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The Ed Show for Sunday, Oct. 31st, 2010

Read the transcript to the Sunday show

Guests: Tarryl Clark, Bob Shrum, Sherrod Brown, Jack Rice, Nick Coleman,

Keith Ellison

ED SCHULTZ, MSNBC HOST:  Welcome to “THE ED SHOW.” coming to you live from the heart of Tea Party ruling Michelle Bachman‘s backyard in Minnesota.  These stories are hitting my hot buttons at this hour on this Sunday evening.

Well, the Tea Party is fighting like hell for power, so the next 48 hours, absolutely critical.  Tarryl Clark is the brave Democrat trying to unseat Michele Bachmann.  She‘ll join me live in just a moment. 

And there‘s a dead heat in Sin City.  Harry Reid is neck and neck with Sharron Angle.  She‘s docking the truth and running away from reporters - again.  I‘ll show you the tape and the battleground story. 

And President Obama is throwing Hail Mary‘s left and right.  That‘s right. 

He‘s doing everything he can to keep the Democrats in the majority.  Senator Sherrod Brown was with him today in Ohio and he‘ll join me at the bottom of the hour. 

But this is the story that has me fired up tonight.  In two days, Americans will decide if they want to give the Democrats more time to fix this country or if the power is going to be given to the psycho talkers like Michele Bachmann, who wants to do nothing but investigate. 

Well, tonight, I‘m deep in the heart of Michele Bachmann‘s district, here at the American Burger Emporium in Woodbury, Minnesota.  Before we go any further, how about them Vikings?  Although we are trailing New England by three points, we‘ll be OK.  We‘ll be OK. 

All right.  Now, a lot of people in Minnesota in this Sixth District think that this is actually ground zero for the ideological battle that‘s taken place in this country.  It‘s also the site of the most expensive race, believe it or not, in this midterm. 

How about this - over $15 million has been spent between the two candidates to win this term.  Bachmann alone has raised over $11 million to hold off a surging campaign of Minnesota State Senator Tarryl Clark.  Now, Bachmann is spending over $187,000 a commercial to paint Clark as a tax and spend, Nancy Pelosi liberal.  And Bachmann, of course, is pulling out all stops to save her seat. 

Now, the congresswoman is even using her mom to scare Minnesota voters.  On Friday, the Bachmann camp sent out her mother‘s letter to voters - from her mother, Jean LaFave.  Now, Michele‘s mother called Tarryl Clark a hypocritical disgrace and she goes on to say that I have never seen a candidate for higher office stoop as low as you with your false and vulgar attacks. 

Well, the Clark camp, they didn‘t take that seating down.  They fired back to Bachmann‘s mother, her campaign fired back a letter to Bachmann herself with this statement.  When someone stands up like to the bullies like Michele Bachmann, the bullies often go running to their moms.  Voters - voters deserve better. 

Now, Clark is running an amazing ground game working the college campuses.  She has put her $4.1 million to work on what I think has been a fabulous door to door ground campaign. 

In the meantime, Bill Clinton, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar have been working the district to help out Tarryl Clark.  And I think this race seriously has the potential of shocking the political experts.  There‘s been very little polling in this district and I think Michele Bachmann likes it that way. 

And if Tarryl Clark can knock off the queen of psycho talk, it would be a big loss for the Tea Party.  And I think it would also show Democrats the game plan when it comes to combating the crazy. 

If you remember correctly, it was not long ago that Michele Bachmann was basically put on the national scene when she told my colleague, Chris Matthews on “HARD BALL” that she thought that members of Congress should be investigated for their anti-American thoughts.  Well, that created quite a stir here in Minnesota.  And, of course, as a reporter and an anchor, I was kind of surprised to hear that she thought that there were members of Congress who actually had anti-American thoughts. 

Joining me now is Tarryl Clark, the Democrat challenging Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in this Minnesota sixth district.  Tarryl, great to have you with us tonight. 

TARRYL CLARK (D), MINNESOTA HOUSE NOMINEE:  It‘s great to be back.  

SCHULTZ:  What are the major differences between - a little fun here now, folks - between - between you and Michele Bachmann?  She talks crazy, and you don‘t? 

You‘ve had - you‘ve had to have fun with this campaign.  

CLARK:  Well, you know, it is Halloween, so. 

