MSNBC's Schultz Slams 'Damn Political Phony' Marco Rubio as 'Not a True American'

September 2nd, 2011 9:00 AM

On Thursday's The Ed Show, MSNBC host Ed Schultz excoriated Senator Marco Rubio and other "damn Republicans" because Rubio recently attacked Schultz and fellow MSNBC host Rachel Maddow for comments they made about the Florida Republican.

Schultz suggested the Rubio's father might be "ashamed" of him for not accepting the MSNBC host's invitation to come on his show and debate him, claimed that he was "not a true American" for his refusal to debate, and charged that "You're a Tea Partier, and you don't give a damn about" Americans.

Schultz ended up calling Rubio a "damn political phony" and labeled him as "the problem" as he declared that he wishes he could get Rubio defeated:


Hell, you're nothing but a damn political phony, Senator. I don't know how in the hell you got in office. And if I could, I would work like hell to defeat you because I think you are the problem. You are the problem. You attack without facts. You attack without the human connection that your party has helped us lose in this country.

After asserting that he does not "know how in the hell" Rubio got elected, Schultz ironically brought aboard former Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson, who is infamous for his habit of making unusually over-the-top personal attacks on Republicans that no doubt incite opposition against the Florida Democrat rather than assist his cause.

Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Thursday, September 1, The Ed Show on MSNBC:

ED SCHULTZ: You see, Rubio is a political coward. He doesn't have to guts or the character to debate his reckless statements on this show. He can hide elsewhere. He wants to hide behind a political action committee this time and basically play the victim.

...

This man is suggesting that there is a generation of Americans that care less about their parents because of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This may be one of the most offensive things I have ever heard a United States Senator say about the people of this country. He's attacking the character of Americans because of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which has helped this country. It's helped millions of Americans.

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My parents lived in the unselfish generation, and for you to say that they were lesser Americans because they were involved in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, you owe my family an apology or at least be brave enough to give an explanation on this program in front of the camera as to what the hell you're really talking about.

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I remember our Aunt Margaret moved in with us when she was failing. Senator Rubio, you mean to tell me that there are no families in America today that do that, that that institution and loyalty and love of country and family is gone because you damn Republicans just can't get rid of the big three?

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I'm offended by Marco Rubio. and I think we are seeing he is not a true American because he runs from debate. Senator, come to me, or I will go to you. You name the time and the place, and let's sit down and have a professional conversation about what you really mean when you say that we as Americans have been weakend by something that has clearly benefitted our society and allowed people to live in their later years in dignity.

But the tape that we just played of you was kind of contradictory of the speech that you gave at the Reagan Library. No wonder you're dodging the interview. Hell, you can go across the street, and they'll throw you softballs all day long, but you know what, Senator, one thing that my dad taught me - maybe your dad taught you this, but it doesn't seem like it - don't ever run from a debate and don't ever be afraid to speak your peace if in your heart you believe what you're saying is the truth. Senator, I am offering you the opportunity to broadcast in front of a liberal audience. I'll give you the hour to talk about it.

Convince people. Get in the arena if you really believe this, Senator. Get in the arena and tell the audience on MSNBC that we are a weaker nation and this is why we are a weaker nation, and explain to me what institutions you're talking about that have taken down our people. You're a Tea Partier, and you don't give a damn about any of the Americans because, you see, it's kind of in your makeup, Senator.

No, unless your bio is wrong, I don't think you got any private sector experience in your background. Hell, you've been a government guy. You're one of these typical government guys that says everybody else has got to serve it up because you've got your own. My father taught me to debate and to get into the arena, and I think your dad might be ashamed of the fact that you run from the cameras after you get away from the podium because I don't think you can explain yourself. I don't think you can explain to the American people just how weak we are.

How about the boys in Afghanistan? Their parents are on Social Security. Do they come from weak parents? How about the men and women who have lost their lives fighting terrorism in this country? Are they weak because they've paid into Social Security? Hell, you're nothing but a damn political phony, Senator. I don't know how in the hell you got in office. And if I could, I would work like hell to defeat you because I think you are the problem. You are the problem. You attack without facts. You attack without the human connection that your party has helped us lose in this country.