Limbaugh Lemonade

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has written a letter to Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications, Inc., demanding:

Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr. Limbaugh's unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast. We trust you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a "phony soldier." We call on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments.

Of course, this flap occurred after Limbaugh called phony soldiers like Jesse MacBeth 'phony soldiers' on his radio show.

Rush has countered with a brilliant response. Upon receiving the letter from Mr. Mays, Limbaugh has put the original up for bid on E-Bay. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation:

Through the continuous support of our donors, we have distributed aid with a value of more than $29,000,000.00 to eligible children. This assistance was primarily rendered to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving our country at home or abroad. These funds enable us to provide these children with scholarships for their higher education. When a child of a United States Marine is afflicted with a physical or mental disability and requires special medical equipment or tutoring, our Foundation may grant financial assistance to that family if their personal insurance does not cover the complete cost of treatment for this child.

Limbaugh, who has long supported and raised money for this organization promises to donate a match to the winning bid.

With about 40 hours left in the bidding, the current leading bid is $110,100. It is expected that the real 'heavy hitters' are waiting for the last minute to win the prize.

Limbaugh has also put a copy of the letter in a PDF file on his website for download to all American citizens since we have already paid for it. The letter is on Reid's Office of Majority Leader letterhead and is signed by a total of 41 Senators, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, John F. Kerry, and Teddy Kennedy along with the usual cast.

UPDATE: With 16 hours left, the leading bid is $851,100.