What I would say is what‘s scary is what her vision for America is.  You know, if you think about it, she said that teachers are money launderers, making BP pay was extortion, our - our firefighters, our police officers are veterans.  They‘re wasteful government spending.  People my age should be weaned off of social security and Medicare, you know? 

And, most recently, I think - you might find this hard to believe, on Thursday she actually accused our 911 first responders of fraud.  She was afraid - she said (INAUDIBLE) the reason why she voted against making sure their health was taken care of was that they would commit fraud.  Well, that‘s wrong.  That‘s not what our American heroes are about, that‘s for sure. 

SCHULTZ:  You were under funded by the tune of $7 million.  How have you been able to manage the ground game at such a terrible financial disadvantage?  What has that been like? 

CLARK:  Well, a couple of things.  I mean, you think, after being in Congress for four years, that she‘d have something to say for herself.  Instead, as she said, she‘s been spending over $10 million, saying lies about me.  Well, what we‘ve got instead is not only truth on our side, we‘ve got these incredible people who are here with us tonight and across the district. 

You know, last week she finally decided it was OK to debate.  So, one week out from the election, we had a little pre-debate rally.  We had over 300 people show up.  How many did she have?  Thirty. 

Well, I think she has a little bit of an enthusiasm gap.  And what we know in Minnesota is that if we really want to fix our communities, move our country forward, that we have to come together. 

So we‘ve been going neighbor to neighbor, door to door, all through the spring, all through the summer.  She has no ground game.  That‘s why she‘s trying to buy this election.  But we‘ve got great, incredible volunteers.  That‘s how we‘re going to win. 

SCHULTZ:  She has no ground game comparable to yours, despite having a $7 million advantage? 

CLARK:  I think she thinks that if she sends out attack lit every day, radio ads lying, and TV lying, that that‘s enough.  But what we really know in Minnesota, is that when it comes - push comes to shove, it‘s about neighbors talking to neighbors.  And that‘s how we‘re cutting through all these lies. 

SCHULTZ:  The Catholic vote, I keep hearing, is going to go to Michele Bachmann.  Do you agree with that? 

CLARK:  No.  I think, you know, we are a community.  We‘re a state that really is about social justice, and, again, about strengthening our communities.  And I‘ve spent my life not just talking the talk, which is all she‘s been doing, but really walking the walk. 

It‘s about our seniors, our veterans, our families, our communities, and so we‘re making sure we‘re reaching out to people so they know the truth.  

SCHULTZ:  Well, there‘s a - there‘s a huge Catholic contingency in St.  Cloud, and the - many people have told me that the sixth district of Minnesota is so one issue.  How have you reached out to those voters with this ground game that you‘ve had? 

That‘s where you have spent your money, the door to door, the phone banking, the mailing, all of the grassroots kind of stuff that candidates do when they‘re outgunned by $7 million.  But, of course, you can‘t match what she‘s been able to do on television because of the money. 

So, how do you plan on convincing that portion of the district, that portion of the population, that maybe that one issue, that Catholic vote that I keep hearing about in this district, how - what are you going to do to sway those people? 

CLARK:  Well, I represent that area right now in the state Senate, and nobody ever thought that - that I would win that.  I won at a Christmas election. 

Literally, the governor set up our election to be right after Christmas.  Christmas was Sunday, Monday the polls were closed.  Tuesday was the election.  No college students around.  Many families gone.  But the way we won that is by going, again, neighbor to neighbor, door to door. 

And the issues, really, that affect people are things like jobs, making sure we‘re getting back to work.  Michele‘s voted 11 times to outsource our jobs.  Things like making sure our social security, our Medicare‘s (INAUDIBLE). 

SCHULTZ:  Let‘s talk about that outsourcing.  She‘s voted 11 times to outsource jobs? 

CLARK:  Absolutely. 

SCHULTZ:  Give me one example.  

CLARK:  Well, most recently, right the week before Congress adjourned, along with voting against our first responders, she voted for the bill that really have to do with the Chinese currency.  It absolutely helps those companies that want to grow jobs in China.  I want to grow jobs here. 

And this lady of Tariffville (ph) - this is a whole bunch of whacky terms for your - for your viewers, but those are things that our industry and our people know can help us create jobs here. 

Now, this last week, all of a sudden, she‘s talking about jobs, but the only job she‘s created in four years are in China and in Vietnam and Pakistan.  We want to create jobs in Minnesota. 

