With unanswered questions about President George W. Bush's National Guard duty resurfacing in recent days, radio host Rush Limbaugh attempted to turn the issue of military service against Senator John Edwards. Referencing a September 4 column by FOX News Channel political analyst Susan Estrich that encouraged Democrats to “dig up dirt” on Republicans, Limbaugh said: “It's going to open up questions about John Edwards and where was he during the war. Where was John Edwards?”

From the September 7 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: You know this is -- this -- this -- the Democrat compulsion here with focusing on this National Guard business which -- how many times have they done this since 2000? Four? This is the fifth time now. And -- and -- and Cheney draft-dodging and all this.

It's going to open up questions about John Edwards and where was he during the war. Where was John Edwards? Susan Estrich, where was -- and -- and -- and is he qualified to be commander in chief since he didn't serve?

Edwards, who was born on June 10, 1953, did not face the possibility of being drafted until 1973, the same year the military draft ended. As the official website of the Selective Service System [SSS] documents, a 1972 draft lottery “determined the order in which men born in 1953 were called to report for induction into the military.” The SSS also notes that the 1972 “lottery was conducted for men who would have been called in 1973; however, no new draft orders were issued after 1972.” As the Associated Press reported on October 26, 2003: “Edwards was assigned [draft lottery] No. 178 for 1973, but the draft ended that year before his number was called.”