Hello Everyone:

Here is the transcript of some statements that Ed Schultz made on his MSNBC program on Monday, July 28 about Blue Dog Democrats and health care which I think shows that he needs to learn an important lesson about this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32202316/ns/msnbc_tv-tucker/

'The Ed Show' for Tuesday, July 28
Read the transcript to the Tuesday show

Guests: Jack Reed, Earl Blumenauer, Maggie Mahar, Patti Higgins, Stephen A. Smith, Ron Christie, Sam Stein, Michael McGraw, Jamal Simmons, Roy Sekoff

ED SCHULTZ, HOST: "Senator, the Democrats have 60 votes. You‘ve got it right there for the taking, but the Republicans are still telling you what to do, how high to jump, when to jump, and everything else. There are several Democrats on the Finance Committee, though, who do support a public option...

Where‘s the controversy?

The controversy is within the confines of the caucus of the Democratic Party that I think is not listening to the people out there. One thing is for sure—we‘re going to find out how unacceptable this is. You see, the other side says, well, everything‘s going to be just fine. I want the passion in this..."

Ed Schultz has also previously blasted Blue Dog Democrats very hard earlier last month on July 10:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31890048/ns/msnbc_tv-tucker/

'The Ed Show' for Friday, July 10
Read the transcript to the Friday show

Guests: Keith Ellison, Zack Space, Adam Schiff, Ray Young, Robert Reich, Virg Bernero, Stephanie Miller, Michael Medved, Maria Teresa Kumar

ED SCHULTZ, HOST: "Those damn Blue Dog Democrats are causing problems on Capitol Hill again. I‘m in a fighting mood tonight. They just want to make all these changes, and they‘re not for a public option...

SCHULTZ: Well, I guess the best way to say this to you, folks, is it looks to me like we have some Blue Dog Democrats that need some Big Eddie counseling tonight. As Richard Nixon used to say, they don‘t have their heads screwed on right.

Now, the Blue Dog Dems are out there threatening to stand in the way of a public option on health care reform. They are demanding significant changes before they can support any reform.

Now, there‘s 52 of these Blue Dogs. Forty-six of them have signed on saying that they‘ve got some real concerns about if we go into the private sector and give the private insurance companies some competition.

What is it that they are afraid of? Are they afraid that somebody might, when they go home, call them a liberal? Are they afraid that somebody might say, “You‘re too liberal”?..."

Ed Schultz in my opinion has shown he does NOT understand that his ONLY two choices are to either accept Blue Dogs Democrats in Congress and try to work with them OR alienate them which could seriously risk Democrats losing control of Congress to the Republicans in the 2010 mid term election. As badly as Ed Schultz wants it, there is no other realistic choice outside of the two that I mentioned!

The answer to Ed Schultz's question that he asked about Blue Dog Democrats is "Yes" when he asked on July 10 "Are they afraid that somebody might, when they go home, call them a liberal? Are they afraid that somebody might say, “You‘re too liberal”?

Dana Bash of CNN explained on Monday, July 27 exactly why the answer is "Yes" to Ed Schultz's question:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/27/sitroom.01.html

THE SITUATION ROOM

Dems vs. Dems in Health Debate; 'Two Black Men' Not in Gates 911 Call; 'Cash for Clunkers' Offers Big Rebates

Aired July 27, 2009 - 16:00 ET

DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: "The reason why we're here is because just down the hall, House Democrats are about to start, Wolf, a five-hour seminar. That's right, a five-hour seminar to help explain their health care plan. And they are certainly going to seize on what you said, this CBO report, saying some good news from the Democrats' perspective about their idea for a government-run health insurance option. They're hoping that that will help persuade skittish members of their own party, especially some conservatives who are worried about answering to their -- conservative Democrats worrying about answering to their constituents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): Talk to Congressman Gerry Connolly about the House Democrats' health care plan and you hear this...

REP. GERRY CONNOLLY (D), VIRGINIA: I think it's premature to be talking about a tax increase.

BASH: Connolly is a freshman Democrat elected from a traditionally Republican district in northern Virginia, and Exhibit A of an ironic twist. A big reason for the Democratic divide delaying health care reform may be that Democrats are a victim of their own election year successes.

Democrats' huge House majority comes from winning and holding 27 Republican districts in 2006 and an additional 26 Republican seats in 2008. That means Democrats like Connolly have to answer to and represent conservative-leaning districts wary of many aspects of their party's health care reform.

