Ed's interview with Scott Prouty is an incredible, incredible piece of work.

[nolabear]

I had interesting fantasies about who made that 47% tape, but to my humble embarrassment I did not expect this quiet, humble, smart and compassionate man. If Mitt Romney had an iota of a chance left of holding office, it is gone.

If you aren't watching it now, I encourage you to catch it later. It's riveting.

[Dawson Leery]

1. It gave Obama a needed cushion in case of an error (the first debate).

[nolabear]

4. Yes, but it's bigger. It's a man who saw something he just couldn't let stand.

And he did things beautifully. I admire him tremendously.

[Cracklin Charlie]

93. That was a great interview!

I was absolutely struck by another thing, while watching the clip of the tape without the background obscured.

The event staff, while listening to the horrible remarks Mittens was spewing about people he could never understand, seemed to be acting with absolute professionalism. The were all rushing around, filling glasses, removing tableware, and basically doing the jobs they were being paid to do.

Exactly what I would expect. I love that Mr. Prouty did his best to protect them. He is a hero.

[aquart]

111. Yes.

[riverwalker]

2. incredible stuff n/t

[kelliekat44]

110. Remember the night watchman doing his job and reporting on door locks being taped at the

Watergate? Two ordinary citizens doing their job and they both changed the course of history. The poor Watergate guy lost his job, never could find employment and I think ended up in a very bad way. I hope this doesn't happen to Mr. Prouty.

[fishwax]

3. it's been good stuff

[malaise]

5. The sum total of his activism before this was a one day protest against

the Iraq war.

I can't wait to hear the Twiright zone morons.

[pkdu]

77. For the twilight zone morons that makes him a communist! Nt

[malaise]

112. or Muslim

[Cary]

6. The war against the oligarchs isn't over.

I knew this was bad but the whole thing about the employees is e engage worse. Romney is scum.

Yes Romney should start a new business in every place where be closed one down.

[randome]

11. Stop talking about Romney!

This tarnishes ALL Republicans! That should be the message we take from this!

[JHB]

69. Yup. Romney may have said the words, but his audience agreed with it

Last edited Thu Mar 14, 2013, 10:00 AM - Edit history (1)

How many of them think of themselves as smart investors? Yet not one of them called bullshit on Mitt's numbers.

Certainly GOPTV ...er, FOX... treated those numbers as if they bore some relationship to reality. And the Teabaggers, whose reaction was "hell, yeah, that's elaxcy rigth!"

[azureblue]

84. Then

Republicans who do not subscribe to the Romney / tea bagger / Reaganomics / Paulist / racist line of dogma, should take a public stand and refute this. Who will be the first GOPer to stand up?

[HoosierRadical]

130. Those types of Republicans don't exist.

I can't think of one Republican who doesn't fall into one of those categories.

[myrna minx]

7. This has been such a compelling interview.

This man is just amazing.

[pscot]

8. Obama should give Scott Prouty a medal

The Medal of Freedom or some such. Have a big Whitehouse Ceremony. It would completely unhinge the Republicans.

[nolabear]

12. LOL, it would. Won't happen, but we could throw a LOT of support behind him. He'll need it.

I suspect there's going to be some major shit coming his way.

[Left Coast2020]

102. But it will come from a bunch of small minded, stupid, ignorant people

And these kind of people are normally dim-bulbs when it comes to doing retaliatory kind of things. I suspect he is prepared and ready for anything.

[caraher]

124. Nah

They're already far too unhinged. And we already had the big ceremony - it was called the inauguration!

[randome]

9. He thanked Ed for speaking up for workers!

[klebean]

22. egoless focus

Very impressed w/Mr. Scott Prouty. As I listened to him, his integrity and ability to maintain perspective and focus to his ideals moved me. Humanity is not lost when individuals like this live, and take action when action needs to be taken.

[randome]

31. Absolutely!

[nolabear]

34. + 1,000,000,000!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

39. Almost started crying looking at him, he was so obviously honest

Didn't even occur to me that he would be a target if anyone found out who he was. I hope Kernaghan or someone else can take care of him. He's going to need some help for a while.

