This is really hysterical, folks, and definitely requires all drinking vessels be properly stowed before continuing.
Just days before Rush Limbaugh was attacked by a number of press outlets for discussing "phony soldiers" on the air, ABC's Brian Ross did a segment on "World News with Charles Gibson" dealing with "phony heroes...scam artists...posing as the war heroes they never were, claiming credit for acts of courage in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Marvelously, this story was aired on Monday, September 24, just two days before Limbaugh made his comments. And, as noted in a NewsBusters posting by the MRC's Brent Baker, the report even mentioned the same "phony soldier," Jesse Macbeth (pictured to the right), that Limbaugh did on his program Wednesday.
Will media attack ABC with the same zeal they did Limbaugh? Maybe even more important, will House Democrats offer a resolution to condemn Ross, Gibson, and everyone involved in ABC's report?
While you ponder, what follows is a full transcript of this segment (video available here, h/t Rush Limbaugh.com):
CHARLES GIBSON, HOST: (Voiceover) 'A Closer Look" tonight at phony heroes. A famous recruiting slogan once touted the Army as a place to be all you can be. But increasingly, scam artists are posing as the war heroes they never were, claiming credit for acts of courage in Iraq and Afghanistan. Federal officials have launched a crackdown. Operation Stolen Valor they call it. Tonight, our Brian Ross investigates.
GRAPHICS: BRIAN ROSS INVESTIGATES
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) At the Washington State Capitol in Olympia this year, a Marine Corps Color Guard included a Marine chaplain to deliver the opening prayer. But authorities later discovered that the Marine chaplain, Captain Reggie Buddle, was not a chaplain.
JEFFREY SULLIVAN (US ATTORNEY)
I think he went to seminary school and flunked out.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Nor was a Buddle a captain, nor had he earned all the medals he wore. In fact, Buddle had never been in the Marines, even though he had officiated at numerous Marine weddings, baptisms and funerals.
JEFFREY SULLIVAN (US ATTORNEY)
It was devastating to the people who had relied on him.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) At a time when tens of thousands of US soldiers have put their lives on the line in Iraq and been honored for their sacrifice and courage, federal prosecutors have had to launch a crackdown on phony heroes.
JEFFREY SULLIVAN (US ATTORNEY)
They want something that they didn't earn. They didn't have the guts to go and do it themselves.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Authorities say many of the phony heroes make up their stories, so they can get free treatment at veterans' hospitals.
DOUGLAS CARVER (VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL)
They're taking money away that should be used for the deserving veterans.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Most of the phonies are spotted by people who really earned their medals. In St Louis, this supposed Marine with a chest full of honors was turned in because he seemed too fat to be a real Marine. It turns out he never served a day in the Marines.
JESSE ADAM MACBETH (VIDEO BLOGGER)
Once I was in Baghdad...
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) But authorities say the most disturbing case involves this man, 23-year-old Jesse Macbeth. In a YouTube video seen around the world, Macbeth became a rallying point for anti-war groups, as he talked of the Purple Heart he received in Iraq and described how he and other US Army rangers killed innocent civilians at a Baghdad mosque.
JESSE ADAM MACBETH (VIDEO BLOGGER)
Women and men, you know - while in their prayer, we started slaughtering them.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) It was a complete fabrication.
DOUGLAS CARVER (VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL)
He was in for approximately six weeks and then he was discharged. I don't think he even completed basic training.
BRIAN ROSS (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Last week in federal court in Seattle, Macbeth offered an apology for defaming the real American heroes as he admitted to lying about his service record and his supposed atrocities, Charlie.
CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Operation Stolen Valor. Brian Ross investigating, thanks.
I'm verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.
FYI: Interested readers must take a look at Brian Maloney's work on this subject. Frankly, he's been all over this story, and we at NB are very grateful.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Comments Policy
Where has ABC been???
September 30, 2007 - 20:04 ET by River CitySo, we've been talking about this for how many days? Where has ABC been? They knew they did the story. They didn't forget. Charlie Gibson could have said something and didn't. I say he is complicit in the smear. I don't expected any different.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” Ronald Reagan
Oh, my. I certainly hope at
September 30, 2007 - 20:50 ET by motherbeltOh, my. I certainly hope at least one of the Republcan Congressmen shows up in the House with that little gem, when the Dems bring their proposal to the floor to condemn Limbaugh.
They could just add an amendment, attaching ABC news to the resolution. LOL!
it's about time someone
October 1, 2007 - 11:13 ET by TruthMongerit's about time someone condemned ABC "news"
can we tack on the whole MSM? and Hollywood? And the Universities?