CONNOLLY: I think it's very important to remember that a lot of suburban districts such as mine switched and supported both President Obama and Democrats in Congress. And I think it's very important that the message we send to those districts not be a negative one, that we're taking into account their concerns.

BASH: Concerns like tax increases, which Republicans are already stoking with press releases and a media blitz in the works targeting Connolly and other vulnerable Democrats.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Democrat leaders are going to walk their members down the plank on nationalizing our health care system here in this country and require them to vote on a massive new tax increase in small businesses.

BASH (on camera): Are you worried that if this is done wrong, that this could jeopardize your seat and others like you?

CONNOLLY: Well, when you run for Congress on some of these big issues, you want to make sure you get it right. And that's really where we are right now. We want to make sure we get it right.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Much to the chagrin of the White House and Democratic leaders, that is something we're hearing more and more from rank-and- file Democrats. And there is also concern that they don't really know what's in the Democratic leaders' plan. It's over a thousand pages, and that is why we are down here, because we are waiting for a meeting where House Democratic leaders are going to try to educate and persuade their rank-and-file Democrats to go along with their bill..."

Here is the CNN video link to watch this report from Dana Bash:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2009/07/27/bash.house.democrats.divided.cnn (2:34)

House Democrats divided 2:34
House Democrats remain divided on their support for health care reform. CNN's Dana Bash reports.

Source: CNN
Added On July 27, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2009/07/27/bash.house.democrats.divided.cnn (2:34)

Even E.J. Dionne understood in 2006 that "Moderates were, indeed, central to the Democrats' triumph," that Democrats won in 2006 mainly because of Iraq and the failure of Bush's policies, and he also understood that "The new Democratic voters are a mix of social conservatives (especially in the South and parts of the Midwest such as Indiana) and social libertarians (especially in the West):"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/11/both_parties_need_to_recognize.html

November 14, 2006

Busting This Year's Election Myths

By E. J. Dionne

"Moderates were, indeed, central to the Democrats' triumph because Republicans vacated the political center. But these are angry moderates. Many are unhappy about Iraq, less on ideological grounds than because the Bush policy is such an obvious failure. The new Democratic voters are a mix of social conservatives (especially in the South and parts of the Midwest such as Indiana) and social libertarians (especially in the West). Many (especially in the Midwest) are angry about the flight of manufacturing jobs overseas..."

Many Democrats in Congress who won in the 2006 and 2008 elections mainly won because of Bush's unpopularity which even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly admitted to:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/27/gop.comeback/?iref=mpstoryview

updated 5:44 p.m. EDT, Fri March 27, 2009

Without Bush 'millstone,' GOP can mount comeback, leader says

From Ted Barrett
CNN Congressional Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- "Despite crushing defeats in the last two elections, Senate Republicans have new "energy and enthusiasm" for winning back the majority, according to their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

"President Bush had become extremely unpopular, and politically he was sort of a millstone around our necks in both '06 and '08," McConnell told reporters Friday. "We now have the opportunity to be on offense, offer our own ideas and we will win some..."

Bush is no longer around so the mid term election in 2010 will be a referendum on Obama instead of Bush. Even Democratic strategist Paul Begala understands this concept when he said on July 30 that Democrats in Congress who are running in 2010 feel as "nervous as a hooker in church:"

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/30/sitroom.02.html

THE SITUATION ROOM

Custody Deal on Jackson's Kids; White House Beer Chat; Neda's Grave Is Scene of New Clash; Taliban Code of Conduct

Aired July 30, 2009 - 17:00 ET

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "Because, Paul, with every month that goes by it's going to be increasingly more difficult for him to blame Bush.

PAUL BEGALA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Absolutely. And I -- but he has, as the poets have said, world enough in time. He (Obama) doesn't have to run until 2012. He has his party up in 2010.

BLITZER: And they're nervous.

BEGALA: I was on Capitol Hill this morning. Believe me, they're nervous as a hooker in church. They want to make sure that things are doing better by the time they run. And here's the thing. They have to pass a health care bill. They have to. Something that the president can sign..."

While many Democrats in Congress are worried about losing in 2010, that is especially true for Blue Dog Democrats who are running in more conservative areas that have usually been held by Republicans!

Dana Bash of CNN who answered Ed Schultz's question on July 27 about Blue Dog Democrats worrying about being about being called "too liberal" above also explained on July 31 the extra pressure that many Blue Dog Democrats are feeling in 2010 because they know that an "onslaught of Republican ads and ads from outside groups are coming" and "if you're a vulnerable Democrat, prepare for the political tsunami on health care:"

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/31/sitroom.01.html

THE SITUATION ROOM

Obama Administration Does Self-Grading; Lawmakers Leave, Health Reform Waits; Economy Inches Away From 'The Edge'

Aired July 31, 2009 - 15:59 ET

JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: "Another issue you care about, how much work the nation's lawmakers have done or failed to do. Right now, House members are heading for the exits for the congressional summer recess. But still unfinished, work on major health care changes. How might the time off affect that debate?

