Top U.S. military officer harangued by anti-war protestors, senators at hearing

[Soldier4Christ]

Top U.S. military officer harangued by anti-war protestors, senators at hearing

A spokesman for the Family Research Council says Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) was the "ringleader" of a Senate hearing that turned into a "circus" and disrespected two top U.S. military officials.

Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Peter Pace was shouted down by hecklers from the anti-war group Code Pink after reaffirming his belief that homosexuality is "counter to God's law" and should not be condoned by the military.

The hecklers had been booing and jeering Pace and Defense Secretary Bob Gates throughout a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Pentagon's $190 billion funding request for the war in Iraq. The anti-war protestors created such a disturbance that Senator Robert Byrd, the committee chairman, was forced to suspend the hearing.

Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council says Senator Byrd let the protestors take over the hearing. "And then to top it all off, Senator Harkin starts attacking General Pace on his belief that homosexuals should not be serving in the military. Something that has been part of the military conduct for a very long time and something General Pace personally believes in, yet he was mocked and ridiculed by Senator Harkin," says McClusky. "And congratulations to Senator Judd Gregg for standing up to Senator Harkin and telling him he should be ashamed for his actions."

He says Harkin (D-Iowa) and Byrd were pandering to the more radical elements of their party. "I think it was a play to the radical Democratic base, the anti-war base, groups like Code Pink and MoveOn.org," he stated. "It was definitely a play to them, and I'm sure that if we went to their websites right now we'd probably see alerts telling them to thank Senator Harkin and to thank Senator Byrd for their mistreatment of a respected general."

McClusky says Pace showed a tremendous amount of character by keeping his cool and standing firm in his opposition to homosexuality and adultery in the military.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rush to Sen. Reid: 'Say it to my face'
Talk host replies after Senate speech demanding apology to U.S. troops

Rush Limbaugh fired back today at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after the Nevada Democrat made a speech on the Senate floor denouncing the talk radio host for allegedly making a "hateful" and "unpatriotic" attack on U.S. troops opposed to the war in Iraq.

Limbaugh, contending he was "smeared" with false charges, demanded Reid come on the top-rated radio program, confront him "like a man" and "stop hiding behind the speech-and-debate clause and your Senate immunity."

"You want to come on this program and call me unpatriotic, come on this program and call me unpatriotic," Limbaugh said. "You want to call me a liar, you want to tell me that I did not say what I said, you come on this program and you tell me to my face that I said what I did not say."

Democrats contend Limbaugh characterized anti-war troops as "phony soldiers," but Limbaugh points out his reference was to Jesse MacBeth, who was uncovered as a fraud after claiming atrocities by U.S. troops.

Video of Reid's remarks, broadcast by C-Span 2, were posted by blogger Ian Schwartz.

Meanwhile, the House is considering a resolution in support of Limbaugh, commending him "for his ongoing public support of American troops serving both here and abroad."

Democrats seized on the issue as a counterattack to criticism from Republicans over a MoveOn.org ad that referred to Gen. David Petraeus as "General Betray Us."

Reid, demanding Limbaugh apologize to U.S. troops, told his Senate colleagues:

    Last week, Rush Limbaugh went way over the line, way over the line. While I respect his right to say anything he likes, his unpatriotic comments I cannot ignore. During his show last Wednesday, Limbaugh was engaged in one of his typical rants. This one was unremarkable, indistinguishable from his usual drivel, 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, and I quote, "phony soldiers." This comment was so beyond the pale of decency, and we can't leave it alone. And 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, combat veteran.

Responding after playing clips of Reid's speech on his program today, Limbaugh said he did make an apology -- on behalf of Democrats for their "smear campaign."

Reid, said Limbaugh, knows what he is saying is false, but "he just wants to get this in the Congressional Record now" as a way "to discredit me and rehabilitate the Democrats."

Limbaugh called Reid's speech "Kafkaesque," noting he had just finished an interview with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, "talking about the lies and stuff spread about him during his confirmation hearings, and now I, little old private citizen, Rush Limbaugh, the subject of Senate action, the subject today of House of Representatives action, all based on a purposely told lie, which they know is a lie, and yet they are persisting in this."

"Followed it up with denials?" said Limbaugh incredulously. "I followed it up with setting the record straight. By the way, on my website, folks, all of this is there. It's been up there all weekend, and we added something last night that you have to see."

Limbaugh noted the "phony soldiers" label was used a week ago by ABC News, which presented a feature by investigative reporter Brian Ross on MacBeth. Regarding Murtha, he said, "I just did a story today saying that he has been sued by a soldier for calling him a murderer. I just reported the news today, and yet this is reported as an attack on Congressman Jack Murtha."

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, also denounced Limbaugh from the Senate floor, charging the radio host says "provocative things to make more money," noted the blog Think Progress.

He suggested, however, there may be another explanation for the "phony soldiers" remark.

"Well, I don’t know. Maybe he was just high on his drugs again," Harkin said. "I don't know whether he was or not. If so, he ought to let us know. But that shouldn't be an excuse."

[Soldier4Christ]

It is no wonder with all this nonsense of putting our Troops down that nothing is getting done in Congress. Public opinion of Congress is at an all time low and this nonsensical fighting and nothing constructive getting done is the exact reason why. It is past time that these name callers and anti-American agendas were removed from office and those willing to serve the people put in their place. I agree with Brother Tom that some of these even need to be put in jail.