Talk radio host links fire victims to those who ‘hate America’

Los Angeles Times

Glenn Beck’s comments draw a rebuke from one media watchdog group, whose spokesman calls them ‘heartless.’

By Andrew Blankstein
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

With at least 1,000 homes destroyed, two deaths reported and more than a quarter-million people ordered to evacuate, the wildfires ravaging Southern California have been as indiscriminate as they have been devastating.

But the images of charred residences, grieving homeowners and valiant firefighters apparently were not enough to move conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck, who told his listeners on his nationally syndicated show Monday that those suffering losses “hate America.”

“I think there is a handful of people who hate America,” Beck said. “Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.”

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October 23, 2007 | Filed Under Media Matters, News Mentions | Comment 

Steven Colbert Attacks My Employer… Media Matters

On the October 8 edition of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, host Stephen Colbert mocked Rush Limbaugh for his attacks on Media Matters for America, which documented Limbaugh’s characterization of service members who support U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as “phony soldiers” during the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show.

10/08/07: Media Matters on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report: QT | WMV

October 10, 2007 | Filed Under Media Matters, TV Appearances, Video | Comment 

Fact vs. Fiction in the Limbaugh “Phony Soldiers” Controversy

To: Interested Parties
From: Karl Frisch, Media Matters for America
Re: Fact vs. Fiction in the Limbaugh “phony soldiers” controversy…

Below you will find a brief description of Rush Limbaugh’s “phony soldiers” comments along with documentation that corrects common misconceptions in the media about the controversy surrounding his remarks and subsequent statements on the subject.

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October 5, 2007 | Filed Under Media Matters, Release | Comment 

Rush Limbaugh Comments Spark Outrage

ABC News

Democrats and Veterans Group Outraged by Radio Host’s ‘Phony Soldiers’ Comment

By Jennifer Parker

In what has become the latest partisan battle over the Iraq war, congressional Democrats and a veterans group are expressing outrage over comments made by conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh on his talk radio program last week.

The war of words began last Wednesday when Limbaugh, a longtime conservative radio talk-show host, insinuated that veterans who question the war in Iraq are “phony soldiers” on his talk-radio program.

Limbaugh was responding to a caller who argued that anti-war groups “never talk to real soldiers.”

“They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media,” the caller said.

“The phony soldiers,” Limbaugh responded.

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October 3, 2007 | Filed Under Media Matters, News Mentions | Comment