SCHULTZ:  She has been - Michele Bachmann has been relentless on the president and the health care reform bill.  Do you think passing that bill was good for Minnesota?  Was it the right thing to do? 

And to counter, or maybe you agree with it, it was - she calls it Obama Care.  And she bullet points the - the right wing stuff tremendously, but she has really vilified President Obama and health care.  What‘s your response to that? 

CLARK:  Well, she‘s taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from the

industry, and then she‘s done their talking points down - absolutely down

the road.  But, you know what?  The health care bill, while flawed - I

think we - we can use some good old Minnesota ingenuity -

SCHULTZ:  But a start? 

CLARK:  Oh, absolutely.  For the first time ever, the insurance companies can‘t discriminate based on pre-existing conditions, among other things. 

SCHULTZ:  So you don‘t from the health care bill? 

CLARK:  No.  But I will tell you what - what Minnesotans and Americans will get if Michele Bachmann has her way.  The insurance company would have no rules.  No rules at all.  Forget what we just passed.  Forget hitting (INAUDIBLE) companies on discrimination. 

They - we could be buying air, essentially, and she just wants people to be able to deduct insurance.  If you think about it, that means we‘re getting a big tax increase or a big pay cut.  That‘s not what Americans are about. 

SCHULTZ:  Do you think she‘s extreme? 

CLARK:  I think that the position she takes are way outside of the mainstream.  And what‘s most important is they‘re dangerous for our communities.  She‘s voted against every single measure that would help us create a job, help the families stay in their home, or help the families struggling to make ends meet. 

And if we have enough time - can I tell you a quick story?  Because I think it‘s what it‘s all about. 

SCHULTZ:  Yes.  Yes. 

CLARK:  Is, you know, while she has been taking all this big money, there‘s a - a woman named Danni (ph).  Her family‘s story is similar to other stories I‘ve heard.  Her and her husband were working and trying to make sure they could stay in their house.  But, after every avenue, they were going to be foreclosed on. 

So, as a last resort, they called our congresswoman‘s official office.  And you know what happened?  She was asked, are you a supporter?  Her official office.  And when she said no, the phone was disconnected. 

Now, at the same time, she has been rewarding the people of the deep pockets, the industry, Wall Street, and others, and that includes, you know, a couple years ago, when she had a big, big, big supporter who asked her for a pardon - a cocaine dealer, a gun runner, and you know what?  When he came calling, she helped him out.  

SCHULTZ:  Why has she gone out and raised $11 million?  Do you think her aspirations are far beyond the Sixth District of Minnesota? 

CLARK:  You know, it‘s hard to tell what she‘s running for, but it certainly isn‘t for the Sixth District, because she‘s not representing anybody that‘s in the district.  By her own admission, she hasn‘t done a single thing that‘s helped anybody in the district.  

SCHULTZ:  Will you get a turnout?  I mean, this - everywhere we go across the country, we hear about an enthusiasm gap.  What is it here in Minnesota? 

CLARK:  Well, like I said, I think she‘s the one with the enthusiasm gap. 

We‘ve won the debate, we‘ve won on the ground, we‘re going to win at the doors.  And while there‘s a great group of people that are sitting here right now, they‘re all going to be getting back to work as soon as your show is over to make sure we‘re getting the vote out, right? 

SCHULTZ:  Are you running with President Obama or are you distancing yourself from President Obama?  Does he still play well in Minnesota? 

CLARK:  You know, he certainly has done a lot of things.  He‘s been here recently with Mark Dayton, who is our great candidate for governor, who‘s going to be the next governor.  There‘s many good things. 

But as President Clinton would say, you know, the Republicans and George Bush really dug us into a huge hole.  We‘ve stopped it.  You know, it‘s time to dig out. 

I‘ll be honest with you, I don‘t care what somebody‘s party is.  I don‘t care whether they‘re Republicans, Democrats, independents, if they want to actually move our country forward and focus on the issues that are affecting the people in our district, that‘s who I want to work with.  

SCHULTZ:  But you were with President Obama? 

CLARK:  I actually was out in the district, making sure I was talking to the people who are going to be voting, because we don‘t have any time.  Didn‘t have time for those rallies.  Needed to be spending time with our voters.  

SCHULTZ:  Tarryl Clark, good to have you with us on THE ED SHOW.  Thanksso much.  All the best to you. 

CLARK:  Oh, it‘s good to be here. 

SCHULTZ:  You bet. 

