The Ed Show – Ed wasn’t always so liberal!

I was surprised to learn one of my favorite television pundits, Ed Shultz, whose show I love watching everyday at five o’clock, was not always the progressive liberal he is today. At one time, the talk-show host of MSNBC’s recently launched, the Ed Show, was actually (it’s hard to swallow, so sit down), a Republican. It’s certainly hard to imagine Ed Shultz, who every day articulates his passionate argument for single-payer health care (like they have in those evil socialist countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Canada), who was a staunch supporter of Obama during the Presidential campaign, and whose psycho-talk segment never fails to nail the Beck/Palin crowd on their incurable disconnect with reality.

So, perhaps there is hope for others who don’t seem to live on planet earth—the climate change deniers, for example. Perhaps even a “birther” might some day be able to “give it up” to the facts and admit the President was (as has been proven by the release of his birth certificate on numerous occasions, however unnecessary) a United States Citizen. Perhaps, some hardened tea partiers might decide health care for all makes sense, and like Ed Shultz, have a change of heart when faced with the nightmare of the current health care system. So, what happened to Ed to bring him into the liberal fold? Did he suddenly start drinking lattes and eating arugula?

Apparently in the late 1990’s, a number of teaching moments occurred that opened his heart and mind to the serious social ills that he now valiantly fights to reform. His strong advocacy for a public health care option was born from personal frustration with the status quo. His mother (a former school teacher) began a battle with Alzheimer’s, and as her mental health deteriorated, Shultz found it difficult to obtain the services she needed. When confronted with the American health care nightmare first hand, he began to convert.

During this time, he befriended an amazing psychiatric nurse, (who later became his wife), who ran a homeless shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, and influenced his politics. Like lots of folks on the right who seem unaware of our country’s glaring social inequalities, such as the many homeless veterans unable to get the psychiatric or medical services they need, Ed needed a wake-up call on the harsh realities of poverty in America. From a middle class family himself, he needed to meet real people who had served their country in war, and now lived in the streets.

Sometimes getting up close and personal is the only way people can develop empathy, compassion, and the ability to see poverty as the disease it is. Once poverty takes hold in the lives of individuals or groups, it becomes seemingly impossible to eradicate; it creates a cycle that traps victims in its harsh reality without the necessary resources to break the cycle.

And, in 2000, as Schultz traveled throughout rural North Dakota doing radio promotions, he saw first hand the devastating effects of the poverty. Schultz told reporters about how he met farmers who were suffering and hard-working people who were going hungry, even though Republicans said the economy was doing fine. He witness the dramatic disconnect between the right’s rhetoric and the reality on the ground. Seemingly, a natural born activist, he began to hold benefits to raise money for people in the heartland who were going through tough times. And he began questioning some of the assertions of George W. Bush; although he still supported several Republican candidates in the 2000 election, he was becoming critical of other Republicans.

Give ‘em Hell Ed

I love the way Ed goes after the President and Democrats when he thinks they are caving to special interests and failing to stand up for the American people. I relate to his frustration that it appears we will be giving those who run the insurance industry reason to break out the Champagne and celebrate their victory – they won’t have to worry about competition in the market place—they can continue health care rationing and pulling the plug on granny with impunity.

Schultz tells it straight, “I'm getting pretty tired of all the "compromising" going on out there, too. Republicans want to make this the Democrats' "Waterloo," and it's looking more and more every day like the Democrats are going to let them.

I still don't understand why the Democrats started this game by punting on first down. Why would they do that? Why did the Democrats in Washington compromise universal single payer and the public option away before the negotiations even start?

Where did they learn their negotiation skills? I don't get it.”

Ed hosts the Ed Show from a free health care clinic in the heartland.

Ed Schultz recently hosted the Ed Show from the Kansas City Convention Center where a free health care clinic was set up by 1600 volunteers, 600 medical care personnel, and 55 doctors who offered medical services to thousands of Americans unable to pay for medical care.

“In the middle of the country, two thousand miles from the beltway, I witnessed middle class Americans standing in line for hours waiting to see a doctor. Some had not seen a doctor in years. They have jobs, some working two jobs, but can't afford the cost of insurance and basically are on the GOP plan: pray you don't get sick.”

He rightfully called out the Senators saying they should do their business at one of these free health clinics in front of the American people who are struggling to make ends meet and who cannot afford basic health care. In his typically no-nonsense fashion, Schultz calls out the heartless side of American politics, where politicians are more concerned about the people that keep them in office with enormous contributions, than with suffering Americans.

He sums up his position, “Senators who put themselves ahead of the people and who have been spoiled by the Washington good life have lost their soul and what it means to be an American. We throw billions of dollars at wars, often without hesitation, but some in the Congress are willing to treat humans in their own country like a piece of machinery that can be left in a junk yard.”

And, what about the volunteers working in these free clinics? Schultz calls them true heroes, and praises The National Association of Free Clinics for its work.

“I beg the Senate: please make the correct decision for this country and pass the torch to a new generation with compassion and moral compass with a health care bill that never falls short of any need for any American.”