"Big Ed" Schultz Is Keeping Dem Senators' Feet to The Fire

"Big Ed" Schultz couldn't have come into his own at a better time.

In the past couple of weeks, as soaring public support for single-payer or government-option health legislation has soared and Dems have dithered, the beefy Schultz has kicked his once-sluggish MSNBC show into overdrive. And his national radio show is electrifying in its intensity most days lately.

Big Ed's moved from being a publicity-hungry blowhard (remember "John McCain is a warmonger" last fall?) to expressing daily the kind of much-needed real passion for this critical legislation far too many Democrats (and, some might argue, the President) are lacking. Ed's gone on the attack. Someone has to do it.

The one-time pro football player is running interference for the Democrats who are actually doing something to move the ball toward the goal of meaningful national health care by calling out those playing footsie with HMO's and big pharma.

Earlier this week on MSNBC's Ed Show, for example, Schultz opened the broadcast by displaying photos of eight Democratic senators who are still waffling on meaningful health-care reform despite the polls. Schultz, like many of us, has written off GOP Senators as a lost cause. (For good reason P.J. O'Rourke memorably called Congress a "Parliament of Whores" ).

One has to believe that Schultz' constant radio and TV attacks on way-too-powerful Sen. Max Baucus have had a lot to do with Baucus' recent reluctant moves away from the loving arms of the health-insurance lobby.

After a sluggish start on MSNBC this spring, the beefy redhead is en fuego right now with his fiery appeals to follow the public's will to get meaningful health-care passed. When Schultz proclaims "I'm leading the charge" on health care during his radio talk show, it's partly attention-getting bluster (something that brought Shultz national exposure in the first place). But there's also a lot of real truth in it. Most voters are on to Washington's game and are demanding real change.. Schultz not only senses this, he's running with it at the best possible time -- when the public's fickle attention is actually focused on health care.

Right now, Schultz is the most prominent national figure holding Democratic Senators' feet to the fire (someone has to do it) , especially when they come up with silly schemes like health care co-ops and "triggers" to weasel out of meaningful health-care reform.

"It's my soap box," MSNBC's resident pit bull semi-apologized the other night on the Ed Show after a blistering attack on health care opponents' latest outrageous lies.

Schultz, a former conservative, rose to radio prominence largely through a clever gimmick -- he was a lefty whose voice and delivery sounded a lot like Boss Limbaugh's. And more than once, when his show was based in Fargo, N.D. (it's just moved to New York), I wanted to smash my radio after Schultz's tireless defense of the Midwest-centered ethanol industry. Big Ed's radio redemption came at the best possible time.

Schultz deserves thanks, too, for showcasing the Democratic Senators who are actually doing something to get health-care reform passed.

For example, on his nationally syndicated radio show the other day, Schultz asked Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow about opponents' shopworn claim that a public plan "will put the government between people and their doctors."

Stabenow: "Whenever I hear that I say, 'Right now, the one between patients and their doctors are the big insurance companies, and how's THAT working for you?"

Then, on MSNBC's "Ed Show" this week, Schultz' guest was also-feisty Dem Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

A ranking member of the Senate Health and Education Committee, Mikulski revealed that she'd been batting away Republican obstructionist amendments like flies. She said the Party of No had tried this tactic, which has gotten very little publicity, an appalling 175 times recently on one piece of health-care legislation that stressed prevention to cut costs. "How can anyone be against prevention?" she said with exasperation. It was a revealing example of the bruising infighting going on behind the scenes in Washington right now.

Schultz has given Republicans many much-needed swift kicks in the pants the past year. Right now, he's delivering his broadcast butt-kickings to those who need it most - timid Senate Democrats.

And, believe me, this isn't a good time to piss off the Big Guy.

Follow Bill Mann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/newsmann

Comments

[Shayrae]

Like many other posters here, I initially watched Ed's show with a bit of skepticism. I love his shw now and rarely miss it. On the health care issue, I was livid when I saw my state Senator's name on Ed's list of Dems holding back on supporting the president's position , I sent her a slew of angry e-mails and encouraged all my friends to do the same. Thanks, Ed and I love your Psycho Talk segment. You're doing a good job speaking for what we, the people, want. Our congressional leaders damn sure don't seem to.

[neesy08]

I love his show. What I wish he had done was put photos of the wayward Dems with the names. I only recognized a cople of them. No good in embarassing them if nobody recognized the name.

[freedomfighter1]

Ed is awesome! Intelligent, tough and unapologetic! I tivo his show daily cause me and the hubby think he's terrific!

[JuliaRain]

I enjoy listening to Ed on the intertubes!

[ProgressivePartisan]

"Big Ed" is THE reigning Progressive on the airwaves now days (sorry, Keith ... you're damn close, though).
He passionately demonstrates the difference between moderate leftists (any Dem Senator NOT in the DLC), "pragmatic" centrists ( I DO understand you are the leader of the ENTIRE U.S., Mr. President), and we Progressives who say: ENOUGH!!!!!
The U.S. Constitution states: "We The People ..." - NOT: WE the wealthy few, WE the corporations, or WE the nut-case politicians who seek to construct a "reality" modeled on our own narrow, bizarre agendas.
Give 'em hell, Ed and keep doing it! Never forget you speak for ALL Progressives who need to have their views heard by all!!!
(and yes, Ed, that is a pic of the beloved Henry Wallace on the U.S. flag as my photo. Sorry it's so crappy. After 20 or so uploads at different sizes I gave up)

[Yola]

It took me a while to get into Ed's show but I can tell you that I watch it every night; love his 'Op-Ed' and 'Psycho talk' and I love the fact that he is in your face. Also, I think he is spot on when he describes McSame as a "warmonger".

