After Sen. Nelson Called To Complain, He And Ed Schultz Had Yelling Match Over Public Option

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/after-senator-nelson-called-to-complain-he-and-msnbcs-ed-schultz-have-yelling-match-over-public-opion/

After Senator Nelson Called To Complain, He And MSNBC’s Ed Schultz Had Yelling Match Over Public Option


Senator Ben Nelson was so upset with MSNBC’s Ed Schultz’s on-air criticism of his failure to embrace the public option that the Senator contacted Schultz to complain, prompting a private yelling match between the two over Nelson’s stance, Schultz confirms to me.

Nelson, who’s repeatedly complained about liberal groups running ads targeting him in Nebraska, was upset with Schultz for airing the ad and telling the Senator to get behind the President or to “shut up,” Schultz told me in an interview, adding that he tore into Nelson in their conversation.

Schultz, who subsequently mentioned their conversation on the air but didn’t reveal key details or how heated it got, says Nelson privately told him that he doesn’t think the public plan could “work,” which will further irk proponents.

“He tells me, `I hear you told me to shut up on the air,’” Schultz said to me moments ago. “I said, `Yes, I did…you’re an obstacle standing in the way of health care reform.’”

Nelson complained to Schultz that his attacks were personal. “I said, `Senator, I’m prepared to lose friends over this, it’s personal for 48 million Americans who don’t have health care,’” Schultz says, adding that he invited Nelson on the show. Nelson has yet to appear.

“He told me that he had cast tough votes before; he told me he didn’t think the public option will work,” Schultz continued. “I said how do you know — it’s just like Medicare.”

I’m checking in with Nelson’s office for comment. The ad that got this started, from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America, is here.

Oh, one other thing. Kathleen Sebelius, be warned: Schultz says he’s going to whack her tonight for saying the public option is not the “essential element” of reform. Shultz will say: “You’re not the governor of Kansas anymore.”

[tosh]

1. Ed Schultz has been our loudest and most persistent voice

in this fight.

Go Ed!!! :headbang:

[hlthe2b]

5. I haven't always been a fan, admittedly...

But, I am thrilled with Ed's persistence and courage on this.

[cascadiance]

10. He's now competing with Mike Malloy as chief rabble rouser...

I still like Thom Hartmann best for his well informed rants and activism that all progressives should listen to.

Malloy has been the person to continue to emotionally lead us in keeping the spirit going through the many years when he started the whole notion (and subsequently found to be very rightly so) of the "Bush crime family".

Ed isn't as informed as Hartmann, but has been overtime shoring up that difference more and more. Ed reaches quite a different audience than Malloy does, and perhaps many of us felt it was a bit too different from us to appreciate his take on things, especially when he was head-to-head with Randi Rhodes for a while. But when he gets going in the right ('er left) direction on an issue like health care, the man is really an asset to us. He's reaching and firing up a whole segment of the population that really needs to be reached, and is doing so as effectively as anyone is now.

My hats off to Ed! He is showing he's more for the people rather than be coopted by corporate special interests as so many that are thought to be "moderate" have been.

[chimpymustgo]

47. Ed's courage and persistance. Right on.

[roguevalley]

16. I love him. he's for us.

[AzNick]

44. Told you so....

I remember when Ed arrived on MSNBC, most people here were negative about it, some thinking that Cenk would have filled that slot better.

Told you so, guys... Told you so. He is the man and he reaches a different demographic.

I love Cenk, but Cenk is like a cooled down version of KO.

I also think that Cenk will lose his independence if he becomes a GE employee.

Sure, he'd make more mullah, which I hope he will soon, he deserves it :)

[hlthe2b]

74. I'm pleased with how Ed has conducted his show...

but I still think Cenk would have done a very good job... I'd still like to see him on a show.

[Webster Green]

76. Me too.

I've been defending him for years on this board, sometimes the lone supporter on threads that were trashing him. :smoke:

[AzNick]

92. I have played that part too...

Me: meat-eating, gun-toting, pickup-driving, dirt bike-riding liberal.

