Ed Schultz has never been kind toward poor people, but then, most "progressives" ignore poverty altogether so I didn't see him as that much different.
In an article last month, Salon brought some of Schultz's anti-poverty stances to light:
Last September, for example, Schultz responded to a wave of gang violence in Chicago by calling on Obama to deploy the military in the city:
Mr. President, I got a great idea as to where you can send those troops that you just brought home from Iraq. How about Chicago, Illinois and a bunch of other big cities in this country? It's time we look out for our own backyard, security is an issue.
The right-wing version of Schultz opposed abortion in all circumstances, mocked homeless people by sneering, "How about getting a job?" and proclaimed that "I'd like to see the president get all the illegals out of the country, so we can start all over again."
But in his books, Schultz describes a first date with his future wife, Wendy -- whom he met for lunch at a homeless shelter -- as the event that sparked his reconsideration of politics. In his 2010 book, "Killer Politics," Schultz claims he didn't even know there were homeless people in Fargo:
Wendy asked me to meet her at a homeless shelter where she volunteered. It hadn't really dawned on me that homelessness could exist in Fargo. In my mind, a homeless person was a slacker, someone who just wasn't trying hard enough, and said these self-righteous things on the air. I didn't know then that one in four homeless people is a Vietnam veteran.
I will never forget as Katrina was unfolding, Schultz loudly questioned the poor people who stayed there, characterizing them as too stupid to know enough to get out of the rain. *He* would have left, so why didn't those who had no transportation, no money, and nowhere to go *NOT* leave?
That shows now that not only was this not a new (ignorant) stance for Schultz, but that he hadn't changed all that much, at least where poverty is concerned. His ignoring of poverty today is now all the more clear -- at least when it comes to poverty, Schultz is a RWer.
THIS is why it is so important for other "progressive" media to be talking about poverty and homelessness. Many people who listen to Schultz will take on his attitude, and when there is *no counter voice*, the ignorace gains favor.
Please write LTTEs about the issue of homelessness, and please, as many have asked before, write to your favorite progressive spokespeople and push for them to cover this issue.
There are many facts on DUer Shireling's OP:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1113459DUer Green PartyVoter has two journal entries which includes more facts to use, and contact info for media:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/GreenPartyVoter/7http://journals.democraticunderground.com/GreenPartyVoter/5 As progressives do with other issues, we MUST counter the mis-information on poverty and homelessness!