Ed Schultz Says More Than Intended About Unions' Hold on Democrats

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By Jack Coleman (Bio | Archive)
November 11, 2008 - 13:18 ET
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Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where an alleged friend of the show's title character bad-mouthed him as "phony," then lamely spun it as a compliment when confronted by Seinfeld?

Self-professed "progressive talker" Ed Schultz tried much the same yesterday while talking with a caller about whether the federal government should engage in yet another bailout, this time for the ailing auto industry.

Schultz said he has little doubt that Congress will quickly enact some type of rescue package for Detroit, seeing how unions were an integral part of the coalition that elected Obama.

But Schultz sounded like he was momentarily reverting to his former conservative self in describing the relationship between unions and Democrats. As an audio clip of Schultz's remarks makes clear, the former collegiate gridiron star quickly realized his verbal fumble and pounced on the ball. Still, a fumble's a fumble, even when the guy dropping the pigskin gets it back --

SCHULTZ: I think the Big Three are going to have to explain to the Congress, if they're looking for that kind of money, what's the plan? Well, if you say what's the plan, then your competitor's going to come out and do something. So, they're in a very competitive environment. But, look, something's going to happen because the unions are too strong with the Democrats. And I think that's a positive thing. But, uh, that doesn't mean they just, you know, they're not going to stop designing and creating and getting better.

Was it my imagination or was there all of a split second between Schultz's unfortunate observation about labor's influence over Democrats and his about-face of this being "a positive thing?"

Nice try, Ed. Had you said unions are "strong" with Democrats, no spin would be needed. By saying "too strong," you are claiming the opposite.

For Schultz to deny this, he'd run the risk of being perceived as phony. Then again, some people could interpret that as complimentary.


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Giving Back To The Community

November 11, 2008 - 13:21 ET by melpol

http://www.associate...

Community service workers are needed in America. We all have an obligation to help others. It might be cleaning out some busy persons attic or teaching a recent immigrant how to read and write. Each American should be required to give at least 8 hours of their time. It is not morally right to only be concerned with your own needs. Giving back to the community is proof that you appreciate living in the greatest nation on Earth. 

"We all have an obligation

November 11, 2008 - 13:42 ET by TD in FL

"We all have an obligation to help others.  It is not morally right to only be concerned with your own needs."

Maybe if you favor nonconsequentialism over utilitarianism.  You come off sounding a bit preachy here.  Regardless, I wonder, are your liberal friends, who want the government to take care of their needs and provide for them, concerned with someone other than themselves?

Seriously?

November 11, 2008 - 13:45 ET by choselife3x

If America 'required' community service from it's citizens it would no longer be the 'greatest nation on earth'

In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.

What does this have to do with the Auto Industry?

November 11, 2008 - 14:00 ET by Secret Conservative

Comments about Obama's mandatory community service program belong on another blog.  As for the American auto industry and the unions, the American car companies' problems do not end with the stranglehold that the unions have, but getting rid of the unions would be a massive first step!  However, you know that won't happen under Obama, since he supports the new card check law that will allow unions to organize companies without the company's knowledge!  So, even though I'm from Michigan, I say, let 'em go bankrupt, release them from their union obligations and let's see who rises from the ashes.  Michigan needs to wake up, get rid of the Dems, starting with Granholm, and get to work developing a more economically diverse economy.

And, oh yeah, one more word on "mandatory community service:" if it's mandatory that people give of their time and efforts, it's not service, it's slavery. 

Thanks secret...I was just

November 11, 2008 - 14:53 ET by motherbelt

Thanks secret...I was just going to post (and pose) the same question.

I find it very rude when  a blogger here takes the time to research and post on a subject, and someone comes along and hijacks it right out of the chute because they want to talk about something else.

My advice to them:  start your own blog; then you can talk about whatever you want.

And I agree with your sentiments about the unions.

 

IMO

November 11, 2008 - 14:56 ET by ahusser

Unions are why Michigan is part of the "Rust Belt". 

"...no civilization, no matter how rich, no matter how refined, can long survive once it loses the power to meet force with equal or superior force." - Bernard Knox

HERE HERE!!!