Old Charlie isn't as nice as he used to be
September 30, 2007 - 20:51 ET by terrigI used to think Charlie Gibson was a pretty good & for the most part, fair reporter but his silence speaks volumes on this one. Wonder what he'll have to say tomorrow. Que the crickets.
Selective memory.
September 30, 2007 - 21:39 ET by motherbeltSelective memory.
This figures. They are
September 30, 2007 - 20:09 ET by rbosqueThis figures. They are propagandists and smear machines under the guise of the "main-stream media". What a joke.
all drinking vessels be
September 30, 2007 - 20:12 ET by SMGalbraithall drinking vessels be properly stowed before continuing.
Okay, but after reading this I still put my head through the monitor.
Recall a couple of weeks ago the theory that the world is just a computer simulation? That everything is just, well, made up? A program?
That has to be the explanation. The chief programmer is just having fun with us. There is no other explanation for the absurdity of these times.
Where's the darned power off button?
SMG
Noel -
September 30, 2007 - 20:38 ET by drillanwrNot sure if you got this ABC story from the link I put up late yesterday evening in another thread. Even MORE phony soldiers info within. Here it is again:
Limbaugh On Solid Ground On `Phony Soldiers'
http://influencepeddler.blogspot.com/2007/09/limbaugh-on-solid-ground-on-phony.html
Drill
September 30, 2007 - 20:57 ET by Noel SheppardDrill,
Yeah, I used that in one of my posts today. Don't remember which. Been busy. :-) ns
Another place also has the
September 30, 2007 - 21:56 ET by Right2thePointAnother place also has the same and additional info
http://radioequalize...
One of the biggest scams I
September 30, 2007 - 20:51 ET by FairlightOne of the biggest scams I have ever witnessed. Thank you for the excellent reporting Noel.
This is why I emphasize what many already know: mediamatters needs to be viewed as a gift wrapped in smoke and mirrors. Once you find your way through the haze, the gift falls right in your lap. What you do with the gift is all that 'matters'.
Amazing
September 30, 2007 - 21:21 ET by well99I say something about the msm but why.Apparently they think were too stupid to know what is going on.Hello Msm..welcome to the real world ..we do know what is going on.A bunch of yutts.
Phony Heroes Reports
September 30, 2007 - 21:22 ET by pocomocoDon't you just love it when the MSM shoot themselves in the foot. Their foot must be riddled with holes by now.
Yup
September 30, 2007 - 21:28 ET by well99More holes than swiss cheese.
Congress won't take this up agasinst Rush
September 30, 2007 - 21:34 ET by PamCongress isn't going to take up the Rush case because the sad fact is...there are phoney soldiers....The left has been trying to avenge the right for defeating Cleland and Kerry..They haven't anything else to do with their time, so they jumped on this and O'Reilly!
Well the stupid thing is
September 30, 2007 - 21:38 ET by motherbeltWell the stupid thing is neither Limbaugh nor O'Reilly is running for anything! But they get under the Dems' skin more than anyone in Congress or the Senate. So they'll take their potshots where they can.
Agreed
September 30, 2007 - 22:07 ET by timotheExcellent reporting, Noel!!
An important comment by you as well, motherbelt. Rush mentioned a while back that he was tired of carrying water for the Republican party. I agree. He and Hannity and O'Reilly to a lesser degree do more to expose the wacko left than all Republicans combined. (perhaps with the exception of Tony Snow) I know there are times when the GOP should take the high road, but we need a hawk to keep spitting out these inconsistancies and hypocrisies.
phoney war heros
September 30, 2007 - 21:42 ET by lunaticcringeradiooh i thought they were talking about john kerry.
But increasingly, scam artists are posing as the war heroes they never
were, claiming credit for acts of courage in Iraq and Afghanistan.
really, and nobody ever takes into question panhandler beggers that always tell people they were either navy seals, or special forces, or whatever. funny how now this is a story.
lunaticcringeradio
Max Cleland
October 1, 2007 - 07:46 ET by ricklailThey could be talking about Max Cleland. He did blow himself ip with a frag grenade.
A bona fide and certified member of the beer guzzling, NASCAR watching middle class.
Jesse Macbeth
October 1, 2007 - 00:01 ET by Dave RI hope this Jesse Macbeth clown gets sentenced to bed pan duty at a VA hospital for the rest of his natural life.
I guess the dim "resolution" will just be quietly dropped.
Too bad, as I was rather looking forward to it.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
Politics by prank
October 1, 2007 - 02:39 ET by KC MulvilleThe far left prefers to conduct politics by prank, with each prank more juvenile than the last. A prank is an utterly pointless and futile act, which was funny when Animal House did it, but in real life it simply infantilizes serious issues. The full page ad about General Petraeus, then the intentional distortion of O'Reilly's harmless remark, and now the intentional distortion of Limbaugh's comments ... these are the level of the sophomore Young Liberals club. These are not people engaged in serious debate; these are interns (the author of the Media Matters hit piece on Limbaugh was an intern) who dream up these yuppie tantrums to attract attention.
