed "news/information" shows. Oh, and dump the likes of Coulter too. Her screechy, skewed, inane, brain-dead religious right bullshit is libelous, bordering on criminal (as is yelling fire in a crowded theatre) as her vitriol incites to violence against people she deems worthless in her mindless, atavistic brain fever. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] War Hero Speaks His Mind [Report this comment] Posted by: tommy1957 on Oct 3, 2007 9:26 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Unlike the ditto-dork heads that follow Rush (I need a pizza and a pill) Limbaugh this soldier was speaking for himself. It is inconceivable that any US soldier would be against the war because Rush says so! With his vast knowledge and experience in the armed forces, he should know. During the Vietnam conflict, he had a big boo-boo on his fat ass that kept him out of harms way. As I understand he was counseled by Dick (deferment) Cheney on ways to stay out of the military while supporting the troops. Yes he speaks for all of the Neocon Chicken Little's of America. Hey fat-boy (no offense to obese people) I served for 23+ years. You what to call me a phony soldier (airman); let get it on! I challenge you big fat pussy, let get in the ring, no rules, no referees, just me and you. I will beat the crap out of you and teach you a lesson about American Liberal Pride. You see you fat coward, we liberals also served and are serving now, and you and your posse of Chicken Little's do not speak for us or represent the average enlisted man! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Boycott [Report this comment] Posted by: herbal on Oct 3, 2007 9:36 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Yes, boycott all products and services of companies who support those with whom you disagree. If we do not, we will soon have no choice of products in the market place, only monopoly products. Corporatism rules and the media is Republican owned. Boycott is the only way to get these bimbos off the air. Until then, put your TV in the attic. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » Yup... A Boycott makes sence! Posted by: Bearzerker For any of our soliders to come this far.... [Report this comment] Posted by: eosrk on Oct 3, 2007 11:05 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Is a feat in itself, believe me. Limbaugh, all you ever been is a wanna be GI Joe, but this isn't Hasbro or Media here, this is for real, something all your buddies can't handle........THE TRUTH!!!!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » More like Posted by: hurricane hugo Brian was on the Ed Schultz show today [Report this comment] Posted by: messedup on Oct 3, 2007 11:58 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Ed asked him if he would go head to head with Rush, and he said hell yes!, did I stutter? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] RightWingNuts [Report this comment] Posted by: frank69 on Oct 4, 2007 11:35 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The rightwing nut brigade that makes up crap TV and radio deserve contempt. I don't watch or listen to them, but obviously, many people do. That tells me our schools are deficient. Too many people are too misinformed. Bush suddenly comes to mind: misinformed! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] You ever notice most of these right wing nut jobs** [Report this comment] Posted by: Ellie1 on Oct 4, 2007 11:39 AM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] like Rush, O'Lielly etc. live in friggin Florida? What a miserable state-home of the hanging chads and voter fraud. Think Spain would take back that miserable state? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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