Ed Schultz’s “Big Black Cloud” is a Big Fat Lie

If you’re one of the unfortunate half dozen or so people who watch Ed Schultz’ television show on MS-NBC, you’ll know that he is about as in the bag for the Democratic Party as one can be without actually being in a large burlap sack with the DNC logo printed on it. Normally, he’s the garden-variety “in the bag” sort of pundit. You know the type — his show points inevitably map to the bullet points on the latest Democratic strategy memo; every single person to the right of your average 60s hippie protestor is a hood-wearing, baby eating, puppy-stomping fascist; and racism lurks behind even the most innocuous metaphor.

Well, it’s the metaphor that’s done in our dear Ed today. You see, Rick Perry has entered the Presidential race and as the successful Governor of a state that has prospered despite the Obama Recession, he must be destroyed by any means possible. So, Schultz and his crack team of editors, got right to work on a recent Perry speech from Iowa and crafted a story so dishonest that it beggars belief.

Schultz devoted a segment in a recent show to Perry and the racism that Schultz wants America to believe boils just below his twangy Texas surface. Here’s his monologue.

SCHULTZ: I think there’s an element of racism every time people claim this first black President doesn’t love this country. Perry comes from the radical country club that loves to remind white America that President Obama is “other” — not like you. Perry also wants you to know he’s pro-business.

PERRY (CLIP): I am a pro-business Governor. I don’t make any apologies about it and I will be a pro-business President. Getting America back to work is the most important issue that faces this country. Being able to pay off 14 and a half or 16 trillion dollars worth of debt, that big black cloud that hangs over America…

SCHULTZ: That black cloud Perry is talking about is President Barack Obama.

And that, folks, is a big fat lie from a big fat liar, and not a very good lie either. I know it’s a lie because Ed Schultz knows the truth and chose to misrepresent it in the most clumsy and unintelligent manner possible. I may be a humble blogger without a fancy college degree, but I know English well enough to know that when someone mentions the word “debt”, then drops in a comma, the next phrase is going to talk about the debt. No one, not even the most fumble-tongued public speaker would shift gears from business, the economy, and the debt to the President in the middle of a sentence without even an attempt at a segue. Schultz knows this because he’s paid handsomely to run his trap on national television. He’s familiar with basic rhetoric.

But that’s not the worst part of his lie. You’ll notice that there is an ellipsis (…) after the “big black cloud” phrase. That’s because Schultz cut off Perry’s comments in mid-sentence. When you watch the video, you’ll see that Perry’s mouth kept moving even as the sound cut off. Here’s what Schultz and his team cut out.

…that big black cloud that hands over America, that debt that is so monstrous…

[Emphasis mine]

So even if you didn’t figure out that “debt” and “big black cloud” go together the first time, the Governor made the connection explicit. But Schultz edited that out so he could perpetuate a ridiculous lie and feed that lie to his guests who waited to pounce on it with bated breath.

Ed Schultz owes Rick Perry a public apology, at the very least. If MS-NBC has any interest in journalistic integrity at all, they’d suspend Schultz, make a direct apology to Perry on the behalf of the network, and pray that he doesn’t sue them for slander.

Watch this video and enjoy the calumny.

Other Posts of Interest:

• Perry, Palin, and the Post-Leadership President
• What Did The President Know About Rick Perry and When Did He Know It? Look to the ATM.
• Sarah Palin Hung in Effigy and the AP Has No Opinion.

Tags: 2012 Election, Media Bias, MS-NBC, Rick Perry

Category: Oh, THAT liberal media., The 2012 Horse Race