[Cracklin Charlie]

95. He may be safer in public. n/t

[lastlib]

48. He re-writes Edmund Burke:

"All that is necessary for the forces of good to triumph is for one good man to do the right thing."

[Sanity Claws]

10. I look forward to catching it later

I'm glad to hear that Scott left such a good impression. Those plutocrats really underestimate the intelligence of the persons who serve them.

[reformist2]

49. This is why the class inequality is so ridiculous - the servants are now smarter than the kings.

[jzola]

71. I think they always have been!

[loudsue]

133. Very well said.

And the best reason in the world that the wealthy should NOT be revered, as the republicans do.

[montanacowboy]

13. What an amazing man

courage, integrity, well spoken, intelligent - thoughtful - A Real American Hero

[mimi85]

50. Scott Prouty

is the definition of what it means to be a hero.

[bigdarryl]

14. I want this guy Scott to run for Congress

[Left Coast2020]

104. ME TOO!!!!!!!

GO For It Scotty!!!!

[Coyotl]

125. My thought too. Where does he live?

[librechik]

131. Me Three!

[Cha]

15. I read that he tried to post the Vid on DK but was

run off by members who thought it was a fake.

thanks for this report on Scott Prouty, nolabear

[nolabear]

19. Yr welcome. I remember seeing that first segment about the Chinese factory long before it broke.

My mouth dropped open. The lack of compassion and the selling of the idea that dorms and horrific hours and barbed wire had the same effect on me that it had on Scott Prouty. He just had the amazing sense to hit that record button.

[riverwalker]

28. think he was here too

Back in the spring/summer pre-election obsession I read everything on DU everyday. I remember that China part of the video would be posted, then sink, posted and sunk again and again. He was determined.

[jbnow]

117. yes, here is his Dkos member page with diaries

he posted as anneonymous670

The clips had some strong defenders but got too many troll/hide ratings that I think he was automatically blocked

[BeyondGeography]

16. The scary part is if Mitt were a better phony he never would have been exposed that way

Then again, treating people like shit after trashing them to their face was always one of his specialties. Amazing that this same guy got the exact opposite treatment from Bill Clinton. Not that Bill was a good guy, of course, just that the same server could make the in-person comparison and have such an impact afterwards.

[Mira]

17. Courageous and genuine

a great coup for Ed, well done.
He possibly changed history, and he knows it.
Now Ed tells us he is leaving the 8 pm slot and goes to 2 hours on Sat night, and 2 on Sunday night. He wants to go out and be with the people instead of in a studio every day.

[Cleita]

18. It really reminds you what cold unfeeling snakes Romney and his lovely wife are.

This tape, and the dog incident really tells you who he is. Anybody have any idea where the dancing horse Rafalca is? There seems to be no information on this animal since August of 2012. Has she become dog food and glue? I would not put this past the Romneys now that the horse did not win top place at the Olympics and is no longer of any use to them.

[BVictor1]

20. Ed's moving to the weekends.

Looks like MSNBC will be expanding it's coverage.

In April Ed will move to weekends at 5pm-7pm.

[AAO]

43. Great! 4 less "Lockup" shows!! Maybe MSNBC is starting to wise up?

[ZRT2209]

61. exactly. Ed will be a great addn to MSNBC weekend.

[SunSeeker]

92. I second that! While Fox is running propaganda 24/7, MSNBC runs prison shows.

Ed will be a nice addition to the weekend afternoon programming to counter the crap blaring out of Fox.

[dawnie51]

21. He was horrified ...

by the same part of the tape that got me; the Chinese girls locked in the factory, 3 to a stack, living in hell. Romney was so calm and casual about relating it too; I thought, my God, that's what he wants for us, what he has worked through Bain to get us to. He is dangerous, and Scott Prouty saw that too.

[lunasun]

70. yes indeed

[Zambero]

72. Yes, those girls should be "grateful" for those jobs

Plus room and board. After all, Mitt claimed that the barbed wire fence and guard towers around the facility were to keep others OUT so they would not compete for the precious jobs. Now that's work ethic! If only whiney American workers would stop complaining about stuff like living wages, adequate health care, and decent working conditions, and just do their jobs, like those dedicated Chinese.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

88. That's what they said about the Berlin Wall.

I'm barely old enough to remember when they put it up.