Coming up, President Obama is fighting like hell to fire up the voters, to show folks up in the polls on Tuesday.  He just finished his 12th trip to Ohio.  Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio was with him today, and will join us at the bottom of the hour. 

And I think I scared Sharron Angle at the airport last week.  She was just seen sprinting through the airport, trying to dodge the press.  I‘ll show you the tape and we‘ll get some rapid fire response. 

Plus, Congressman Keith Ellison is the target of some nasty attack.  He‘ll fire back here on THE ED SHOW tonight. 

And what is Chris Christie, the governor of Minnesota - or governor of New Jersey, doing here at Minnesota?  Buddy, this place isn‘t big enough for both of us, you know that, don‘t you? 

You‘re watching THE ED SHOW on MSNBC, live from Michele Bachmann‘s backyard.  We‘re right back. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 

SCHULTZ:  Coming up, some of the most extreme psycho candidates might be on the verge of some big-time power.  Radicals like Sharron Angle, Joe Miller and Ken Buck, they‘ve got to be stopped.  Democratic strategist Bob Shrum tells us how to combat the crazy. 

That leads me to my text question tonight.  Get your cell phones out.  All of you, get your cell phones out now.  I want to know what you think. 

Tonight‘s text survey question is, do you think The Tea Party is bad for America?  Text A for yes, text B for no to 622639.  I don‘t know if we have a laughing meter on that or not.  I‘ll bring you the results, coming up. 

We‘re live from Minnesota.  Stay with us on THE ED SHOW. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 

SCHULTZ:  Welcome back to THE ED SHOW, and thanks for watching tonight as we come to you live from Minnesota. 

Well, the fight for control of the Senate has reached a fever pitch down the stretch.  Some of the crazy Tea Partiers are on the verge of getting major power.  But I‘m seeing a big-time progressive surge in some key races.  This is the latest. 

In Nevada, the hottest race of the country and maybe one with the biggest impact, the latest poll show Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid four points behind psycho candidate, Sharron Angle.  And if you ever meet her, you know exactly why I label her like that.  But - that‘s within the margin of error, by the way. 

In Colorado, Democratic Senator Michael Bennett is trailing Tea Party-backed candidate Ken Buck by four point, also within the margin of error.  In the state of Washington, the race appears to be breaking for the incumbent Democrat.  Senator Patty Murray now has a six-point lead over her Republican challenger, Dino Rossi. 

And, in Alaska - this is amazing.  I think probably the most bizarre race of this election cycle, a new poll has Democrat Scott McAdams ahead of the lion, Joe Miller.  Now, Lisa Murkowski leads that with a three-way race, but, of course, that is a write - and she‘s a write-in candidate, which could make it tough for her to win. 

Joining me now is Democratic strategist Bob Shrum, professor, New York University.  Bob, great to have you with us tonight. 

Some of these races are just too close to call.  In the last 24, 48 hours, Bob, what is it going to come down to?  What do you think? 

BOB SHRUM, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST AND PROFESSOR AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: 

Well, a huge amount of this now comes down to the ground game, especially in places like Colorado and Nevada because these polls have mostly assumed a very tight voter screen, what they call unenthused Democrats who aren‘t going to show up. 

I think there‘s some evidence, by the way, in Washington State, what you were citing, the Democrats are showing up already in the early voting in King County and along Puget Sound in much bigger numbers than people predicted.  But if that ground game works, then you‘re going to see Harry Reid win. 

And if the ground game works, you‘re going to see the Democrats win in Colorado, because what‘s happened there is that - with - with Bennett is that he‘s gotten closer and closer and closer, that he was behind by a substantial margin.  The more people see a buck, the more they tend to go to Bennett.  

SCHULTZ:  Are we seeing this break generically throughout the country, the Republicans with the money, the Democrats with the ground game?  Is that safe to summarize? 

SHRUM:  Well, in a way, although that ground game can cost a fair amount of

money.  But there‘s some real - I mean, there has been a discounting of the

of the Democratic voters who, when they‘re called by pollsters, say, you know, I‘m not that enthused about this.  You‘re at - it‘s a tough time.  But I think those folks are going to go to the polls. 

The other thing that‘s happened is there‘s arsenic in a lot of those tea bags.  You look at that guy in Alaska, voters got a look at him and they‘re fleeing him in - in record numbers. 

