Clear Channel CEO: "It would be unfair for me to assume Limbaugh's statements were intended to..."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Clear Channel defends Limbaugh after 'phony soldiers' remark

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/limbaugh.soldiers/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The company that syndicates Rush Limbaugh's radio program defended the talk-show host Wednesday over his controversial "phony soldiers" remark, saying it's "unfair" to assume the comment was directed at combat troops opposing the Iraq war.

Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications Inc., wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, saying, "Over the years Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly praised the dedication and valor of our brave men and women in uniform.

"Given Mr. Limbaugh's history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn't share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq."

Mays was responding to a letter Reid sent Tuesday calling on Clear Channel to repudiate Limbaugh's comment. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, leading candidates for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, were among the 41 Democratic senators who signed the letter.



Rush Limbaugh has called criticism of his "phony soldiers" comment part of a "smear."