The East Germans said it was there to keep people OUT from West Germany, because East Germany was such a worker's paradise that people from West Germany would love to live there........uh huh.


Hint: Any country whose name has "Democratic" in it probably is NOT.

Example:The German Democratic Republic, official name of the former East Germany.

[riverwalker]

23. we need to thank him

and let him know we have his back.
@AnneOnymous670

[ailsagirl]

24. I'm so glad we get to meet this brave man-- Viva Prouty!!!

[Liberal In Texas]

25. That was an Emmy winner.

Just wow.

[ailsagirl]

26. kick

[Peregrine Took]

27. And in 2005 he saved a woman's life in Florida and won a hero's citation.

Its in the David Corn article. Her car was submerged in a pond and she was unconscious. He cut her seat belt and carried her up to the surface and then dove back to be sure there were no children in the back seat.

The guy is incredible and if the Dems don't grab him and talk him into running for Congress they are insane.

[BattyDem]

29. Prouty is an amazing man!

He did what he thought was right and he did it for all of us.

[nineteen50]

30. People power

power to the people.

[nolabear]

32. Indeed! Just a guy. And a good guy. Brilliant.

[Hekate]

33. Agree completely. I was blown away by Scott Prouty

The thing with the factory girls in China apparently struck Prouty to his core on more than one level.

When DH gets home from work tonight I am going to make a point of having him watch Ed at 8pm. Scott Prouty is my new American hero.

Hekate

[arthritisR_US]

35. You have good taste in heroes :)

[nolabear]

36. I recorded it for Mr. Bear too. He's going to love it. One guy with a camera. The RIGHT guy.

I'm actually a little choked up.

[Hekate]

41. And he had it there because he actually thought The Plutocrat would...

... shake his hand and pose for a photo with the hired help! We are ALL so unbelievably LUCKY that Scott Prouty was there that night.

Hekate

[nolabear]

63. We are. The right man at the right time.

[Indykatie]

38. I Don't Do Twitter Is There Another Way to Send Appreciative Message?

Better yet, wonder if someone will set up Paypal for him. His employment opportunities may suffer now that his identity is known.

[nolabear]

45. I wonder what he'll do now. He'll be a hot commodity, not always a good thing.

We'll see what happens, but I hope he is strong and survives it all well.

[Hekate]

79. Send your message via Ed or Mother Jones

As for work, it sounds like he may have something lined up.

[grasswire]

86. He doesn't want any $.

He says taking money would compromise the message.

[jbnow]

118. Hope there is some THANK YOU Scott Prouty page for him like

someone started for Colbert after the bush dinner

Wish I knew how

But THANK YOU Scott Prouty!

[amuse bouche]

37. I've been following him for months on twitter

He didn't admit it, but I could picture exactly who he was. No surprises here

I sent an email to Ed because many wanted to make a contribution. Sorry to say no answer yet

[Indykatie]

40. Amuse Bouche- Please E-mail Me if You Get Response Re: Donations

[nolabear]

42. Keep us posted on that. I'd love to show support somehow.

He deserves it.

[amuse bouche]

47. Will do

[grasswire]

87. he won't take money

He refused money for the interviews. He is correct; taking money would provide ammunition for critics.

[amuse bouche]

91. In my opinion there is a big difference

between getting paid for an interview from a show and showing appreciation by an audience

[grasswire]

97. why would an audience want to compromise his message?

If someone wants to honor him, donate to the ACLU in his name.

[amuse bouche]

99. His message is already out. There is nothing to compromise

It's a thank you. Lots of people on Huffington are looking for a way to donate to him.

We are just discussing it, if you don't mind

[grasswire]

106. perhaps you don't know the history of DU and Paypal donations.

Things can go bad. Very, very bad.

[amuse bouche]

107. This has nothing to do with DU and never will

Thanks for your concern..

