RUSH: We have Karen in Albuquerque. Great to have you with us. Hello.
CALLER: Hi, Rush. I had an experience a couple months ago. I was getting on an airplane in Dallas, and I was heading for Albuquerque, and I was the second to the last person. There was a guy behind me getting on board the aircraft, and I said to him, “Are you getting off in Albuquerque?” And he said, “No, ma’am, I’m not. I’m going to San Diego.” And I said, “Are you in the military? ‘Cause I’m a military brat.” And he said, “Yes, ma’am, I am.” And I was gonna thank him for being in the warrior class for our country.
But before I even got a chance to do that I was talking to him and I said, “You know, I’m doing everything I can. I’m as busy and as active as possible with the Tea Party and I’ve gone to the national Tea Party events. You know, I do everything I can.” And he said, “Well, I want to thank you for being part of that and your service. Because I want you to know that when we’re over there and we’re getting shot at, we wonder. We see the Occupy people and we wonder, ‘What the in the hell are we doing over here? What are we over here for?'”
RUSH: I’ll bet they do. I’ll bet they do when they see that.
CALLER: And he said, “And then we see the Tea Partiers,” and he said, “and we know what we’re over there fighting for.”
RUSH: Now, how did that make you feel, Karen? Here is a military man thanking you for your service in the Tea Party. How did that make you feel?
CALLER: Oh, you can’t imagine. I was just shocked. I’ve been spat on, I’ve been flipped off, and it made it all — all — worth it. And when I got on the airplane, there were only middle seats left and I sat in the middle seat and he sat right behind me. And before I got off the airplane, he thanked me again.
RUSH: Did he pull your ponytail or anything?
CALLER: (giggles) No.
RUSH: (laughing)
CALLER: But I tell you what: I was just… It made me even more determined to do what I can do.
RUSH: I’ll bet it did.
CALLER: Oh, I was just… He did. You have no idea. Because sometimes you know, you get frustrated because you’re out there, and you hear what the media is saying about you and other people and what they’re… And you’re working so hard. And he made me realize that I’m fighting for my country just like, you know, my dad was in Vietnam, and the Berlin Airlift.
RUSH: That’s profound.
CALLER: My husband was in Vietnam, and I feel like I’m doing my part. I didn’t before.
RUSH: You know, I had a similar experience to that once, and it humbled me like I can’t tell you.
CALLER: Exactly.
RUSH: I have told it before. It’s very brief story. It was in Washington at some museum-type building. It was the 50th anniversary dinner for National Review, and they had a bunch of guests who were Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed. And I walked over to say hello, and they started thanking me. I put my hand up and I said, “Wait a minute, guys.” One guy did not have an eye, missing an arm. These are really wounded people. And I said, “Wait a minute. All I do is talk.” He said, “Sir, we all have our role.” And that’s what that guy was telling you.
CALLER: You know, I see you. I can understand it when they say it to you, because I feel the same that they feel when it comes to you, but you’re right. We do all have our role, and if we don’t fight for our country now, when are we gonna fight for it?
RUSH: Well, I can’t think of a more heartwarming thing to happen to you ’cause I know that people in the Tea Party and just conservatives in general often feel alone. Even as a part of the group, you still feel isolated because of the media coverage. They’re laughing at you. They’re making fun of you, impugning you. They are lying about your strength. They’re lying about your existence, now.
CALLER: Exactly.
RUSH: And you know that other people watch that, and you’re afraid that people are gonna believe the lies they’re being told about you. So this is a great reinforcement thing that happened to you.
CALLER: It is. And it’s for all those people out there in the Tea Party. I want them to know, too, that those guys are over there thanking us, thinking of us. It means… Like you said, it meant everything. I just couldn’t believe it. I still… You know, I’m not an emotional person, usually, but I still get a lump in my throat when I think about that kid. It’s just… It was wonderful.
RUSH: Well, you know, I’m not trying to trump you here; I’m trying to relate to you. I had the same thing happen here when I did the little troop visit in Afghanistan in one of the Kellogg Brown & Root cafeterias. They had cable news networks on, and I can’t tell you the number of military men that asked me, “Why aren’t they talking about what we’re doing here? All we ever see is what’s going on in Iraq.” And I said, “It’s ’cause you’re winning.”
CALLER: (chuckles)
RUSH: “You’re not news to ’em. We’re having a little trouble in Iraq, and they can’t wait to report that.” But the point of all this is they do know. They do pay attention. They’re very much attuned to what’s happening here as it relates to what they’re doing. So I know he meant every word of what he said to you.
CALLER: Well, and those people that said it to you do, too. And I want to thank you, too, for your service. Because I’ll tell you what: You make my day every day.
RUSH: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate that, and I really appreciate your call. I’m glad you got through and I’m glad that happened to you, ’cause it’s great. You share that story with as many people as you can, ’cause it’ll inspire everybody you tell it to.
CALLER: I will!
RUSH: And have a good weekend.
CALLER: You, too. Thank you, Rush!
RUSH: Okay, it’s Karen in Albuquerque.