October 19, 2007
MIGHT AS WELL PLAY ALONG:
Limbaugh Letter Fetches $2.1 Million on eBay (10/19/07, Fox News)
Rush Limbaugh appears to have the Midas touch.The conservative radio talk-show host turned an inflammatory letter written by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and signed by 41 of his fellow Democrats into a more than $4.2 million gold mine for the kids of Marines and law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty, all courtesy of eBay.
The Eugene B. Casey foundation Betty Casey coughed up more than $2.1 million to be the sole owner of the letter sent to the radio host's boss demanding that Limbaugh be reprimanded for a "phony soldier" comment he made on air. Limbaugh has pledged to match whatever was paid for the letter.
Limbaugh described Betty Casey, a trustee of the foundation, as a loyal listener to his show.
“She gives significant sums to hospitals, hospices, colleges and private schools,” Limbaugh said during his radio show Friday afternoon, just after the eBay auction ended. “Betty has been a listener to my program since its inception, and we can't thank her enough for her support. This was kind of the last straw for her, what Harry Reid did here.”
The letter, sent by Reid and signed by his Democratic colleagues, was delivered Oct. 2 to Mark P. Mays, president of Clear Channel, the parent company of the conservative talk show host’s radio broadcast.
In exchange for the $2.1 million, the Maryland-based Eugene B. Casey Foundation, will receive the letter, the Halliburton briefcase in which the letter is secured 24 hours a day, a letter of thanks from Limbaugh and a picture of him announcing the auction at a speech in Philadelphia last week.
The Halliburton briefcase is such a great touch -- the only thing to top it would be printing Mr. Limbaugh's thank-you letter on Diebold Corporation stationery.
You'd think that the 41 signatories could each cough up an equal share to match that. What's it, about $5000 each? St.Hillary! finds more than that left under the seat cushions after each campaign fundraiser.
That's $50,000 not $5,000. Considering the number of mega-millionaires who signed that letter, that's still in the chump-change category, although St.Hillary! might have to invite more Chinese dishwashers to make up the difference. Or, maybe they'll take Bill's underwear as an in-kind contribution...
(Memo to self: next time, there's a reason why you usually take off shoes and socks before performing basic arithmetic.)
Interesting that the New York Times article on the auction gets it wrong in the first sentence:
After Rush Limbaugh referred to Iraq war veterans critical of the war as "phony soldiers," he received a letter of complaint signed by 41 Democratic senators.
Actually it was a letter to Limbaugh's employer, a rather telling difference, no? I suspect that if it had been 41 Republican Senators writing a letter to complain to the employer of a left-wing commentator, that detail would not have been missed.
Posted by: PapayaSF at October 20, 2007 1:05 AMFunny how the media hive has never bothered to investigate any of the 'phony' soldiers.
While I don't remember their names, there have been several that have been "exploited" by various groups and politicians. Some for their own personal gain, if I recall correctly.
You would think the Left would want to protect its 'absolute moral authority' by ruthlessly purging the frauds. You would think.
Rush is a giant. Reid and his signatories are soiled toilet paper.
And today, on the Senate floor, Dingy Harry knew it.
Posted by: jim hamlen at October 20, 2007 1:23 AM