[AnotherMother4Peace]

126. Yes I agree with you. He has dreams of attending law school. I would love to help with that. nt

[BillyJack]

44. Does anyone no where I can watch this online? TIA n/t

[nolabear]

46. Probably on msnbc after the last airing tonight.

[jehop61]

123. You can watch it

anytime on the old msnbc.com website

[DonCoquixote]

51. PROTECT HIM!

You know the Glenn Becks and Rushes and Seans are going to rile up that well armed bunch of "lone gunmen" to kill him!

[nolabear]

59. If nothing else they'll cast aspersions as to character and motive.

Cast them far enough and yeah, I guess someone could be dangerous. I hope the Dems give him the massive support he deserves and might need.

[DonCoquixote]

66. They will "find" weed in his car

and find every ex lover he had.

[DBoon]

82. or make up some ex-lovers

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-04/politics/37431220_1_menendez-dominican-republic-salomon-melgen

[ZRT2209]

83. sadly you are so right - he IS in danger from these dangerous assholes.

[SCVDem]

52. Semper Fi Scott Prouty!

Good work sir!

[mrsadm]

53. Pure, genuine, incredibly admirable integrity

In This gentleman.

[GP6971]

54. You got that right

Very well spoken young man. OK. I admit I 'm older

[ZRT2209]

55. .

[mr clean]

56. Scott Prouty is a real hero!

I am so glad he found someone who would listen to him and then run with it.... boy did grandson Carter run!

[ZRT2209]

57. how long before Malkin stalks him to spy on his counter tops?

How long before the right starts inventing wild conspiracy theories that he's a secret Muslim anchor baby Communist Black Panther Black Liberation Theologist Alinskyite?

[nolabear]

60. *sigh* I know, I know. But so far all they have is he saved a women's life with a scout knife.

Not too shabby so far!

[Politicub]

58. This is what it's all about

Prouty demonstrated remarkable courage to expose the GOP's true face.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

62. I totally agree, he was so inspirational!

I admire him so much!!!

[ailsagirl]

64. kick

[nolabear]

65. Now Lawrence O'Donnell will have his take on things. Can't imagine he won't have a lot to say.

Wish that darned Pope hadn't been elected today. This would be the first thing on everyone's lips otherwise.

[malaise]

67. Can't wait for JoeScum in the morning

That should be interesting

[nolabear]

74. Yes, the whole cycle will be interesting. Oy, FOX!

They'll have an attack dog do it for them. O'Reilly will be dismissive, Hannity will be sarcastic, Limbaugh...oh brother...

[malaise]

115. Not a freaking word all now n/t

[nolabear]

129. Yeah wtf is UP with that? Is it segregated to the evening msnbc shows???

[UTUSN]

68. R#54 & k for all the times I've kicked your posts, but who's counting?!1 n/t

[nolabear]

75. .

[COORACPRO]

73. A True American Hero!

Scott is a trueAmerican hero, makes me proud to be an American.

[Warpy]

76. I have to say I strongly suspected a bartender

because that's who can put a camera in a secure position where it won't be bumped or moved. Wait staff would have had a much harder time of it and kitchen staff would have been hidden away.

[madamesilverspurs]

78. ...

[nolabear]

81. NICE. May I?

WOuld love to put it on FB.

[madamesilverspurs]

90. Thanks, and yes.

[SwankyXomb]

103. "The Accidental Activist" would be a great title

if they make a movie out of his story.

[Kalidurga]

80. Our heroes are so much better.

They actually do heroic things rather than just spout off at political rallies.

[summerschild]

89. Boy, Howdy! The best the GOP can come up with is Jerk Joe the Plumber (& he ain't even a plumber!)

[bucolic_frolic]

85. The 47% comments revealed the truth about Social Darwinism

"God put us on top to rule the masses" is something
the 19th Century Robber Barons would have pompously said.

It's a basic incongruity in Republican ideology, from William Sumner's time.

And Mitt the Corporate Raider was the Poster Child for
125 years of Christian Social Darwinism. It was a cover story for exploitation
just like Lincoln's freedom, which promoted the northern manufacturer and
railroad interests.

