Rain, thunderstorms, winds getting whipped into tornadoes of horrific proportions. Hot weather, all of this stuff. And what are the Republicans thinking about? They’re not thinking about their next-door neighbor. They’re just thinking about how much this is going to cost. President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday. But you know what they’re talking about? Like this right-wing slut, what’s her name, Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she’s a talk slut. You see, she was, back in the day, praising President Reagan when he was drinking a beer overseas. But now that Obama’s doing it, they’re working him over.
It’s become fashionable in this little corner of Paradise to wax indignant when Conservatives stoop to mean-spiritedness and personal slurs. Sometimes in my indignation, it’s easy to forget that some on my side of the ideological fence have on occasion stomped civility into something resembling a coma. Not that I would ever stoop so low, of course [insert lack of self-awareness joke here], but some pundits on the Left are every bit as discourteous as those on the Right. It seems only fair, then, to call one of “my own” out when they step in it…and Ed Schultz most certainly stepped in it with both feet.
I generally find myself in agreement with Schultz’ politics…but not his methods. I admire passion, but (as I’ve [too] often demonstrated myself) there’s a (not so fine) line between passion and impotent ranting. I hold Progressive ideals dear, and I believe, as Schultz does, that Conservatism as it’s manifested today is a recipe for disaster. Still, screaming and personal insults get us no closer to achieving our ideal…and indeed, once could argue that it sets us back.
It seems clear that Right-wing Hate Radio is beginning to wear out its welcome. The last thing we need is for one of our own voices to prop up those who traffic in hate and disrespect by trafficking in hate and disrespect. I will never defend Laura Ingraham…except to stand up for her right to be treated with dignity and respect as a human being, even if she hasn’t always shown the same courtesy to those she disagrees with. Sinking to the level of those on the Right who smugly hold themselves up as superior beings accomplishes nothing. If we can’t debate Conservatives on the issues, instead of stooping to personal attacks and insults, are we really any different from those whose ideology we oppose?
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
- James 1:19
To his credit, Schultz apologized- to Laura Ingraham, his viewers, his family, and MSNBC. His apology appeared honest and heartfelt, and my hope is that Ingraham will accept it and move on. In the heat of the moment, mistakes can be made, and Schultz recognized that he erred egregiously. He’s offered to take a one-week unpaid leave of absence. Whether you call it a voluntary leave of absence or a suspension, Schultz should probably consider himself fortunate that he still has a job at MSNBC (see Olbermann, Keith). My sense for some time now has been that it was really only a matter of time before he stepped over the line…though not even I could have seen anything like this coming.
I’m not going to wax holier-than-thou, because I’ve engaged in my share of self-righteousness and excess in this space (though I lack Schultz’ audience and bank account). I understand how and why passion can lead someone astray. There is such a thing as caring too much, which is what I’ve seen in Ed Schultz. He’s passionate, he’s committed, and he truly wants to make a difference for those who he feels that our system overlooks. It IS difficult to see the greed and corruption that’s part and parcel of the fabric of America today without becoming angry. Nonetheless, anger and rage is a short step removed from powerlessness…and Schultz’ angry rants often come off as originating in a place of rage steeped in powerlessness.
There’s a place in our national discourse for someone with the passion and commitment of Ed Schultz…just as there is for Laura Ingraham. While I may detest virtually everything that Ingraham stands for, in a free country she has every bit as much right to express herself as Schultz does. If Schultz (rightfully) disagrees with her, then he has every right to express himself. What he doesn’t have the right to do is to use a hateful personal slur as a vehicle for expressing that disagreement.
It would be tempting to wonder why the Mainstream Media seems to have lower standards of conduct for Conservative pundits than Progressive ones, but there can be no debate when it comes to this sort of offense against decency. Good and patriotic Americans can, will, and do disagree…and there’s certainly no harm in that. A robust exchange of ideas without retribution or fear of reprisal is part of the example that America has always set for the rest of the world. I suppose the good thing about Schultz’ faux pas is that it demonstrates that there is a commonly recognized and accepted standard of decency when it comes to public discourse. How many other places in the world can say that?
We will (and must) continue to disagree…but we’re a better place when we recognize that we’re all in this together and can treat each other with respect and dignity.