Let's bring in CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent as the House leaves, Dana Bash -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN SR. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, look, you know that leaving for Congress, it is sort of standard operating procedure for leaders to give their members talking points. But this time, getting this card from the speaker's office for Democrats is critically important because -- and I think we have it to show you on the wall -- also, it gives them very important message points about what they can do for their health care plan, what it does for people, and also some defense about what it does not do for people. And this is something that they think is critically important for rank-and-file Democrats to use because they know the onslaught of Republican ads and ads from outside groups are coming.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): After the last vote, the exodus. House members rushing home for the entire month of August. And if you're a vulnerable Democrat, prepare for the political tsunami on health care.

REP. TOM PERRIELLO (D), VIRGINIA: They're going to get the first shot in, the 30-second attack. But the more people know, the more they like what we're doing. And that's going to be good for us over the long term.

BASH: Tom Perriello is a freshman Democrat who only won his conservative Virginia district by .2 of one percentage point. He's undecided about his party's health care plan and will use August with his constituents to decide.

PERRIELLO: Eighteen counties, 18 "Tom in your Towns" and meetings with elected officials and doctors and others, road-testing this. I haven't committed on the bill.

BASH: Democratic leaders are hoping to defend Democrats like Perriello from withering Republican attacks by arming them with a media strategy from power points to simple message ideas -- hold insurance companies accountable, remove them from between you and your doctor. To get their message out, Democratic leaders suggest using town halls, Twitter, Facebook.

Pennsylvania Democrat Jason Altmire rolls his eyes at those instructions.

REP. JASON ALTMIRE (D), PENNSYLVANIA: The House bill is, in my opinion, flawed.

BASH: He's a vulnerable Democrat who voted against his party's health care plan in committee and says Democratic leaders have put Democrats like him from conservative districts in a tough spot by including controversial proposals in their health care plan like a tax increase.

ALTMIRE: ... go back to their district and explain to their constituents why they took a politically unpopular vote. It just was tone deaf to me.

BASH: He insists he's not worried about the onslaught of ads, calls and protests that await him at home.

ALTMIRE: At least it's encouraging debate. We didn't ram this through. We took the August recess to allow the country's voice to be heard.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Now, every Democratic lawmaker I spoke with today said that they were elected on a promise to reform the health care system, and they believe at the end of the day, that will get done. But the key, they said, is to regain the message from Republicans to explain what they're going to do for you, not to you, as Republicans are saying.

And they're very much treating this, John, like a political campaign. In fact, one of the Democratic leaders insisted today they are not going to get swift-boated during the month of August.

KING: Interesting use of words.

Dana Bash on Capitol Hill.

It will be quite interesting to match up what they say now with what they say when they come back.

Dana, thanks very much..."

Ed Schultz in my opinion does not seem to understand that a liberal Democrat under most circumstances cannot win in a conservative district or state just like how a conservative Republican under most circumstances cannot win in a liberal district or state. That is why Rahm Emanuel recruited these moderate and conservative Democrats for Congress when he ran the Campaign Committee:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/27/sitroom.01.html

THE SITUATION ROOM

Dems vs. Dems in Health Debate; 'Two Black Men' Not in Gates 911 Call; 'Cash for Clunkers' Offers Big Rebates

Aired July 27, 2009 - 16:00 ET

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "Gloria, isn't the fight, though, right now in the House on the Democratic side?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Absolutely.

You know, there are those 52 moderate and conservative Democrats you were just talking about before, many of whom, ironically, were recruited to run for Congress by none other than the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, when he ran the Campaign Committee.

And now that they're there, they have got concerns about costs, about rural health care, all kinds of things..."

Even Ed Schultz's liberal guest Sam Stein told him this about Rahm Emanuel on his own program:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32202316/ns/msnbc_tv-tucker/

'The Ed Show' for Tuesday, July 28
Read the transcript to the Tuesday show

Guests: Jack Reed, Earl Blumenauer, Maggie Mahar, Patti Higgins, Stephen A. Smith, Ron Christie, Sam Stein, Michael McGraw, Jamal Simmons, Roy Sekoff

SAM STEIN, “THE HUFFINGTON POST”: "There‘s two aspects to this story which I find fascinating. The first was pointed out by Congresswoman Maxine Waters today, which is that the House Democrats recruited these Blue Dogs under the leadership of Rahm Emanuel, now the chief of staff in the White House, in order to bolster the majorities in the house.