[tsuki]

2. You go Ed. K&R. nt

[butterfly77]

67. That's right...

keep it up Ed. What I want to know is if this is the same nelson who confronted the guy who did the commerical about healthcare. If it is,this -------- really thinks he can't be challenged.

[Nite Owl]

3. Sebelius

should be fired. She's totally ineffective for the position at this time when we need someone with strength and conviction.

[cascadiance]

9. and then bring in Howard Dean, like he should have to start with!

[WatchWhatISay]

30. If a public option isn't passed, we need to get Dean used to the idea of running in 2012

I like the way that, while others who are supposed to be on our side waffle at the slightest strain, Howard gets louder and louder!

[cascadiance]

85. I'd campaign for him!

[AlexDeLarge]

56. You took the

words right out of my mouth. Why wasn't Howard the first and ONLY choice for the position. Tom Daschle?!?! Howard's a fricking doctor. If anyone's qualified for the position it's Dr. Dean!

[rhett o rick]

59. Do you think it was an accident he kicked Dean to the curb? He doesn't want Dean.

Dean pisses off CorpAmerica and we can't have that.

[cascadiance]

84. That of course IS the fundamental problem that Obama needs to deal with if he wants a 2nd term!

Public campaign financing MUST happen soon to help prevent that.

[rhett o rick]

86. But the question is does Rahm favor campaign finance reform? I would guess not. nm

[cascadiance]

89. Kind of takes away the whole value he presents as chief of staff

and cutting deals with corporations to give more money to Dems next election in exchange for removing the public option, which was the rumor I heard earlier...

No, Rahm wants to be able to "deal" and not have bothersome morals and ethics get in the way.

[karynnj]

64. If Howard Dean would have been HHS, he would not have had the freedom

to do the advocacy he has done. He would have to reflect the President's position.

[cascadiance]

83. And perhaps without Rahm Emmanuel and the president being more consistent...

... with his support for single payer earlier, Dean might not have had to reflect a position "contrary" to his own, and actually had more power to implement it, instead of having to cater to "bipartisanship" and keeping "Blue Dogs" happy.

I understand that with Rahm Emmanuel in place and Obama in his mode of not being firmly committed to something he believes in and stands strong with in health care reform, it is probably in light of that better that Dean is working from the outside.

But with the right administration infrastructure in place, Dean could have helped do so much more and I think we'd be in such a better place now.

[Fla Dem]

53. I don't know Sebilus well enough to draw any conclusions on whether

or not she will be effective in her job. But to call her ineffective based on her comments Sunday morning regarding the public option is wrong. The position was obviously wrong, but she had her talking points given to her. Her comments were followed up by Gibbs ad Obama reiterating the exact same thing. She doesn't just go out there and wing it, she had her marching orders. Don't condemn the messenger. Just saying.

:hi:

[Kansas Wyatt]

55. She was an advocate for a public option before she took the job and she was told what to say.

The Obama Administration thought that they could piss on their base to warm up to the Republicans & Republican Lites (Blue Dog Democrats) and it backfired on them.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kansas Wyatt]

65. Mental problems???

"What are you - a f**king mind reader?" - Never said anything that would provoke that kind of comment, and I am not the one having an abusive mental outburst.

"Comfortable with the past tense?" - Care to clarify?

"Moron." - YOUR apology is overdue.

"There is nothing to vote on - yet. Chill out." - I never said there was, nor am I the one having an outburst.

"By the way, you don't have to post bulls**t just because you can. Give it a rest" - I have only posted what many others have also been observing lately. I did the math... The democratic base got pissed that the Obama Administration was giving up too much to republicans, and the Obama Administration was facing blow back.

"Introduce yourself to family members you care about. See if they feel the same." - You know nothing about me, but evidently you think you can read my mind. Pot, meet kettle.

