"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

[dogdiva]

Big Ed needs to tone it down a bit and definitely smooth it out! I'm all for the middle class having a voice...I am middle class, but I would like it to be a tad lower volume and I'd like Ed to check his rage long enough to double check his facts. He gets the wrong end of the stick a couple of times on every show. He must know, but at times he approaches guests he knows (or should know) are going to challenge him. He opens the interview as if he knows they are going to agree! When he ends an interview he just sort of throws it away dismissively and rams on to the next leaving his 1st guest dazed and confused. It must be a tough transition from radio to TV, but I'm hoping Ed is getting schooled by handlers in technique.

Finally, I'll never watch his "excellent" panel as long as he keeps up the parade of conservative radio show hosts. Perhaps it's contractual with his radio station, but there is no way I'm ever going to cause myself to listen to another word out of Tom Tencredo. I'm sure as hell not going to be part of building his career.

[Nonpartay]

I have to empathize at least with the irritation you feel over those conservative panelists. I wish he would find some more reasonable types. They are incredibly annoying!

[springsm]

Have you heard any conservative panelists yet. We could get Ron Christie..­.sheesh. I heard someone just sit and tell an outright lie the other day on some program and Bill Press called that person on it...but the neocon..ye­lled the loudest. So I guess the conservative panelists are basically all alike.

[noaxe397]

I think Schultz has had a change in his blustery attitude and for the better. Here in Phoenix, liberal talk radio got on the air when a doctor, Mike Newcomb, started his own show on low power AM radio. He had no sponsers and paid the $500/hr air time out of his own pocket.
Air America came to Phoenix in 2004 and Dr Mike had a show on that station. But liberal stations kept getting bought out and became Spanish language or Christian. Dr Mike comes back and starts NovaM broadcasting and brings liberal talk back to Phoenix. He understood the business end of radio and to generate money he sells pixels on the NovaM website. Ed Schultz ripped Dr Mike for what Ed called a "bake sale" mentality to radio broadcasting. One morning Dr Mike had Ed on to debate the business side of liberal radio and it was not pretty. It seemed Ed was against anything that would threaten his franchise. I was very surprised Ed would not support a fledgling start up. NovaM has since failed (after Dr Mike handed it over to others to operate) and the 5th largest city in America is silent on liberal talk airwaves.

[Mom4Choice]

Try living in Birmingham, Alabama. We've never had liberal talk radio, but every afternoon I can pick up 3 stations (1 FM, 2 AM) that simultaneously carry Fred Thompson's talk show. I haven't attempted to count the number of stations I can pick up that carry Rush Limbaugh, as just the sound of his voice makes me physically ill.

I used to have XM Radio, but recently allowed the contract to lapse. I miss Ed, Bill Press and Thom Hartmann so much, I might have to pony up for another subscription soon.

[newsmann]

If you have a wireless network in your house, get an internet radio...yo­u can put it in your house, and you can get 5,000 stations around the world, including a lot of Air America affiliates with Hartmann, etc. I got one from Grace this year, and love it. Six pre-sets. I get an all-Beatles station from (!) Moscow, and a Norwegian hip-hop station. But the all-blues station I chose has a weird recruitment ad from, of all people, the CIA!

[Serene99]

I'm a HUGE fan of Ed's. He's become the voice of the people on this issue and deserves our thanks. His conversation on his radio show yesterday with Kent Conrad was infuriating. Senator Conrad's condescending blah-blah-blah on why the Dems just don't have the votes was sickening. The question isn't why don't we have the votes. The question is why tools like Conrad aren't fighting to their last breath to get them for us. Where are the frikkin' Dems on this? CRICKETS! They should be ashamed. I, for one, will be doing EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN to see that the Senators that denied us never see another day in Washington when their re-election time comes up.

[fedupinfla]

Please sign these petitions!!

http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition?source=healthpetition

http://standwithdrdean.com/

http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/s/AMA

Let those in Washington know we DEMAND a public option!!!!!

