Philanthropist Betty Casey has won the Harry Reid/Rush Limbaugh letter auctioned on eBay, paying 2.1 million; 100 percent of which will go to the Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation, which offers scholarship assistance to children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel whose parent dies on duty. Rush Limbaugh will match the 2.1 million. Bookworm Room has some biographical information on Betty Casey, who is trustee of the Eugene B. Casey Foundation and noted for her generosity in giving to hospitals, hospices, colleges, and private schools and as a patron of the arts, opera in particular.

As for the letter, Shallow Nation, must take note that, regardless of politics, it’s not a good thing when your boss gets a letter from the U.S. Senate telling him that they don’t like what you said on the radio. If you are Rush Limbaugh and your boss is Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel, naturally, the situation gets more attention. Nonetheless, we must ask, did 41 U.S. Senators happen to forget about the First Amendment?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Now, what are we to make of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s comments today on the Senate floor? Is he trying to take co-credit for Rush Limbaugh’s efforts to turn around an appalling situation and try to do something positive for the families of troops in Iraq who, throughout the controversy, are experiencing the real pain and hardships of war?

Read the transcript or watch the video and decide.