It was just a question of time. While it was hard to know where it would come from (although MSNBC is always a safe bet), someone was going to make the entire swine flu pandemic a partisan political issue.
MSNBC's Ed Schultz on the April 27 "The ED Show" blamed Republicans on two levels for the swine flu pandemic that some think has been a bit overblown.
"Well, here we go again - Republicans are playing politics with our health," Schultz said. "This kind of stuff just makes my temperature go up. I'm boiling over this - as many as 150 have been killed by this flu in Mexico. Cases are popping up allover the United States."
First he blamed Republicans that are blocking Kathleen Sebelius' nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services on moral grounds and her position on universal health care, without explaining why, but just that it was playing "politics."
"Now we have a public health emergency, but no health secretary," Schultz said. "How come? Conservatives senators are holding up Kathleen Sebelius' confirmation. Republicans are playing politics with your health."
Schultz also took umbrage with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who was responsible for stripping some $870 million in funding for flu vaccines from the stimulus bill because it was not stimulative for the economy. According to Schultz, she should have foreseen the so-called swine flu pandemic. He played footage from February 5 of Collins explaining her concerns but did not mention that it was Collins, along with her fellow GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter, who made the passage of the stimulus possible.
"They play politics with the money, they play politics with the stimulus package to the tune of $870 million for pandemic flu that was stripped out," Schultz said.
Schultz somehow is convinced that throwing money at the problem might some how help. He even found a place in his "OpEd" rant for liberal boogeyman Karl Rove.
"Folks this is a classic case of Republicans having no forward thinking," Schultz lamented. "This is what you get when all you're concerned about is the money. And who helped frame the argument against the funding? Oh there he is again - Karl Rove."
"Republican senators like Sen. Collins said fighting off a deadly flu really had nothing to do with the economy," Schultz continued. "You see Democrats argued that a pandemic would lead to people - let's see not working, not traveling, not taking public transportation and a dramatic increase in the need for health services."
Schultz also took a shot at Texas Gov. Rick Perry for asking for flu medication from the federal government, while rejecting a portion of the stimulus for a principled stand on the growth of government.
"This is just not a health scare, it's a national security situation," Schultz grimly declared.
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Ignorance is bliss
April 28, 2009 - 09:19 ET by ArcherBIf ignorance is bliss, this guy must euphoric!
THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR THIS SWINE FLU! That's right, no amount of money thrown at flu vaccines would have produced any more or less vaccine than what we have now, which is exactly ZERO because it DOES NOT EXIST. The "Stimulus" money that was rejected was for the avian flu, not a then, non-existant swine flu
Surely, he knows this, right? If not, he's ignorant and completely irresponsible for not doing about two minutes worth of research before running his little story. Obviously, he did do SOME research to learn about this funding being rejected. So his research was 100% political, with no attention to the actual facts, or he is being dishonest in trying to place blame where it doesn't belong.
Either way, it makes me wonder, "who watches this crap?"
"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary."
--Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Funny how the left skips
April 28, 2009 - 09:29 ET by eaglewingz08Funny how the left skips over the fact that the monies were stripped out at the request of Chuckie Schumer and Chris Dodd as well, but that THEY WERE INSERTED in the 400 BILLION DOLLAR spendulus bill that passed Congress less than a month later. If the dems can point out how one month would have made a difference in combatting this outbreak, when Obama hasn't even filled all the relevant health department posts in the past 100 days, I'd be delighted to hear such erudite reasoning.
Re Chuckie
April 28, 2009 - 09:48 ET by slickwillie2001Here's the article and video clip on Chuckie bragging about removing pandemic flu funding from 'what the House did'. He seems to consider it an accomplishment. Schumer Video Bragging About Cutting Pandemic Fund: http://www.redstate.com
I agree that it shouldn't have been there because it is not stimulative funding. We have completely lost the ability to look at any funding and judge its stimulative value. Of course, it doesn't help when the Bamster gives smartass speeches when he declares any spending as good for the economy.
Shmucky: prepare to get
April 28, 2009 - 10:44 ET by SickofLibsShmucky: prepare to get bitten in the ass.
PS: that million for Massachusetts "Scallop Research" must NOT be one of those "porky things"...?
Somebody download and cache
April 28, 2009 - 10:45 ET by motherbeltSomebody download and cache that, quick!
It will be gone by the end of the day!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
He
April 28, 2009 - 09:50 ET by klchadwickstill has a viewer?
http://politicaldesert.wordpress.com
Saying that cutting funds
April 28, 2009 - 10:43 ET by motherbeltSaying that cutting funds from the stimulus bill caused Swine Flu is like saying that the cuts in mental health institution funding back in the 80's is caused Ed Schultz's insanity.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
well...
April 28, 2009 - 16:16 ET by klchadwickwasn't he supposed to have "converted" to liberalism in the late 80's/early 90's? lol. Of course that's if you believe he was ever a conservative....
http://politicaldesert.wordpress.com
front row seat
April 28, 2009 - 09:30 ET by lookLet's see if Schultz geta another front row seat at the next POTUS presser.
