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Defending Rush

Rep. Sam Johnson, Texas Republican, is fighting to remove a provision from the 2005 Department of Defense authorization bill that he says is an attempt by Democrats to jeopardize the airing of Rush Limbaugh's show to American troops overseas.

Democrats "can't seem to resist any attack against any conservative," Mr. Johnson said, "and, of course, Rush is sort of the epitome of the conservatives."

Sen. Tom Harkin, Iowa Democrat, added a provision to the Senate version of the defense bill a few weeks ago that would call on the defense secretary to ensure that the American Forces Radio and Television Services (AFRTS) provides "balanced" political programming.

AFRTS receives federal funds to provide radio and television shows to American service members worldwide. But Mr. Harkin said the organization provides no countercommentary to the "extreme right-wing views" on Mr. Limbaugh's radio show.

"There is no reason that American service members should receive lengthy right-wing commentaries ... without some balance from competing views as part of that same service," Mr. Harkin said in a speech June 17.

The House and Senate each has passed a version of the defense bill, which must be melded into a final bill. Mr. Johnson sent a letter over the weekend to Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, urging him to strip Mr. Harkin's language.

Mr. Johnson said AFRTS provides listeners with a range of political commentary and simply includes Mr. Limbaugh's show because troops like it. But more than that, he said, Congress should not be telling news organizations what to do.

"Sounds a little like communism to me," he said.