What do you think of radio talk show host Ed Schultz?

[AndrewP]

Just curious if anyone listens to him in DU.

He's been broadcasting in my hometown since the early 1980's, starting as the local major sportscaster on TV. Then he started on our oldest AM station as a right wing radio host from 9:00 to 10:30 every weekday and stayed in that time slot for about 14-15 years while changing stations in between.

When he went national in 2004 he became a left winger-ish type of broadcaster. I think some of this is very valid. He IS a proponent of helping the farm economy and protecting the small family farmers from being crushed by the major Corporations that now tend to control agriculture.

However, I can't help but think a lot of his stuff is also opportunism. Currenty he does a 90 min. show locally that airs before his national show every day. My Uncle and I would listen to it at our jobs and just laugh. During the local show, he would point out that Obama doesn't understand gun issues and has a lot to learn about rural America. Very tepid support in general. Then when the National show starts, he is Obama's biggest cheerleader.

[mmonk]

1. I like him. I enjoy his show.

[FLAprogressive]

2. uh okay? I actually agree with Schultz on the "gun issue" thing. Not all progressives have to be

Brady cheerleaders.

[AndrewP]

7. Uh Okay

[donco6]

3. I like him OK.

Except when he gets off into sports.

[napi21]

4. I've only been able to listen to Ed's national show, and I enjoy listening

to him. I have to give him credit for being one of the few raio hosts who will fight the RW, and most of the time WIN! He's good a ripping their BS to pieces. I don't have an opinion about your local show because I don't think I can listen to it.

As to Obama needing more exposure to rural life, he's probably right. It would be nearly impossible for someone who has spent almost his whole life in large cities to understand life in a small rural town like Fargo where Ed broadcasts from. I don't see that as a slam against Obama, but more of an assumption.

[AndrewP]

8. You are correct about Obama and needing exposure to rural life

like most major politicians of course.

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. I honestly don't know what to make of the guy.

I know for a fact that he used to be a right winger, and probably made a point of trying to sound like Mush Limpdick deliberately.

When he first started his alleged "progressive" career, he was center-right DLC all the way, no question about it. When his show came on the radio, I'd usually switch to some other internet stream that he wasn't on. And when he attacked his fellow talk radio hosts like Mike Malloy, he really turned my stomach.

In recent years he seems to have moderated his positions somewhat, and I've actually made it through his show without vomiting on a few occasions. But I can't help wondering if it's not all fake.

[AndrewP]

10. I'm not sure either

He was a major Bush backer in 2000 as well as a fan of Governor Hoeven.

Of course he has changed that big time over the past few years.

There was an incident here around 2000 in which a refugee from Africa was assaulted by two white guys. I just remember Ed starting his show that next morning talking about how he was tired of how whites are blamed for everything. Then I e-mailed his show and asked "Shouldn't we be more concerned about someone getting assaulted, regardless of the racial thing?"

He then proceeded to write me back, saying he was the QB and captain of a black football team in High School. I asked him what exactly that meant in regards to this situation. No reply.

That incident has always stayed in my memory bank.

Hey, when you are on the radio about 5 hours a day for 15 years, it's easy to slip up, be in a bad mood and say something stupid or be unable to put facts together sometimes. But it was just such a weird show and such a weird incident it's always left me wondering if he wasn't putting on a show during his libeal conversion where he loves everyone now.

[Jane Austin]

6. I believe he switched sides long before 2004.

Maybe in 2000 or in the late 1990's when he started dating his now wife, Wendy, who took him to lunch at the homeless shelter where she worked.

He was stunned by the number of veterans who were homeless.

[Frustratedlady]

9. I listen to him when I'm driving around, but I get frustrated because he's so rude.

He admits his ego is huge, but he is only willing to listen to a different idea once in a while. His opinion is THE opinion. A lot of the time he is right, but he isn't always up on the latest news and has been slipping up lately because of it. I don't know if he is a solid Obama supporter, but I do think he'll support him.