Angry letter protesting Limbaugh's remarks sold for charity

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A letter from Democratic senators blasting conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh for using the phrase "phony soldiers" on his program was sold Friday on eBay for a record $2.1 million.

A private foundation made the winning bid, which eBay spokeswoman Catherine England said set a record for the most expensive item sold for charity by the online auctioneer.

Limbaugh's comment during his radio show last month drew broad criticism from Democrats, who said he was smearing soldiers opposed to the Iraq war. Limbaugh and other conservatives responded with outrage of their own, saying Democrats were mischaracterizing comments in one broadcast aimed at one particular former soldier who lied about his service.

The Oct. 2 letter to Limbaugh's boss, Clear Channel Communications Chief Executive Mark Mays, sought an apology from Limbaugh and a public repudiation from the company. It was signed by 41 senators, including Majority Leader Harry Reid and presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and Chris Dodd.

The letter from the senators called Limbaugh's comments against "troops who oppose the war ... an outrage."

Limbaugh maintains he was not referring to all anti-war veterans, just to anti-war activist Jesse MacBeth, 23, a Tacoma man who was sentenced last month to five months in prison after his false claims about his military service were unmasked by conservative bloggers.

However, Limbaugh did not refer to MacBeth during the broadcast until 1 minute, 50 seconds after making the "phony soldiers" comment.

On his show Friday, Limbaugh said proceeds from the sale and a matching $2.1 million from him would go to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, which provides scholarships to children of Marines or federal law-enforcement personnel killed while serving their country.

The winning bid came from the Maryland-based Eugene B. Casey Foundation, according to the group. The foundation, which lists assets of $294 million in its latest IRS filing, was established by Casey, a real-estate developer, and is run primarily by his widow, Betty.

Material from The Seattle Times archives is included in this report.