[pokercat999]

70. The obama admin is toeing the corporate line very similar

to the bush admin. If it were not for cheney this is probably what bush would have been like. Without the wonderful and meaningless speeches.

[closeupready]

61. Completely agree. Those comments were absolutely unprofessional.

n/t

[emsimon33]

4. Way to go, Ed!

[madrchsod]

6. ya do`t fuck with big ed.....

i remember the day he got his bc/bs bill and that was all it took...from that day forward he`s been a champion of single pay or medicare for all...

[Echo In Light]

7. Thanks, Ed

[Cass]

8. I love Ed!

And I love that he won't back down even when confronted like this. Go Ed!

:kick: k&R

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Another Joe LIEberman "Demopub"

:puke:

[nashville_brook]

12. i just added Schultz to the DVR -- well done, sir.

Guess I have three to watch every nite now: Keith, Rachel, and Ed. So many progressive voices, so little time. How strange.

[handmade34]

13. Thanks ED Shultz!

somebody ought to be yelling at the people standing in the way of real reform

[Juche]

14. Now thats a liberal

We need more liberals like him, Hartmann and Maddow in the media. Mostly we get Alan Colmes and James Carville.

[Johonny]

15. He starting to get TDS jokes about him

so he's probably doing something right. TDS rarely even notices liberal TV show clips.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Good, they need to hear that

All of them...

[mmonk]

18. They've been on Ed's bad side for awhile now. Get them Ed!

[ThomWV]

19. You gotta love Ed, he's the only one that sticks up for working people

And screw Nelson.

[charlie]

20. Schultz should ask him how he came to be called Benator

Nelson embarassingly mooned over Bush like a lovestruck teenager.

The fact that the guy he was gooey over called him "Nellie" distressed him, enough that he even wrote a letter requesting another nickname. On his way to a rally in Omaha, Bush picked Nelson up in a limo. In return for a promise to support Social Security privatization, Ben was rechristened Benator. And dumped into a parking lot, where he had to cadge a ride back from a reporter he didn't know.

This is a picayune, penny-ante, deeply unserious man.

[glitch]

71. Crikey. He needs to seek help from a professional. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

21. Ben Nelson will have a townhall in Omaha tomorrow, and two more in Kearney and North Platte

Dates have not been released for the Kearney and North Platte events.

I will be going to the Kearney event.

[GreenTea]

22. I love the new Ed Schultz...the fiery Ed Schultz....The guy who calls these

moderate "democratic" assholes out and calls them what they are, complete lying ignorant jackoffs on Public Option. Same with the asshole twinkle toes around here who want to be nice to the republicans can't we all get along fools, dumb as post, stupid ignorant moderates...who want to play civil nice-nice with the republicans....contemptible piles of shit....I know I was easy on there but I'm being mellow towards the moderate clowns.

[glitch]

72. I prefer to listen to Thom but I understand Ed reaches a different demographic

and I am glad for him. I think Thom should have his own show on MSNBC too though.

[GreenTea]

77. I love Thom Hartmann as well - However, it's also very nice to see & hear someone

right in the republicans face, as Ed Schultz does on a regular basis mixing emotion with fire & passion something that the republicans constantly do and only do because their arguments are shallow, elitist, lies or have no real argument at all, so they shout to pretend they are right & and defuse the obvious fact they would get their ass kicked in a civil debate so they make it always seem it was a toss up and nothing really got through, nor accomplished...

Most Dems & progressives usually back away from this sort of republican bullshit and the republicans can count on it and they do, though they can't as much with Schultz because he's right back in their faces.


Ed maybe not the most informed, but his heart & soul is definitely in the right place, absolutely, and we need that passion & emotion as well...

Certainly there is a place for the excellent Hartmann, I love his knowledge, perception and insight and his use of history & facts to make his point undeniably the most logical & fair way to go about progressing and evolving for our society and ourselves....Thom is invaluable.