Just remember, Soros and Clinton are funding this. They're letting the kids do their dirty work.
Rush
October 1, 2007 - 03:20 ET by old croThe demos are trying to censor Rush for his comments?????? Thats what I get for reading the latest stories first.
"We have entered the realm of the surreal here.............. "
Fake-but-accurate
October 1, 2007 - 06:22 ET by ThisnThatMy name is Dan Rather, and I've been asked to intercede here on behalf of ABC.
Even if ABC has said the same thing [about some phony soldiers], Rush's biggest sin is that he's been anti-US and anti-military for such a long time, that even though this particular story might have focused on a phony soldier, the charges are accurate, and very, very serious.
Nobody's disputed the story was untrue. We were, uh, made vulnerable on this particular soldier which, by the way, let me point out also, that nobody has ever proven all the U.S. soldiers are, quote, phony or, uh, that they were, uh, fakes, as some people have written.
I, Dan Rather, have now cleared this up. Perhaps ABC should hire me, Dan Rather -- the most respected journalist of all time -- to do special investigative reporting for them.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
A move to remove Rush from Armed Forces Radio
October 1, 2007 - 06:51 ET by ThisnThatNow there's a movement to use this to remove Rush from Armed Forces Radio. I left the following comment at http://armedforcesradionetwork.org/feedback.html:
"You are going to be bombarded with requests from liberals to cancel Rush Limbaugh. This will be based upon liberals' attempts to cast Rush's "phony soldiers" observations as anti-military. As you consider those requests, please review ABC's video (javascript:openPopup('http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3648899', 'popup', 800, 635);) on phony soldiers which aired 2 days before Rush's comments. You will notice this video and Rush's comments are the same, and in fact, they both mention the same real-life phony soldier.
Please don't be misled by this fake campaign by libs and congressional democrats. They are not telling the whole story -- in fact, they are actually lying to you. Keep Rush on -- and kill NPR."
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
They've tried to dump Rush from Armed Forces radio before,
October 1, 2007 - 08:04 ET by RJbut he's popular with the military and the effort was beaten back. If there's another effort afoot, it needs to be brought out in the open. Once word gets out, our military personnel will side with him again.
Every demoncrat should be
October 1, 2007 - 06:56 ET by AntiMediaEvery demoncrat should be asked if they think Jesse Macbeth is a phony soilder.
Wait a minute! Hold the
October 1, 2007 - 08:05 ET by drillanwrWait a minute!
Hold the iPhone ...
Anybody seen Ashton Kutcher since the whole Rush/phony soldiers thing hit the fan?
I'll just bet the democrats are being "PUNKED"!
Yeah, that's it!
LMAO!
Good one, Ashton!!!
This all goes to my
October 1, 2007 - 08:14 ET by FastEdtheory that ALL "reporters" are lazy. Not only was the 'story' two days old, but when someone else, like Rush, makes mention, and he isn't part of the biased msm (Lsm), then his discussion is either dismissed, or in this case, blown out of proportion based on out-of-context phrases. NOT only will the lazies in the msm (Lsm) pick-up on this, but they will continue to report the story as fact. Their bias is so strog, that they won't even admit that oneof their own had already reported on the phonies - NIMBY thinking to the extreme.
[use of the term "reporters" refers to talking heads in the msm (Lsm) and should in no way be construed with people who actually believe in who, what, where, when, how and maybe why) ]
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
"They" have been doing this
October 1, 2007 - 08:30 ET by drillanwr"They" have been doing this to Limbaugh for a long time.
Look back at the whole Michael J. Fox bs they spun from Rush's criticizing the ads the actor was in.
And then there is Rush "lifting" the whole Obama "Magic Negro" saying from the LATimes (black) reporter who originally penned it ... Yet, Rush repeating and using it got him BLAMED for it.
Limbaugh takes things from the news and reporters, writers, politicians, etc. ... and repeats and uses them, and somehow or another gets the backhanded credit/blame for the origination of IT.
To be fair, Limbaugh is the master of rubbing somebody's nose in it ... But he has, as far as I've been aware, NEVER gone out of his way to out-and-out LIE or fabricate something the way this is being presented. While Limbaugh's phony soldier comment was, perhaps, too generalized in the haste of the telephone conversation, NO WHERE did he say `soldiers who are against the war are phony' ... THAT part of this whole pile of BS is what floored me most. THAT is what I call grounds for slander or liable. The words "OUT OF THE BLUE" are the key words here. Not out of Iraq ...