[Updated: see below]

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) was deeply disturbed by a political attack on Gen. David Petraeus early this month and denounced the group MoveOn.org for their ad in the NY Times. However, will he find the same moral outrage against conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh for calling any soldier who is against the war a "phony soldier"?

CALLER 2: No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.

LIMBAUGH: The phony soldiers.

CALLER 2: The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they're willing to sacrifice for their country.
(Media Matters)

I think Norm will be silent on this. There won't be a press release. There won't be any resolutions in the Senate. This is just conservative business as usual. Its okay to question the patriotism of someone you disagree with if you're a conservative. I'll leave it to Jon Soltz of Vote Vets to respond:

Where to begin?

First, in what universe is a guy who never served even close to being qualified to judge those who have worn the uniform? Rush Limbaugh has never worn a uniform in his life -- not even one at Mickey D's -- and somehow he's got the moral standing to pass judgment on the men and women who risked their lives for this nation, and his right to blather smears on the airwaves?

Second, maybe Rush doesn't much care, but the majority of troops on the ground in Iraq, and those who have returned, do not back the President's failed policy. If you go to our "Did You Get the Memo" page at VoteVets.org, there's a good collection of stories, polls, and surveys, which all show American's troops believe we are on the wrong track, not the right one, in Iraq.

Does Rush believe, then, that the majority of the US Armed Forces are "phony?"
(So I'm a "Phony Soldier," Rush?, Huffpost)

[Update, 9/28/07]