November 11, 2008 - 17:38 ET by guttermouth

Kick all the Dems out of Michigan.  Great idea.  Then everyone will be the same and we'll all live happily ever after.  What a dumb thing to say.

 And yes, I'm pro union too.  I do very well, thanks to my union, and my company does pretty well too, thanks to union workers like me.  Had the auto industry noticed a shift in energy needs over the past decade, they wouldn't be in this kind of trouble.  Instead they poured their money into SUVs that get 12 miles a gallon, which consumers can no longer afford.  Blame the unions - I'll blame the product.  But letting the auto industry fail means we buy all autos from other countries, making them richer while our economy continues to suffer.

What a dumb thing to say? 

December 7, 2008 - 09:14 ET by bretzysdude

What a dumb thing to say?  You're a dumb person to be, guttermouth.

Being the robot you are, melpol.

November 11, 2008 - 15:27 ET by Karma

I know you don't reply to anyone, or even read other posts for that matter, but I have to thank you for the hearty chuckle you gave me.

...We all have an obligation to help others. It might be cleaning out some busy persons attic... - melpol

Priceless.

 

No representation, without taxation!

ah .... that's what

November 11, 2008 - 15:30 ET by katainkent

ah .... that's what churches are for, yes?

 

member of the Conservative Independant Witness Protection Program since Nov. 5, 2008

melpol

November 11, 2008 - 17:04 ET by TN Mom

If by Comm Service, you mean ACORN...I refuse!

oh, and, you can start by cleaning out my attic!

Fairness Doctrine

November 11, 2008 - 13:29 ET by allanf

Do you think if Rush, Hannity and O'Reilly promise to pull a Schultz and become liberal acolytes of Obama, talk of the "Fairness Doctrine" will evaporate?

Bankruptcy

November 11, 2008 - 13:31 ET by Dirjj

Let the Auto Industry go bankrupt, That way they can get out of the Union contracts that have been strangling them to death.

 ab

I agree with that sentiment

November 11, 2008 - 13:53 ET by TD in FL

I agree with that sentiment for the most part.  The only scenario I would begrudgingly support would be if we bailed them out providing they abolish the union and/or create a binding contract stipulating substantially lower worker pay/benefits for the next 30 years.  True, auto industry bankruptcies would not have as far reaching effects as financial company ones, however, the impact is significant at regional and other levels.  If GM goes belly up - it's not just the factories that close, many suppliers, whom are dependent on them, go belly up too.  Additionally, many dealers would close.  Our economy is fragile enough; this would tip it over the brink I fear.  However... if no such deal, as mentioned above is made, I would rather face the economic consequences than give billions of $$$ to companies that do not fix the root of their problems (the union and subsequent benies).  We'll just be back in the same situation 2, 3, 4 years down the road.

How about...

November 11, 2008 - 13:55 ET by ArcherB

We let the unions buy the auto industry.  They can provide their own bail out package and end up owning them.  If they think they can run a better ship, let them try.

 

 

 

"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary."

--Ernesto "Che" Guevara

Now there's an idea!

November 11, 2008 - 14:08 ET by Secret Conservative

For over fifty years the union have been trying to run the auto industry!  Let's let them!!!

If the unions ran the auto industry

November 11, 2008 - 14:25 ET by Mica the Magnificent

I bet the workers benefit package would be greatly reduced.

 

If the Unions ran the auto companies

November 11, 2008 - 14:35 ET by c5then

We'd have to invent a new term:

 

"Migrant Auto Worker"

 

Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!

Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012

Return the money..

November 11, 2008 - 14:56 ET by Scrapiron

The DNC and Odumbo can return the millions of dollars the UAW leadership stole from the members and 'donated', 100% to democrats. Now they expect working americans (90% of republicans) to bail them out. BS

Old, Retired and glad of it.

I am always surprised at

November 11, 2008 - 15:07 ET by ahusser

Irrational actions of union members who would rather destroy the employer that gives them their paycheck. Once destroyed I guess they won but have no employer or job.