I recommend taking a look at Thoman DeLorenzo's book on Lincoln.
___________________


"... Sumner's short book, What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, which was first published in 1884, when the author was in his early 40s, "would … earn him a reputation as the Gilded Age's leading 'social Darwinist,'"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Graham_Sumner

[JI7]

94. i'm watching it now and i'm hooked to it, it's WAYYY better than i thought it would be

i missed the first few minutes but will watch it during a repeat or online. i could watch the whole thing again.

[nolabear]

101. I'm sure I will. It is riveting.

And I worry a little about the deconstruction that will inevitably happen. Best to see for myself.

[AsahinaKimi]

96. Scott Prouty

Predicted he will probably be slammed by the right wing media. I am sure he is right, as that is their M.O. Romney blamed the media, and most likely the Right Wing media will come after him. Its great he got on Ed's show first.

[LiberalLovinLug]

134. Oh yeah

He's on their shit list. They will be compelled to smear him.

An elephant never forgets. Especially old angry ones chained to the ground by their own propaganda in a tiny tent.

[moondust]

98. I'd never seen the part about buying the Chinese factory before.

Where the Chinese told Romney the fence around the place was to keep people out.

That's what the East European communists used to say about the Berlin wall.

[Whisp]

100. yeh, he seems like a really nice and good man.

I wish him all the best, he certainly deserves it.

[ailsagirl]

105. kick

[Hamlette]

108. Ed did a great job. I admire them both for the way they handled this

and I'm not a huge Ed fan so its saying a lot from me.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

109. Rec 99

This was really a thing of beauty to watch. When Scott challenged himself not to be a coward, I was so, so moved. What he's done is nothing less than heroic - would be great to see him and David Corn co-author a book.



On edit: that was one of the fastest hours of my life, even with all the commercials.

[Cha]

113. I've seen it since I last

posted and I totally agree with you, nolabear. I was mesmerized.. all the history that went into it up until tonight. And, then we had the man himself who gave us the gift of Light on the 1 %er behind closed doors.. lying and talking trash about Americans to his big greedy donors.

Talking about his plant in China that makes small appliances and how inhumanly the workers are treated but he was so Impressed! Not sure if fiction could ever come up with such a horrible human being. No wonder Scott Prouty thought it was his responsibility to release this tape. That sucker could have been in the White House.

[malaise]

114. And yet ten minutes into Morning Joe Scum - not a single mention of

this scoop.

[DeeDeeNY]

116. Hope he is able to earn a living after this

He is amazingly brave but the right wing smear machine can be vicious

[Berlum]

119. An American citizen stands up proud

...against the Republican onslaught against all things decent and honorable.

[stuffmatters]

120. Just spellbinding

He's just so egoless and so smart. I'd never heard anyone connect that story Romney regaled his donors with about the Chinese
Women in the Slave Factory and the fact that Romney and Bain were so impressed with the conditions that they BOUGHT the factory!

Loved too his hopes for Romney having a moral aha moment towards the end of the interview...that maybe someday Romney would understand how sick both his worldview and the Bain business model are, that he might actually go back to some of these town that Bain destroyed and use his ill gotten wealth to start factories that create real products rather than debt, employ workers rather than looting their retirement and health funds and build communities rather than destroy them. Fat chance but certainly poignant he said it.

Yes I'd sure contribute to his campaign if he ran for office.

[southmost]

121. historical interview

[Bluenorthwest]

122. Prouty is a very impressive person indeed. This was also Ed's best work ever.

It was an amazing interview.

[TBF]

127. I hope Scott makes it to law school -

you can tell he is an introvert who is uncomfortable with the attention on himself. He's not only very smart but also compassionate and I'd love to see him get that spot in law school. We need more like him.

[Jade Fox]

128. When Prouty is not saving lives, he's saving the country.......

As I'm sure most of you know by now, in 2005 Scott Prouty saved a woman whose car went into the drink in FL.

[xxqqqzme]

132. I watched it twice.

It was so amazing. Prouty is so sincere, compelling and determined.