Why did Rush Limbaugh get slammed for exposing phony soldiers?

Question

September 21, 2007
NORTHWEST CRACKDOWN ON FAKE VETERANS IN “OPERATION STOLEN VALOR”
Phony Vets Scam more than $1.4 Million and Damage Image of Honorable Veterans
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan today announced some of the results of “Operation Stolen Valor,” a year long effort to investigate and prosecute those who lie about their military service for financial gain or other reasons. Sullivan and Doug Carver, Special Agent in Charge of the Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General detailed eight prosecutions in the Veteran’s Affairs Northwest Region in 2007.

“As a Vietnam Veteran, and the father of a decorated Army officer currently serving, I feel very keenly the damage done by Jesse Macbeth and these other fakes,” said Jeff Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. “Macbeth’s lies fueled hostility to our servicemen in Iraq and here at home. Those who falsely claim medals for heroism, cheapen the recognition of our true war heroes.”
“The ‘phony war hero phenomenon’ plagues the American landscape and tarnishes the service of thousands of veterans who have served honorably. It strangles VA resources from providing critical care and benefits to deserving veterans returning from war,” said Douglas J. Carver, Special Agent in Charge of the VA Office of Inspector General, Western Field Office. “It all boils downs to this: these phonies submit claims to the VA for compensation and medical benefits they are not entitled to, and it takes away valuable resources from those who are entitled.”
In a dozen cases under investigation in the northwest, the fraud totals more than $1.4 million. Eight of the cases have been publicly filed and are in various stages of being adjudicated:
*Jesse Macbeth, 23, Tacoma, Washington, sentenced today in connection with his fraudulent claims of military service. Macbeth sought medical benefits claiming to suffer from PTSD related to service in Iraq and Afghanistan, in fact, Macbeth was discharged from the Army about a month after he joined. Macbeth never traveled outside the U.S. with the Army. Macbeth duped reporters, claiming to be a decorated Army Ranger who had witnessed war crimes.
*Reggie Buddle, 60, Puyallup, Washington, sentenced July 30, 2007, for Unlawful Wearing of United States Military Medals and Decorations. Buddle posed as a decorated Marine Corps Chaplin presiding over weddings, funerals and baptisms. Buddle was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and two years of probation.

*Larry Lewis Porter, 52, Seattle, Washington, sentenced April 19, 2007, for Mail Fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain disability benefits from Veterans Affairs. Porter was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Porter claimed he suffered PTSD from experiences in the Navy, however investigation revealed the events were fabricated. Loss Amount: $134,000
*Roy J. Scott, 71, of Port Angeles, Washington pleaded guilty August 31, 2007, to Use of an Altered Military Discharge Certificate to obtain VA Compensation and Medical Benefits, and Unlawful Wearing of United States Military Medals and Decorations. Scott claimed he had served in the Marine Corps in Korea, that he was wounded in combat in Korea, and that he had been awarded the Korea Defense Medal, Korea Star Medal, and a Purple Heart (due to alleged gun shot wounds sustained during combat in Korea). Scott claimed to be honorably discharged, when in fact, he never earned those medals, never served in Korea or any foreign country and was Court-Martialed out of the Marine Corps. Loss Amount: $21,960.
*Merrick K. Hersey, 64, of Vancouver, Washington, Hersey was indicted August 1, 2007, for Use and Possession of Forged or Altered Military Discharge Certificate and False Statements. Hersey is a fugitive and is being sought by law enforcement. Hersey applied for benefits claiming he served in 1967-68, was awarded two Purple Hearts (for wounds sustained in active combat) and the Bronze Star (awarded for heroism). Hersey claimed he suffered from PTSD and sought benefits. In fact, Hersey never served in the Marine Corps at all. Loss Amount: $2,688.
*Michael D. Heit, 58, of Harrington, Washington, pleaded guilty yesterday (September 20, 2007) in U.S. District Court in Spokane, Washington to Use and Possession of a Forged or Altered Military Discharge Certificate and False Claims of Military Medals. Heit claimed he was a Vietnam vet who was held as a prisoner of war. He claimed to have been awarded three Purple Heart medals and the Silver Star. None of that is true. Loss Amount: $3,500
*Elvin J. Swisher, 70, of Idaho, is charged with Wearing Unauthorized Military Medals, False Statements, and Theft of Government Funds. Swisher falsely claimed he was wounded in Korea and that he had been awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and other medals for valor. Loss Amount: $95,000.
*Carlos Riosvalle, 83, of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced April 9, 2007, in Multnomah County for multiple counts of Theft by Deception. Riosvalle collected benefits claiming to have been “shot down while a pilot in World War II.” In fact Riosvalle never served in the armed forces. Loss Amount: $22,818.
These cases were all investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General VA-OIG. The VA Office of the Inspector General operates a HOTLINE for the public to confidentially and safely report crimes like “Stolen Valor” involving VA or its programs. Call 800-488-8244, or fax to 202-565-7936, or e-mail to [e-mail], or write to VA OIG HOTLINE, PO Box 50410, Washington, DC 20091-0410.
The cases filed in the Western District of Washington are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald J. Friedman. For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at [phone].