[TylerRose]

I already knew about the first petition and did sign it. I did not know about the other petitions and now I have signed them, too. I also wrote to Ed letting him know to inform the public about these petitions. Many people do not know about them. It doesn't really help for people to inform Congress if no one knows that a petition is active so that can voice their vote for public health care. Senators Durbin, Leahy, and Schumer are behind the first petition you have and I have written to each of them, too, letting them know that they need to inform the public that this petition is online for them to sign for public health care.

[JDM73]

I like Ed an awful lot. He's doing what no one else has the guts to do.

[kdlaiusa]

Ed is wonderful. He's reasonable, mostly courteous and entertaining and he does not lie like the Fox News asses. His show's ratings are going up each week and he deserve a good spot in MSNBC. People should stop watching psychopath like Glenn Beck because he's not helping this country in any way.

Looking forward to Dylan Ratigan's debut next week.

[Tanyars5]

The more I watch of Ed the more I like. He should be on in the late evening. He is passionate about his views. He also has on a variety of guests. I am glad that he is holding the DEMS accountable for healthcare.

[newsmann]

I think Ed may be becoming disenchanted with Sen.Kent Conrad, his old home-state favorite, a regular radio guest. On today's radio show, Conrad adopted what can only be called a patronizing tone with his old supporter. ("If you don't have the votes, you don't have the votes," this hack said). Conrad's still trying to push his ludicrous health co-op idea, which has been tried in the Puget Sound area and doesn't work. It was all Schultz could do not to attack Conrad.

[pilotsknob]

Someone needs to light a fire under the Democrats on health care. I'm glad Big Ed is doing it because I am so disappointed in the Congressional delegation from California. Senator Diane Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey should all be standing up and yelling louder than Ed on the need for health care, but they're hiding in the shadows.

[longtalldrink]

WE LOVE YOU ED!!!!!

[Bluedanube]

The Republican Party and the " spirit of bipartisanship" are far greater threats to the survival of the Republic than any cave dwelling terrorist.

[Beachchick]

I love Ed!

[floridagal2]

Big Ed is our guy who's talking up health care, the public option, weak-kneed Senators and right sided lies, etc. And, he does this EVERY DAY. I have already thanked him on his MSNBC website.

Talk about a pit bull. This man is a pit bull.

Thank you, Ed.

[Susan60]

Me too, I love Ed, too. I actually like him much better than Chris Matthews. He's more passionate about his subjects and his show is more interesting than rambling Matthews

[JanSP1971]

I respect Ed and his views. I thank him for speaking for the everyday American. He is our voice and he tells it like it is. I agree 100% with Ed when he says "we don't need the republicans to get this done" ! The democratic party needs to get behind our president and the American people who have spoken loud and clear it is time for health care ALL can afford. Ed get a march going and I will be there. I have called everyone I can think of to call, congress and senate and have signed up to go door to door to help inform people about the truth not the fear Fixed News and the republicans are trying so hard to sell. Ed we love you and keep up the good work, hope you come to Indiana soon.

[longtalldrink]

Wow, you GO JanSP!

[Lemeritus]

"The democratic party needs to get behind our president.­..."

Can you tell me where that line starts? Because so far, I haven't seen anything that can be accurately called "The President's Health Care Plan"... he's delegated this task to Congress, and therein lies the rub, my friend.

[eladora]

Maybe he can unite a march. It is time to march on Washington for health care. Not a few, but millions .

[alexa07]

To Zebro & Eladora:
I ready & so is my family to join you. Ed, I have been watching your show & commend the way you are going after the sluggish Dems, really what a disappointment they have been on so many levels, esp. on the issue of a single payer.

[Zebro]

The only way Americans will get the health care system they deserve, SINGLE PAYER, is if they march en mass on Washington. There needs to be a couple million on the streets demanding their rights otherwise they will continue to be marginalized by a hand full of wealthy corporate shills in the senate.

Mr. Schultz should help organize a march.

[MoeB]

Keep up the important work Ed!