Send 'em something to reward good behavior, even if it's just an email saying "Thanks for supporting our troops." These are YOUR citizen legislators, doing the right thing!

WASHINGTON, DC - September 27 –Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today issued the following statement in response to Rush Limbaugh,

who said yesterday on his radio show that only "phony soldiers" support the US withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

“This disgusting attack from Rush Limbaugh, cheerleader for the Chicken Hawk wing of the far right, is an insult to American troops," Kerry said. "In a single moment on his show, Limbaugh managed to question the patriotism of men and women in uniform who have put their lives on the line and many who died for his right to sit safely in his air conditioned studio peddling hate. On August 19th, The New York Times published an op-ed by seven members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division critical of George Bush's Iraq policy. Two of those soldiers were killed earlier this month in Baghdad. Does Mr. Limbaugh dare assert that these heroes were 'phony soldiers'? Mr. Limbaugh owes an apology to everyone who has ever worn the uniform of our country, and an apology to the families of every soldier buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He is an embarrassment to his Party, and I expect the Republicans who flock to his microphone will now condemn this indefensible statement.”

To Contact Senator Kerry's office: Vincent Morris 202-224-4159

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United States Congressional Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) responded to Limbaugh's comment that soldiers who aren't pro-war are "phonies" on the House floor.

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United States Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)

responded to Limbaugh during the September 27 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann by saying "I really regret Mr. Limbaugh saying things like that. You know, we have a political diversity inside the military just like we do in the country." He later added: "I really react strongly when people politicize the service of our military people. They have a wide variety of political viewpoints, from all the way for this to all the way against it, and we need to respect that."

Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

demanded an apology: "Rush Limbaugh's personal attack on our men and women in uniform is reprehensible. It minimizes the sacrifice our troops in Iraq and their families are making and has no place in the public discourse. Rush Limbaugh owes our military and their families an apology for his hurtful comments that minimize their service to our country."

Representative and Iraq Veteran Patrick J. Murphy (D-PA)

wrote at Huffington Post: "When someone like Rush Limbaugh says that soldiers who disagree with the failed strategies of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are "phony soldiers," you have to consider the source.
Rush Limbaugh, who, in January, called Vietnam veteran Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) "Senator Betrayus" for disagreeing with President Bush, has made no secret of his disdain for those who serve and speak out. Where was Rush Limbaugh when it came time to serve his country?"

UPDATE:
This afternoon Presidential hopeful John Edwards, formerly the Democratic Senator from North Carolina, published this statement:
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, Senator John Edwards released the following statement:

"Rush Limbaugh should be ashamed of himself for calling brave members of our military 'phony soldiers.' There's nothing phony about the sacrifices being made by any of our troops in Iraq. Two soldiers who bravely told the truth about flawed U.S. policy in an August New York Times op-ed died a very real death in Iraq three weeks ago. Limbaugh should apologize to these soldiers' families and to all the brave men and women in our armed forces fighting for the very freedoms he enjoys as an American every day. All Republicans and Democrats should join with me in condemning his disgusting words."