[springsm]

Me too, I was turned off by his loud nagging voice, but then I started listening to his words and my impression was "my gosh, WE finally have a voice". I hope he continues to call it like it is and call out the ones who are obstructing progress. He is not afraid to call it b.s. when appropriate either. My lordy gordy...honest too. I do still love Rachel tho.

[undecidedaboutPOTUS]

Ed is very good.
Wish he would get Sen. DiFi on his show and ask her to explain the fact that Health Care is not a priority, but supposedly a key issue as per her own web site
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssueStatements.View&Issue_id=551e9cd8-7e9c-9af9-771b-7176768bc4b6&CFID=2947330&CFTOKEN=67655448

[Samalabear]

I wonder if at least he will cover this. I don't think the MSM is doing this, once again. The big single-payer and public-option health care rallies are taking place in DC today.

http://healthcare09.org/

[Shinobi]

I didn't know. Thank you for posting the link

[GHARDY]

Keep up the presser Ed, the Dems are spinless, Bill Maher accused President Obama of being a media hound a couple of weeks ago on his show. This was unfair, since the Dems, roll the President out everytime they're to weak to stand up to the Republicans. The President's doing town hall meeting on health care, because you have senators, like Diane Finstein, and others saying the President does'nt, have enough votes, to pass it. When the repulicans were, raking the President over hot coles last week, accusing him of being soft, on Iran, only a few Dems supported him. Only after, high profile Republican, agreed with the way the President was handling the situation, did the Dems come out in numbers to defend him, they let John McCain and Lindsay Graham, run amouck, without a word. To all Liberals, we don't have to be cruel like Repulicans, but we should all stand up to them, and stop letting them have a monopoly on having a backbone.

[BarryChamplain]

Disagreements:

You may have been appalled that Ed Schultz called media darling and uber-phony John McCain (2008's losing candidate) a "warmonger", but we hope you get over it. He is, he was, and the only voice willing to be "rude" enough to tell the damned truth to the American public via mainstream media was Big Eddie's. For which you and I owe him bigtime (don't believe me? Imagine yourself in today's domestic and international climate, saddled with 4-8 years of John "Bomb Bomb Iran" McCain. There's a soothing thought)..

Also, the comparison to Limbaugh is really shallow. So he has a blustery delivery. He uses FACTS, not talking points from think tanks (read: lies), and he isn't slapping the backs of the powerful, to feather his own affluent nest, like Rush is. Quite a difference.

If an unafraid, loud voice was the vehicle Rush used, and the vehicle Ed uses, then maybe that just means that the side of decency needs more unafraid, loud vvoices; not (as you imply) that Ed stole his act from that sickening demagogue.

[Veeve]

Hear! Hear!

I agree with you on all counts. McCain would have us on course to open a third front of war in the Middle East in Iran by now.

I love that Ed is taking Dem Senators to the firewall.

[springsm]

And that is exactly what John McCain is. We would be in three new warlike skirmishes if he was the president.

[Jeep]

Ed is the strongest liberal voice in America right now, I watch him every night. I was so glad when he flashed the democrats' faces on the screen with names, dems in the pocket of the health industry. We don't need GOP votes. We need the blue dogs to grow cajones, man up, do their jobs or get out of the party. They are pathetic.

[Lemeritus]

I caught The Ed Show yesterday afternoon and all I can say is: Hossanah!

If I could dress my thoughts up in a suit and tie, give them their own hour on cable news, and manage to keep my ire in check long enough to let them speak, they could not do better than Ed Schultz. Not only did he all but slap Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) upside the head for over-inflating the cost of health care reform (i.e., fear monering), but he made two very important points:

1. It's ridiculous that 40 people on Capitol Hill can stonewall health reform (though I don't think he was giving enough credit to the Blue Dogs and ConservaDems), and,
2. If Obama does not get genuine health care reform passed, both he and his party can bid goodbye to their jobs in Washington.

[springsm]

And that is exactly why the Party of Obstructionists work so hard at dissing every word of Obama's and spreading fear fear fear in the heart of the midwest and the blue dogs.

[coolchange]

Mr. Mann, don't forget about this one where he silenced the smug Joe Scarborough.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/#31384614

In fact, Joe was supposed to appear on Ed's show that evening, but he never appeared. He was supposed to come on Ed's show to promote his book, and Ed took him down so badly, that lying Joe was frightened off.

Ed's my hero!!!

[murphysgirl]

Ed Schultz is awesome. I watch his show from time to time and he never disappoints. He doesn't mince his words and I love it!!

[IssuesInFocus]

Hear, hear! He carried a great deal of 'water' for Democrats during the last election. And I fully understand his passion to keeping their feet to the fire. The best 'lobbyist,' we, the people can have. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsYQ1YA_a1M

[jimrs6]

Nobody watches Mr. Ed.

[Crissy Patters]

I've started watching ES after I saw him on JS, we need more ES to keep the Dems and President on course to push this health care through with a public option.

[305Rider]

That's because TVLand stopped showing it.

[Nonpartay]

You wish. I've been watching it every since he started. I have it saved on my DVR and never miss it. I'm sure I'm not the only one.