Ed Shultz Pockets $200,000 From Unions While Shouting Nonsensically About Them

Shouting nonsensically in a good way, I mean. I mean, he means it to be in a good way.

I don't understand what this Angry Red Faced Fat Old White Man is saying half the time. I assume he's pro-union.

Should this be a big story? I suppose it should, as MSNBC is supposedly a "news organization."

But it's a clownshow. Everyone knows it's a clownshow. The clowns on it know it's a clownshow.

In related news, a hooker will give you a blow-jay for $50.

In fiscal 2011, Schultz received $190,000 from the Communications Workers of America for what the U.S. Department of Labor categorized as "representational activities."

For swag like that, you'd think Schultz could at least get it right about the CWA name. Instead, he invariably refers to it as the "Communication" Workers of America when its president, Larry Cohen, is a guest on Schultz's radio show, as Cohen often is.

Schultz also received $9,900 in fiscal 2011 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), putting his union haul for the year at almost $200,000.

[breakdown of Howlin' Ed's union haul from 2007-2011 omitted; see the link]

All told, Schultz has been paid $337,490 by unions in the last seven years, according to the Labor Department. These same records show no payments from unions to Schultz between fiscal years 2000 to 2004 -- before Schultz became such a passionate advocate for unions over the airwaves.

Isn't this payola?

Even if Howlin' Ed broke no laws here, doesn't basic ethics require disclosure?

Disclosure isn't hard. Honest people tend to disclose reflexively, without being nudged to do so. If I have some conflict or interest, I can write about a story, but I should at least note that I may have some bias in the background.

Is that so hard? No, it's not.

Meanwhile Howlin' Ed is pocketing almost $350,000 from unions, while having their officials on for interviews frequently, and not saying boo about his direct financial interest in promoting unions.

And then in 2010 his payment is listed as "union administration." What does that mean? I guess "pay-for-play" sounded too... accurate.

Verum Serum wants to know if MSNBC knew -- and if they knew, why they didn't insist on disclosure?

Either Ed lied to MSNBC, or Ed told the truth to MSNBC, and then MSNBC lied to its viewers.

Someone lied.

Here's what I think: I think the left is all-in in this election. I think we stand on a teeter-totter between full-on socialism and a massive repudiation of it. I think the left knows that, and this is do or die for them.

I hope we get there, too.

posted by Ace at 09:11 PM

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