From Wikipedia on Union Violence:

  • "1990 - on the first day of The New York Daily News strike, trucks were attacked with stones and sticks. One union member was immediately arrested for transporting Molotov cocktails. Strikers followed replacement laborers and threatened them with baseball bats. Strikers then started threatening newsstands with arson, or stole all copies of the Daily News and burned them in front of the newsstands. Independent sources estimated over a thousand reports of threats. The newspaper recorded over two thousand legal violations. The Police Department, recorded more than 500 incidents. 50 strikers were arrested. Bombings of delivery trucks became common, with 11 strikers arrested on one day in October." Unions are toxic.

    • "...no civilization, no matter how rich, no matter how refined, can long survive once it loses the power to meet force with equal or superior force." - Bernard Knox

    The way I see it, there is

    November 11, 2008 - 16:19 ET by Snappy

    The way I see it, there is no need to "Bust" the unions, but federal bailout money to cover pensions and raises? I think not... its up to the unions here to realize that they can either buckle down with managment and afford some concessions even if on an emergency or temporary basis until they can get rolling again, or they can force the companies they work for to shut down. Bottom line, work with your employer a bit so everyone can make some money or demand a higher wage and more benifits from a faltering industry all the way to the welfare rolls.

    I heard Stu Varney on FBN

    November 11, 2008 - 17:12 ET by TN Mom

    I heard Stu Varney on FBN today say that the 'Detroit of the South' is doing fine and just opened a new plant 3 wks ago.  Haven't had the chance to search this, but I think he was talking about Honda?

    Do the foreign car mfg. in USA not have unions? 

    TN Mom... From what I

    November 11, 2008 - 17:30 ET by Clear thinker

    TN Mom...

    From what I understand, the auto industry in the South, and other places around the country, are non-Union shops. This is why the Big 3 in Michigan are in such deep trouble... they are all union shops and demand so much from the employer concerning wages and benefits. Yet the non-union shops pay good wages and offer good benefits. The biggest benefit for the employees in these non-union shops is.... they will be the ones that will still have a job because the union didn't bankrupt the company. Sure the wages are not as high as the union shops, but they are still good wages and employees can actually look forward to a long future in the job they have. Oh, and one last thing... non-union employees don't have to give away part of their paycheck to a union on every payday.

    Beware: Comrade Obama is a HUGE supporter of Unions!

     Comrade Obama Expected To Keep Promises

     

     Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

    ct

    November 11, 2008 - 17:37 ET by TN Mom

    thanks for the info!

    I bookmarked your site, giovanniworld. Love the pics of the boys smoking...reminds me of pics I've seen of my grandfather when he was young!

    Good evening CT

    November 11, 2008 - 17:44 ET by cocodrie

    In the late '60s I was a technician at the Michoud facility in New Orleans. The unions used a lot of pressure and threats to try to make everyone join the union but failed. Thug is a good name for some of the union hard cases.

    coco

    November 11, 2008 - 17:53 ET by TN Mom

    speaking of thugs.  If the Check Card (whatever its called?) passes-and oh, how the Dems want it to pass-

    The Union Thugs can show up at peoples homes!  And, Unions will be able to force their little thuggery selves into small business, with as little as 3-4 employees (per Mitt Romney).

    coco... I had quite few

    November 11, 2008 - 18:41 ET by Clear thinker

    coco...

    I had quite few relatives on my Mothers side of the family that were Long Shoremen on the docks in Hoboken N.J. all being Union of course. My Grandfather worked the docks his entire life up until about 1963. At times he would be paid by union bosses (mostly mafia) to enforce rules. Whenever someone on the docks made any kind of stink about the union it was my Grandfathers job to seek them out and beat the tar out of them. For this service he would get extra money on payday. My Grandfather would also look for suitable men on the docks to marry some of his daughters, which actually worked for two of my Aunts. One of my Aunts husband was also an "Enforcer" on the docks, and really enjoyed dolling out punishment to others.

    Everytime I hear the word 'thug', I think of my Grandfather and Uncle. Comrade Obama may not be a physical enforcer, but I'm afraid he will be just as dangerous in his support for unions.

    Comrade Obama Expected To Keep Promises

     

     Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

    CT

    November 11, 2008 - 18:49 ET by cocodrie

    I had friends and relatives on the docks in New Oeleans, it was the same here. Hussein Obama's national security force will have a lot in common with union justice.