»» Columnists

Ed Schultz Panel Groups Jan Brewer, Allen West And RNC Chair To Chide ‘Divisive’ Rhetoric

video

by Frances Martel | 9:00 pm, January 30th, 2012

» 45 comments

Ed Schultz opened his program tonight with a segment of Republicans behaving badly– from RNC Chair Reince Priebus to Arizona governor Jan Brewer to Rep. Allen West. Schultz and his guests, Melissa Harris-Perry and James Peterson, made the point that Priebus’s comparison of the President to the Captain of the sunken Costa Concordia, Brewer’s exchange with him in Arizona, and West’s demand that he leave America were all indicative of the same illness in Republican politics.

“How low will they go?” Schultz asked regarding the Republicans. The comments did not appear to bother Harris-Perry much in political terms, but she did not that “what it does in terms of the divisiveness of the American people” was concerning, though it would ultimately, she predicted, help the President.” Peterson suggested that “yes, we want to raise the level of American discourse,” but that “the American people are getting used to this,” and that the chances of it getting better soon were slim.

They then turned to Rep. Allen West’s bizarre comments effectively throwing President Obama and several Democrats out of America. “It’s the oldest, nastiest way of throwing some people out of the American story,” Harris-Perry commented, adding that she believed it to be “much more dangerous than any mean words we call the President” because Rep. West was trying to redefine what was acceptably “American.” Peterson agreed, though seemed confused about why the story was an issue at all. “Who is Allen West? Who is this guy?” he asked incredulously, adding that “he seems to me to be really off the charts here,” and that “when we think about the ways in which the political discourse has been contaminated by this kind of language, we need to be concerned.”

They finally discussed the rhetoric of the modern Republican Party, and Schultz noted that the vitriol was somewhat new, since he hadn’t heard it from Democrats or from Bob Dole or President George W. Bush (yes, Schultz defended President Bush, albeit in a roundabout way).

The point is made that much of the rhetoric in politics today is divisive and Americans have a civic duty to be concerned about that problem. However, the segment suffers from being too expansive for its own good. The thesis of the collective argument Schultz and his guests are making is that something about President Obama sets off Republicans in a way they had never been set off before– that something about his identity throws them off. The problem is that, in gathering his data, Schultz lumped together three vastly different situations. Priebus comparing the President to the captain of the Costa Concordia is nothing like Jan Brewer sticking her finger in the President’s face is nothing like Rep. Allen West delivering an unhinged rant, first and foremost because these three political characters are nothing alike.

Priebus, the Tim Pawlenty to Michael Steele‘s Jesse Ventura, only showed his face, one assumes, to remind people that he exists and that he runs the party, and in so doing proved he was rusty with media appearances by delivering a weak metaphor. Gov. Brewer has a book to sell and knows how to make headlines. Rep. West has proven time and again to be the first in line to yell unprofessional nonsense about Democrats (or anything, really) wherever a microphone finds him. To assume that, just because these people are all nominally Republicans there is some sort of pattern to what they do is akin to suggesting that there is one particular link between Barry Manilow, Sarah Palin, and Jon Stewart all at some point praising Ron Paul. When you’re President, all roads of disenchantment on the other side of the political aisle lead to you, and looking for a common intention that causes that is often a fool’s errand.

The segment via MSNBC below:

Allen West, barack obama, ed schultz, James Peterson, Jan Brewer, Melissa Harris Perry, msnbc, Reince Priebus, Republicans

Anonymous

Oh please. So disingenuous coming from Schultz. I am not a conservative and would never buy that. Hahaha…

I encourage more rhetoric. ;) The election year would be boring stiff, otherwise.
Anonymous

What a laugh. If the folks at MSNBC want to get a taste of “divisive rhetoric,” they should check some of their own broadcasts.

Here’s Keith Olbermann calling George Bush a fascist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u19KHbTJEOk

Here’s Keith Olbermann telling President Bush to “Shut the Hell up!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvz9jyf4gUk

Etc. etc.
Anonymous

Divisive – see a picture of President Obama – the MOST divisive POTUS in the history of this nation. And of course, Mr. Ed, and his buddies at msnbc will lie through their teeth every day and spew their anti-american hatred day in and day out.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Politics-culture-Reasoned-America/100001284363960 Politics-culture Reasoned Amer

Divisive rhetoric?

Just tune in to your President’s stump speeches, he’s been giving since last year!