No Democratic caucusing in the House doesn‘t want to have big majorities. But you reap what you sow, in a way. What she said were the chickens are coming home to roost..."

While he does not like it, Sam Stein seems to understand the concept that Democrats have to accept Blue Dog Democrats who they may not agree with on every issue IF they want to have majorities in Congress!

Wolf Blitzer did the clear math on CNN about Blue Dog Democrats when discussing health care which even House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer agreed with. These same numbers can also apply to Democrats keeping control of Congress the next time that they are on the ballot as well:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/27/sitroom.01.html

THE SITUATION ROOM

Dems vs. Dems in Health Debate; 'Two Black Men' Not in Gates 911 Call; 'Cash for Clunkers' Offers Big Rebates

Aired July 27, 2009 - 16:00 ET

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "Congressman Hoyer, you're the -- the -- the majority leader, the number-two Democrat in the House. Right now, there are 256 Democrats in the House. There's 178 Republicans. There's one seat that's vacant right now. You have an overwhelming majority.

But, if you take those 52 moderate or conservative Democrats, the so-called Blue Dogs, and they vote with the Republicans because they dislike, some of them, what you're having, they're going to win, and you're going to lose. You have to get those -- those moderate and conservative Democrats on board.

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: Wolf, I agree with your math..."

Here is the math for Ed Schultz to make this as clear as possible for him: 256 total House Democrats minus the 52 Blue Dog Democrats equals 204 total Democrats. 178 total House Republicans plus the 52 Blue Dog Democratic districts that are all vulnerable in 2010 equals 230 total Republicans. That is why more liberal Democrats like Ed Schultz have ONLY two choices: Either accept Blue Dog Democrats and try to work with them or alienate them and seriously risk Democrats losing control of Congress to the Republicans in 2010!

Democrats losing control of Congress means losing their committee chairmanships and setting the agenda!

John King of CNN explained why Obama has to govern from the center, how Blue Dog Democrats won "in conservative areas" where Obama did not win, and how they know they will lose the next time they are on the ballot if they vote too far to the left. This is also a very important lesson for Ed Schultz to understand:

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16933

John King explained Obama's "mandate" and why he has to govern from the center!

Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on November 7, 2008 - 1:03pm.

Ed Schultz's pal Rachel Maddow also needed a similar lesson to the one that he is getting in this post:

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/17444

An important lesson that Rachel Maddow needs to learn about moderate Democrats

Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on March 25, 2009 - 7:33am.

So Ed Schultz, here is the realistic question that you have to seriously answer: Are you going to stop your whining and complaining about Blue Dog Democrats right now so you can get much more of what you want in the big picture of things OR do you want all of the vulnerable Blue Dog Democrats who won in more conservative areas in 2006 and 2008 mainly because of Bush's unpopularity to lose the next time they are on the ballot which will result in the Republicans winning back control of Congress, Republicans getting back all of the committee chairmanships, and Republicans setting all of the agenda in Congress?

Those are your ONLY two choices Ed so pick one or the other because there is no third choice!

You of all people Ed Schultz should know that nobody gets everything that they want and that everybody has to compromise in politics in order to get something that they want on a controversial issue!

If you already know all of this Ed (and you should being how involved in politics that you are) and if you are complaining about Blue Dog Democrats in order to throw out political "red meat" to your activist base who watch your MSNBC program and who listen to your radio show in an effort to try and keep or improve your ratings, then shame on you!

I do not know what your motives are Ed so I will assume the best BUT in my opinion you definitely need the lessons in this post, you need to be realistic with yourself and with your audience, and you need to get with the program about Blue Dog Democrats very quickly unless you want to risk Democrats losing control of Congress in 2010 which will result in your getting MUCH less than what you are getting right now!

Mitch Dworkin

http://mitchdworkin.com/
Check out my new website!

http://www.securingamerica.com/

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16039
RESOURCES: Speeches, Articles, and Career Highlights to help define Gen. Clark!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on July 7, 2008 - 2:51pm.

http://www.securingamerica.com/ccn/node/7191
Listen to Gen. Wes Clark fight for Dems on Sean Hannity's radio program: An excellent example for all of us to follow and what we all need to be doing to help fight back against extreme right wing Neocon smear propaganda!