Man Of The Year: El Rushbo

Human Events has chosen Rush Limbaugh to be their 2007 Man of The Year. I strongly and enthusiastically second that emotion.

Mark Levin announced him as the winner, in an article that recounts the “Phony soldier” imbroglio in which Rush used the term to describe the very real problem of former soldiers, (like Jesse MacBeth) inflating their actual experience, and making stuff up to hurt the war effort, and receive benefits they haven’t earned.

Clinton front group, Media Matters jumped on the opportunity to make it sound like Rush was saying that all soldiers who disagreed with the war were phony soldiers. A media firestorm ensued.

Levin:

Now, anybody who has spent any time listening to Rush knew this was false. There is no greater advocate — on or off the air — for the military and its mission. And unlike Reid and most of the other anti-war Democrats, over the years Rush has quietly made significant contributions to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. But it didn’t matter.
Reid ran with the lie, as did many of his fellow Democrats and media friends, believing they could damage Rush’s reputation, drive a wedge between Rush and his audience and advance the Democrats’ political agenda. To my knowledge, never before has a Senate leader attempted to use the force of government against a private citizen in this way. And rather than condemn Reid, the Big Media cheered him on by repeating his lies.

So, the stakes were extremely high. Would a powerful Democratic politician and Clinton front group be able to cripple Rush and damage the conservative cause through intimidation and dishonest tactics? Well, they don’t know Rush like we do. They picked a fight with the wrong guy.

Rush confronted, mocked and exposed Reid and Media Matters as dissembling bullies. And in an act of absolute brilliance, he put the Reid letter — signed by the likes of Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), John Kerry (Mass.), Teddy Kennedy (Mass.) and other anti-war senators — up for auction on eBay, not only pledging that all proceeds would go to his beloved Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, but announcing that he’d match the winning bid. The auction brought $2.1 million, and when combined with Rush’s matching donation, the Reid letter generated a whopping $4.2 million for the foundation! But Rush wasn’t finished. He challenged Reid to raise or contribute an equal amount for the troops. We’re all still waiting.

I love Rush. I know he gets many honors and awards, but I couldn’t help taking this opportunity to say how much I appreciate him.
During the early years of my marriage, I lived in Minnesota, away from family and friends, and surrounded by liberals. It could be frustrating. I still remember how thrilled I was to discover Rush on the radio…someone who thought like I did, and was unafraid to say what he believed.

Once upon a time, for instance, (before conservative talk radio, and the internet) it was considered racist and uncouth to be against affirmative action. Magazines like National Review influenced opinion, but people dared not speak their opinions in public. I think Rush helped pave the way for conservatives to be more confident in their beliefs. And we all owe him a debt of gratitude for that.

So congratulations, Rush….keep sticking it to the libs, buddy!

UPDATE:

Rush is being beleaguered on his show by Huckabee supporters calling in; he’s thinking it’s an organized campaign.

He says to Evangelicals (paraphrased):

“If you’re looking for the ‘true conservative’ why Huckabee? Why not Fred Thompson?”

Exactamundo!

UPDATE:

A lot of people have picked up on this.

Rush’s actual quote:

“My question for Evangelicals is… if you’re looking for a real conservative why are you supporting Huckabee? He’s…he’s completely discredited himself. What about Fred Thompson?”

Video at Hot Air.