This is a typical, oft-used ploy of the left; accuse your opponents of doing precisely what you do as a matter of course!

The attack on black Congressman West is obviously RACIST for Shultz, and SELLOUTS to their Democratic overseers for Melissa Harris Perry and Professor (racist indoctrination on campus, anyone?) James Peterson.

This whole msnbc station is like a fuedal-time anachronism, where everything revolved around “tribes” – or in msnbc’s case, RACE!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Politics-culture-Reasoned-America/100001284363960 Politics-culture Reasoned Amer

MSNBC – All Race Card, All the Time:

Tea
Party…..RACIST!

Vote GOP…RACIST!

Watch FOX….RACIST!

Police…RACIST!

Gun Owners…RACIST!

Southerners…RACIST!

Christians…RACIST!

Want lower taxes…RACIST!

Enforce Immigration Laws…RACIST!

Two-Parent Families…RACIST!

Personal Responsibility…RACIST!

White & disagree with liberals…RACIST!

Black & disagree (Clarence Thomas)…UNCLE TOM!

—————————————————————

Now let’s take a look at the REAL RACISTS!

Just pay attention at who’s first to introduce RACE into a debate – THE DEMOCRAT!

Who promotes the primitive concept of “GROUP-IDENTITY” – THE DEMOCRAT!

Who uses accusations of ‘RACISM’ to smear political opponents -THE DEMOCRAT!

Who feigns outrage over the “racism” of Jan Brewer, yet lauds the
likes of Jackson, Sharpton, Waters, Farrakhan, & my personal favorite, the
Rev. Wright – THE DEMOCRAT!
12voltman1

Take up some more room why don’t you?
JustAsking2012

Really Ed? Do you not remember Democrats in and out of Congress using the shooting of a Congresswoman (and a whole bunch of other people) as a political tool? Do you not remember people saying it was Sarah Palin’s fault, before there was any evidence? Do you not remember those same people not updating their awful rants, even after it came out that the guy was just an a-political loon, and it had nothing to do with Republicans and Democrats?

No, Ed… they both use divisive rhetoric… and only a fool wouldn’t realize or recognize that.
South Park Conservatives

Is this one of those pot-kettle-black moments?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RD7VI4JIGOLEZWXOF5UU5PE3II Juliet Abanike

There is something criminal about hosting a $34,000 a diner party and telling Occupy Wall Street demonstrators that you are on there side. There is something criminal about criticizing Wall Street and raising tons of money from them at the detriment of poor Americans. There is something criminal about giving people hand outs rather than jobs. There is something criminal about telling Americans $780 million was for shovel ready jobs, yet all the money have not been accounted for. There is something criminal about being heralded as the Black messiah and having the highest unemployment in the our communities. Oh yes, the analogy fits.

It’s called analogy…Definition.. a. Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar. Every English word does not mean a racial slang. The politics of racial divide and President Obama deep desire to divide this country among racial lines, it’s endless. It reminds me of O J Simpson murder trial verdict. Shame on President Obama!

Republican Party must fight fire with fire, this is just the beginning. Every, every, yes… every criticism of President Obama from now on will have a racial slant according people of MSNBC and CNN.
http://twitter.com/RabbleRealist A Rabble Realist

Enough with Melissa’s fake laugh where she crunches up her face in an attempt to look cute and “authentic” but actually ends up looking like she’s constipated. Her ego fills up my room when she is on TV. She will be unbearable when she starts her new stupid MSNBC show. Imagine having her as a teacher? I bet all she does is name drop and mention her upcoming “appearances.”
Anonymous

MSNBC was infamous for their divisive rhetoric towards Bush from 02-08. Every day was a “Bush Hatefest” on that channel. Do they think people just forgot?

Pot meet kettle.
Anonymous

MSNBC – The Place For Knuckleheads. Or in Ed’s case…blockheads.

