MSNBC Talk Host Ed Schultz: 'Cheat To Keep These Bastards Out'

MSNBC television and syndicated radio host Ed Schultz declared that he would stuff the ballot box in Massachusetts if he could to prevent Republican Scott Brown from upsetting Democrat Martha Coakley in the race to fill the state's Senate seat formerly held by Edward M. Kennedy. Whatever it takes to keep "the bastards" out of power. "I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts I'd try to vote 10 times," said Schultz on his Friday radio show. "I don't know if they'd let me or not, but I'd try to. Yeah, that's right. I'd cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. 'Cause that's exactly what they are." Schultz's statement was broadcast on "The Ed Schultz Show," which is aired weekdays, 12-3 p.m, as well as on satellite radio. His show's website boasts Schultz is "the most listened-to progressive radio talk show host in America" and "the first progressive talker to hit 100 affiliates, both satellite networks and the Armed Forces Radio Network." His comments about cheating to turn the tide of an election, however, have already sparked heavy criticism. Talk radio commentator Brian Maloney of The Radio Equalizer scoffed at Schultz's statement by rephrasing it: "Who needs democracy when it leads to outcomes one might not like?"Noel Sheppard of Newsbusters.com quipped, "Who says there's liberal bias in the media?" Sheppard also points out that Schultz's comments came on the same day fellow MSNBC host Chris Matthews lamented that Democrat operatives couldn't "buy" enough votes in Massachusetts to ensure Coakley's victory: "You know, in the old days – maybe I shouldn't be harkening back to the old days – if the Democrats faced this kind of a disaster in the works, you'd go back to your ones, the people you were sure are going to vote Democrat, and you'd make sure they got to the polling place, you'd get them lunch, you'd get them a car," Matthews said. "You'd make sure they got there, and in some cases you'd be buying people to get them, not officially buying them, but getting them there as block secretaries, as block captains, you'd be getting them there with street money – legitimate, but it's a little bit old school." Commented Sheppard, "The good folks at General Electric and NBC must be thrilled to know that two of their on-air personalities are so biased in their political views that they publicly advocate cheating for their party to be victorious." Reporters contacted "The Ed Schultz Show" for clarification or comment on the host's statement, but has yet to receive a reply.