We need both Ed & Thom - They are both fun to watch and listen to as they destroy the republicans lies talking points spin and complete elitist corporate bullshit, in their own way!

[glitch]

82. Both would be wonderful! A dream come true, and I don't even have cable anymore.

But just knowing that Thom had a wider audience would give me a bit more hope.

[OwnedByFerrets]

23. He might just be the loudest, but Thom has been just as persistant

[Dr Fate]

80. Thom is terrific too- the big difference is Eddie is on TV, in front of more people. n/t

n/t

[OwnedByFerrets]

87. You got me there. As much as I LOVE Thom, he doesnt

have the personality for TV. He's too lowkey.

[Dr Fate]

88. I never said that- I just said he was not on TV as it is!

I used to think Thom was too wonky & too "intellectual" to connect- but that was before I actually gave him a chance.

If given a chance, he might go over well on TV- especially if he brings in his sense of humor a little more....He's a fairly handsome man as well.

[OwnedByFerrets]

91. I understand, but I've seen him on tv also,

and his delivery doesnt have enough pizazz. Not that it matters......he wont ever do tv.

Hell, we are damned lucky to get what we get. The man is pretty wealthy. He does this for the love of it.

[WatchWhatISay]

93. We need both

Each has their advantage to offer us

[walldude]

24. He's cast tough votes before?

Yeah it's a real fucking tough vote when my tax dollars are buying you and your family the best medical care you can get. Ass.

[HughMoran]

25. Good - kick some ass Ed

We better get our public option.

[babyblonde]

26. Big ED

where can i send him some candy,or flowers....i loves me the big RED Head ED

[tinkerbell41]

27. Gooo Eddie!!!!!

I love him. Never in my 42 yrs, have I ever heard ANYONE speak for us. Yes, I listen to Hartman, I like him also. But, Ed speaks my language be it blustery, whatever I love it. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!!! I am a Union gal and Ed does speak for labor all the time.

[Mithreal]

28. Ed Schultz kickin ass, Big K&R nt

[FlyByNight]

29. Sen. Hairhelmet offends me

The "public option" won't work? Where's the evidence? I hope the insurance money that's rolling into his (and Conrad's, Baucus', etc.) coffers is worth it as he helps to further financially ruin the republic.

And, of course, all we need to do is name Medicare and the VA as examples of where it does work. (Not to mention the national systems of Canada, France, Germany, etc.)

Please Sen. Nelson, the Rs are going to attack you anyway no matter how you vote. Just STFU and do the right thing when the time comes.

Not a big fan but way to go Ed! Call 'em out!

:thumbsup:

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

31. You go big Eddie

:yourock:

[Overseas]

32. Go Ed !! Great job !! Many thanks! //n

[DU GrovelBot]

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[butterfly77]

68. Soon and very soon..

[avaistheone1]

34. Ed Schultz is our LBJ. That man is kicking butt and naming names.

Ed is sweeter than LBJ, but he is still mighty. Hear Ed roar!!!!

[Swamp Rat]

35. Thank you Ed Schultz

:)

[democracy1st]

36. thank you Ed

[autorank]

37. Nelson got off easy. Shultz could have said, "You're being bribed by health industry money"

You douche bag, Nelson, corporate toady on the take.

"you’re an obstacle standing in the way of health care reform." He's that and he's killing people.

Screw him.

[defendandprotect]

38. Schultz has been working really hard on the health care issue . .. MEDICARE FOR ALL --!!!

[TankLV]

39. Way to go Ed!!! Now THAT'S the way to ACT!!! Too bad OTHER Dems don't do JUST LIKE ED DID!!!

We need MORE of this!!!

FUCK YOU NELSON - JOIN THE REPUKES ALREADY!!!

[The Magistrate]

40. One Wonders, Ma'am, What The Hell Nelson Expects....

On a number of crucial issues, he is just one more vote for the Republicans. If he does not like being called out on not acting like a Democrat, perhaps he should consider ceasing to act in concert with the Republicans.