Is it just me or does he remind you of Barney Rubble ??
Ben

blablabla…

*drink*

sigh…..
Spiritual Gunfighter

‘Cept Barney never beat Betty or shot Dino.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Malone/100002475802402 Tim Malone

Ed can’t say anything negative about a black person unless he has blacks on his show when he says it, what a weasel.
Anonymous

Jan Brewer is fundraising? Ha! What else can that vacuous woman use for fundraising but a photo showing her disrespect for the POTUS. A little racist thread is helpful too.
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
Carl Emmoth

How about talking about the topic “Jan Brewer, Allan West and RNC Chair”?
http://twitter.com/Haitiana4Obama Haitiana4Obama

Disgusting and offensive as when people make 9/11 comparisons.
Anonymous

Dems called all Americans that support the Tea Party terrorists and hostage takers. I guess that’s not divisive?
Pablo

That was very clever of her to get Obama to whine at her about her book, huh?
http://www.facebook.com/tonykoch1 Tony Koch

They can not promote their guys record for the president does not have a good one. So MSNBC has banked on the racist card for any dissent towards their president. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid called bush a liar….. Olberman and the Air America crew ( randy rhodes) said despicable things about GW daily and that was considered the TRUE FORM OF PATRIOTISM…. Now it is Racism… interesting to say the least
Anonymous

The topic also relates to devisive political language that apparently some think is just now surfacing due to Obama. felix shows proof that it did not begin with this primary season, or Obama.
Anonymous

How about you talking about the topic instead of spamming?
http://www.facebook.com/tonykoch1 Tony Koch

Dead on ! Obama has never stopped campaigning and his speeches are always divisive he spoke of being ditches for christ sake in year one………… Then after the gifford shooting he tried the whole “political discourse” shtick for a month then back to class warfare. And to MSNBC… the things they said on their radio shows and network during GWB were disrespectful beyond the pale…. Yet now they have the gall to call out others hypocrites……….
Carl Emmoth

Sure you can find examples from and for what ever, but now we’re talking about these people addressing Obama. So stick to the context!
P Diddie

I feel a little off-topic commenting about the actual news article. But then again, I’m not spinelessly cowed into shilling and defending a national political party…I’m one of those who believe the parties should work for US, and not the other way around…that is, I’m not conservative.

I think the commentary was dead on that Ed’s segment (y’know, the article above) was too expansive to the point of being meaningless. I agree that Jan Brewer’s new book sales should have been pointed as the primary motivator behind the drama-queen, well-rehearsed hysterics on the tarmac. No one should ever comment on that West windbag, or else *he* wins more than he loses (he typically has no self-respect, what more can he lose?). Reince’s idiocy can easily be countered with a picture of Osama bin Laden or a reminder of the GOP’s embracing and pardoning Gaddafi.
Anonymous

Komment Kop !!!
Pablo

I agree that Jan Brewer’s new book sales should have been pointed as the
primary motivator behind the drama-queen, well-rehearsed hysterics on
the tarmac.

Do you think she made Obama whine at her about her book, or do you suppose she just knew he would? One of these would have to be true under your theory.
Anonymous

President Obama “tripped” and accidentally fell into air force which flew him around the country.. the campaigning part, I don’t know
JustAsking2012

Oh, I thought the topic was also Ed’s idea of “divisive rhetoric,” since that too is in the headline.

Next time, state what you mean…. “Please stop talking about that, it makes me uncomfortable to have to defend hypocrisy I agree with. Talk about something else.”
Holistic

Eddie, your panel was full of racists.
AliveStillKickin

Is that your Mad Dog 20-20 whine?
Anonymous

Let`s have a panel discussion about white genocide!

Africa for the Africans,Asia for the Asians,white countries for EVERYBODY!

Everybody says there is this RACE problem. Everybody says this RACE problem will be solved when the third world pours into EVERY white country and ONLY into white countries.

The Netherlands and Belgium are just as crowded as Japan or Taiwan, but nobody says Japan or Taiwan will solve this RACE problem by bringing in millions of third worlders and quote assimilating unquote with them.

Everybody says the final solution to this RACE problem is for EVERY white country and ONLY white countries to “assimilate,” i.e., intermarry, with all those non-whites.

What if I said there was this RACE problem and this RACE problem would be solved only if hundreds of millions of non-blacks were brought into EVERY black country and ONLY into black countries?

How long would it take anyone to realize I’m not talking about a RACE problem. I am talking about the final solution to the BLACK problem?

And how long would it take any sane black man to notice this and what kind of psycho black man wouldn’t object to this?

But if I tell that obvious truth about the ongoing program of genocide against my race, the white race, Liberals and respectable conservatives agree I am a naziwhowantstokillsixmillionjews.

They say they are anti-racist. What they are is anti-white.

Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.
http://twitter.com/RabbleRealist A Rabble Realist

Awwwww did the truth hurt?
http://twitter.com/RabbleRealist A Rabble Realist

The topic is whatever we want it to be on the Internet – if you want controlled speech go watch cable news.