The good news in all of this is Scultz's ratings... It wouldn't be MSNBC without the lack of viewers.
Schultz! I see Nothing! Nothing!
April 28, 2009 - 09:30 ET by V the KI'm sure both of his viewers were deeply troubled by this.
I'm still
April 28, 2009 - 16:18 ET by klchadwicknot getting that he has a viewer....much less TWO of them? Sheesh, when did his ratings go up? ;0)
http://politicaldesert.wordpress.com
Explain this you libtard
April 28, 2009 - 09:34 ET by TexasteacherExplain this you libtard piece of s*** - how is mexico's health problems and lack of ability to contain an epidemic the fault of the republicans??? Good gosh how could any tv or radio station let this idiotic douchebag on the air??? Heaven forbid that a republican senator not know that this was coming! If he's so "boiling", then get his a** buddy matthews to tingle up to lord obama and beg him to show mercy and strech his hand over the land and heal the masses. This sorry tub of lard is the great liberal beacon of truth???? This is what you trolls look up to???
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Not just GOP that opposed flu vaccine funding
April 28, 2009 - 09:58 ET by Jack ColemanSo did NY Senator Chuck Schumer, as described last night by Rachel Maddow, one of Schultz's colleagues at MSNBC --
Segment at Maddow's MSNBC site linked here; go to 3:45 in clip --
http://www.msnbc.msn...
Oh the irony
April 28, 2009 - 10:23 ET by BlondeThat quote has got some real potential.
Swine flu.....the result of crummy porkulus oversight.
Oh yeah.
I hope he fails, too.
a few questions for lefty NBers
April 28, 2009 - 10:11 ET by candance1) I understand the importance of flu vaccines, but why would that belong in an "economic stimulus" bill anyway?
2) Since DHS has been in charge of pandemic control since the Bush era, what does this have to do with Sebelius?
3) Even if Congress had approved vaccine research to save the economy, does that really mean a cure for swine flu would have popped out in 60 days?
4) Are you proud to find out that "a new kind of politics" really means "blame Ronald Reagan"?
Speaking of sickening pus
April 28, 2009 - 10:24 ET by jistincaseSpeaking of sickening pus bags, why is this piece of human toxic waste still on the air? Pretty soon all the bobble heads on MSNBC will be wearing masks as they do the news. Probably not a bad thing as we then wouldn't have to look at all of their ugly faces. I am so glad that I do not listen to the major network news because I wouldn't have a TV left in the house that didn't have a brick through it. I hope some illegal coughs in fat boys face and he spreads it around to all the other gas bags that work there including Immelt.
This beady-eyed bastard's
April 28, 2009 - 10:57 ET by SickofLibsThis beady-eyed bastard's run is almost over - even MSNBC can't possibly justify keeping him on much longer with ratings worse than CSPAN.
They could just loop the ShamWow infommercial for an hour and do better.
last year
April 28, 2009 - 11:16 ET by katainkentDuring September 30, 2007 – May 17, 2008, World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories in the United States tested 225,329 specimens for influenza viruses; 39,827 (18%) were positive.
To date on the swine flu outbreak :
California
10 cases
Kansas
2 cases
New York City
45 cases
Ohio
1 case
Texas
6 cases
TOTAL COUNT
64 cases
I blame
April 28, 2009 - 11:41 ET by Paul AtreidesI blame a president who is flitting all over the globe being a "rock star."
What kind
April 28, 2009 - 14:11 ET by RowaneWhat kind of insane drivel is this? This man has lost all grasp on reality, as is the libtard norm.
Katrina redux
April 28, 2009 - 14:49 ET by wizardjrThis is just another shot at a Katrina moment.
Somehow poor public health control in Mexico is now also the fault of Bushhitlerhaliburton Republicans. Consider that the Dims have controlled Congress since 2007 and have a rubber stamp in the White House. So this is all the 'fault' of the GOP how exactly...???
Past
April 28, 2009 - 15:15 ET by JDWHow bad is bird flu?
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny. When government fears the people there is liberty.
Ed Who?
April 28, 2009 - 16:55 ET by freecitizenMore people watched Ed Schultz from the link in this post, than have viewed his show since it first aired.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
Am I the only one that
April 29, 2009 - 00:01 ET by RR GOPAm I the only one that blames third world cesspools for the vast majority of these viral and bacterial epidemics and malaria we've been hearing about for the last 30 years?
The U.S. and other industrialized countries have been throwing billions at the third world for disease control. It still comes down to getting idiots to use condoms to reduce AIDS and twisting the arms of Mugabe-Amin like governments out there to use the money to make sure human sewage and drinking water aren't the same thing.
These jerks have enough AK 47s and RPGs. I guess they don't, however, have enough $ in their Swiss bank accounts...can never have enough of that I suppose.
As an American taxpayer, I'm glad to help! ;-)
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).