http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/waw/press/2007/sep/operationstolenvalor.html

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092807/content/01125106.guest.html

Answer 1

The liberals (Senator Reid sort) and their allies in the elite media hate Rush and the USA.

Answer 2

I sounds like US Attorney Sullivan is doing the job he is paid to do. The inspectors at the Veterans Affairs are also doing what the people pay them to do. That does not make them anything but competent and dedicated bureaucrats doing their jobs to the best of their ability.

I did a search to see if I could find an audio file of what Limbaugh actually said. Didn't find anything on Google or Yahoo. I did find lots of people all upset on one side or another venting their take on it. Everyone seemed to have some partisan ideal they were selling. In a quick read I did not see a lot about (but not by) our troops whom our nation has put into harms way.

We all have to admit that Rush is at least as good an entertainer as Michael Moore is. They both use similar tactics and sometimes are funny. Usually what they say is based upon some fact and they take off from there.

Neither of them speak for me and I don't get my news from either of them. I do listen to Rush occasionally and this weekend I'm going to see Moore's new movie about health care. Both of them get my adrenalin flowing sometimes.

Answer 3

BEAUTIFUL! Now, all those that spoke against a private citizen, and tried to get that citizen fired from private employ, should be sent to Military Tribunal, and charged with treason!

Rush does not claim to have served, he did not try to receive VA benefits. Rush is a private citizen, if he wants to go get his rocks off, so be it... I thought that since Clinton did it, that it was ok with the libs. Or, is that reserved for libs only? Grow up, furry rat.

Answer 4

Just a shameful and pitiful attempt to silence Rush who has been largely responsible for many dem defeats for almost 20yrs...they are the masters of personal destruction and they've been after him since he's been on the radio......and he's still here.....hee hee hee

Answer 5

The phony soldiers were being used by the left to promote the idea that moral among soldiers was low, and that we were losing the war.
Rush's exposing them destroyed one of the myths that the left had spent alot of time and money to build. They were trying to salvage what was left of a heavily damaged political attack weapon.

Answer 6

because you and I know exactly what he was doing.
He was trying to claim that anyone that made statements to the anti-war movement, in support of pulling our troops out, were phony soldiers.


His statement exactly was "Mike, this one from Olympia, Washington," that "[t]here's a lot" that people who favor U.S. withdrawal "don't understand" and that when asked why the United States should pull out, their only answer is, " 'Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.' ... 'Save the -- keeps the troops safe' or whatever," adding, "[I]t's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people." "Mike" from Olympia replied, "No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media." Limbaugh interjected, "The phony soldiers." The caller, who had earlier said, "I am a serving American military, in the Army," agreed, replying, "The phony soldiers."
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709270010

You can revise facts like a commy authoritarian, all you would like, but it doesn't change the reality of the facts, that Rush was trying to discredit anyone whose opinion supported the anti-war movement.

Answer 7

Liberals do not listen to what he has to say.They just assume it is wrong. i like Limbaugh and wish i were as smart as he is.
Great Question. My father is a vet of WW11 and Korean.i have a son serving in Iraq.No one admires or is concerned more about all vets than i am.
Thank you and thank your son for serving our country. My utmost respect to the both of you.May God always walk beside you and your son as you have earned it.

Answer 8

I'm not really a fan of Limbaugh, but the liberals and their media friends sure do like to twist facts, don't they?

Answer 9

Questions: When and what branch of the military did Rush serve in?

Answer 10

Because he goes to the Dominican Republic which is a place crawling with hookers, alone, with a bottle of Viagra, and comes back and says he had great time, and he wishes he could tell us about it.

He is a scummy dope addict.