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:
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