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Good lord doesn't Nelson understand how to keep a low profile about these things

Look Senator Nelson, we all know you're against the public option because insurance companies are big employers in Nebraska and they contribute to your campaign. If you have to make up some bullshit excuse just say you're representing your constituents. But don't pretend that you have a better solution when you don't.

[Trocadero]

42. GOOD! Nelson wants to be treated like an f'ing princess. F that!

[dreamnightwind]

43. Ed gets it done!

I warmed to Ed slowly. Not my kinda guy but he's a great piece in a larger puzzle, he reaches different people.

Nelson, what to do about guys like him? He represents Nebraska, a state that would not be likely to support an actual progressive. There should be an opening, though, not for a progressive, but for a real non-corporate Dem.

The corporations are equal opportunity screwers. They'll take your money whether you're on the left or on the right. The right candidate should be able to represent places like Nebraska in a way that truly represents those people, instead of a candidate that pretends to share their conservative values but then sells them out to the corporate interests.

I see little or no traction on the right side of the spectrum towards reigning in the corporations. The Dems should be able to exploit this simply by doing what is right by the people of that area, which would include reigning in the corporations.

People like Nelson are an obstacle to this, and give Democrats a bad name, contributing to the meme that Dems are no better than Repubs.

[laughingliberal]

45. I love him

When I was working, he was on the radio during my drive to work. I was so happy when he got his show on MSNBC. He's just the kind of guy you want in a street fight. :bounce:

[Vidar]

46. Good for Ed! Pestilence on Nelson!

[Vinca]

48. I don't care if my husband reads this.

I LOVE BIG ED!:woohoo:

[WolverineDG]

49. And folks on DU thought he was too much of a righty

and made fun of people like me who said otherwise. Do you believe me now?

GO BIG EDDIE!!

dg

[polichick]

50. "Yes I did...you're an obstacle..." No backpedaling!!! nt

[paparush]

51. The Big Red Head! Fighting the good fight.

[JBoy]

52. "tough vote" = something his corporate masters want but the people do not.

[pleah]

54. K&R

[bertman]

57. Ed is The Man!!

[wryter2000]

58. Schultz is really on top of this subject

He's the best out there on health care. Informed, passionate, and ready to take anyone on.

[blondeatlast]

62. "...it's just like Medicare." Why are OUR press pushing this and our leaders/reps are not?

IT. REALLY. IS. THAT. SIMPLE.

Go, Big ed, I was a big fan before it was DU cool!

[me b zola]

63. Ben Nelson = obstacle

Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Senator Nelson, you are no leader, you are an obstacle and you will be kicked out of the way.

[kevsters]

66. Watch Hannity's Health Care Hypocrisy

You must much this clip of Sean Hannity being a huge hypocrite about the public option and the health care debate. Everyone knows he is a hypocrite, but this is blatant.

Here is the clip.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2603

[dpbrown]

69. Thank you, big Eddie

We need more tigers in our corner.

[leftcoastie]

73. I was skeptical

but Big Eddie has really fought the fight for one of our most important "should be" rights. His passion is a real plus for the issue and he hasn't let up for months. Thanks Ed.

[amb123]

75. Take no prisoners, Ed!

No letup! No letup!

:nopity: :rant: :yourock:

[LaPera]

78. I love Ed Schulz' show on MSNBC.... I TIVO Ed's show & watch it every night (Pacific Time).

Love Ed's fire & passion and right in the republicans lying ugly mugs!

[Dr Fate]

79. So he calls ED to complain, but is too cowardly to go on his show? Typical Conservative attitude.

Tries to intimidate Eddie on a private level, but too frightened to take the debate or explain himslef in front of TV cameras.

[DefenseLawyer]

81. The question to ask Nelson: Will he join Republicans in a filibuster?

If the answer is no, I don't give a rat's ass about his "tough vote" against the bill.

[Cetacea]

90. k&R n/t