The phony soldiers controversy ensued when the media watchdog site Media Matters brought attention to the "phony soldiers" remark made by Rush Limbaugh during a conversation with a caller on his radio talk show. Critics claim that he was referring to Iraq war veterans critical of the war. Limbaugh argued that the comment referred to persons falsely claiming to be such veterans.
In response to Limbaugh's comments, United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Mark P. Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications. The letter of complaint requested that Mays "publicly repudiate these comments and ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize" for the remarks. The Reid letter was signed by 41 Democratic senators. Limbaugh obtained the letter and sold it on eBay for $2,100,100, the record for a charitable auction on that site. He promised to donate the funds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation with a matching donation of his own.
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Famous quotes containing the words phony, soldiers and/or controversy:
“Are there memories left that are safe from the clutches of phony anniversarists?”
—W.J. (William J.)
“Bravery in simple soldiers is a dangerous trade, to which they have bound themselves to get their livelihood.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
—Thomas Hobbes (1579–1688)