This morning, the Republican—National Republican Party‘s threw him under the bus.  They picked Lisa Murkowski up, wiped the tire tracks off her, and they‘re trying to make sure she gets elected, because the one thing they know is Joe Miller is not going to be Senator Joe Miller.

SCHULTZ:  Some of the other races, in West Virginia, John Raese and Joe Manchin, the governor, they are even at 44 percent.  There‘s a big undecided Manchin, anything but a strong liberal.  How do you see this one playing out, Bob? 

SHRUM:  Oh, I think Manchin will win that race.  I think there are other polls that show him with leads of five and six points. 

Look, West Virginia has a candidate for the Senate who works hard for the state.  Why do they want to import a guy from Florida, from Palm Beach, who shows up every once in a while to run for office and always loses?  In the end, I think they understand that Joe Manchin is a lot closer to their values, cares a lot more about West Virginians than somebody who says he - he made his money the old-fashion way.  He inherited it. 

SCHULTZ:  In Pennsylvania, Sestak and Toomey are tied at 46.  This, of course, a primary hangover after he defeated Arlen Specter.  Sestak is doing much better here in the last 30 days. 

In Wisconsin, one of the best progressives you‘ll find in this country, Russ Feingold, is behind 52 to 48 percent.  Go figure that one, Bob. 

SHRUM:  Well, you know, Feingold should have been a perfect candidate for this year because he‘s independent, he expresses what he feels, he speaks the grievances of voters, he‘s never played the normal political game.  If there‘s anyone in public office who‘s not a conventional politician, it‘s Russ Feingold. 

Johnson has had an enormous amount of money.  He spent it.  Now, that race has been closing.  Whether it‘s closing in time, we‘re not going to find out until Tuesday. 

Sestak, on the other hand, was behind eight, nine, 10 points, whatever you believe.  I think that‘s been closing over the last couple of weeks pretty fast.  He is very strong at the end as he was in the primary.  I think voters are - the more they see of Toomey, I think the more they tend to go to Sestak. 

And, by the way, there‘s one other wild card in that.  Christine O‘Donnell is in the Philadelphia media market, which means that people are exposed over and over and over again to the craziness of these Tea Party candidates, and I think that tends to hurt Toomey, too.  

SCHULTZ:  Bob Shrum, always a pleasure.  Good to have you with us tonight on THE ED SHOW.  Thanks so much. 

SHRUM:  Thanks, ,Ed. 

SCHULTZ:  Coming up, Psycho Talk.  Michele Bachmann doesn‘t need a costume to scare anyone on Halloween.  All she‘s got to do is open her mouth, and out comes the crazy.  I‘ll play her parade of low light, next on “The Zone. 

We‘re live in Minnesota, here on THE ED SHOW. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 

SCHULTZ:  And it‘s “Psycho Talk” tonight.  Well, since it‘s Halloween and I‘m in Minnesota, we‘re bringing you the scariest thing we could find in the land of 10,000 Lakes - Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. 

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) 

REP. MICHELLE BACHMANN ®, MINNESOTA HOUSE NOMINEE:  I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?  

Really, now, in Washington, I‘m a foreign correspondent on enemy lines.  I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous. 

The (INAUDIBLE) moms.  I don‘t know if you remember that. 

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  Oh, yes. 

BACHMANN:  Your mom - the moms were actually attending Congressman Keith Ellison‘s victory celebration.  There‘s a very strong chance that we will see that young people will be put into mandatory service, and there‘s a real concern is that there are provisions for what I would call re-education camps for young people. 

Private, personal information that was given to the Census Bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up.  I am just not comfortable with the way this Census is being handled.  

I come from a very tough neighborhood.  It‘s real.  I know (ph) all about tough neighborhoods.   I come from a very tough neighborhood. 

I think all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another. 

We‘d be foolish not to adopt the Tea Party mainstream America agenda.  

(END VIDEOTAPE) 

SCHULTZ:  Well, there you have it. 

Now - now folks, you do realize that if Tarryl Clark wins this, it‘s really going to screw up my show.  I mean, this - this could be the end of “Psycho Talk.”  We can‘t have that. 

Bachmann‘s district has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the state of Minnesota,c but all she can focus on is the Tea Party craziness and the obstructionist agenda.  She‘s been in Congress for four years, and the only thing her constituents they have gotten out of her is just a constant stream of “Psycho Talk.” 

Coming up, President Obama went to the Tan Man‘s home state to make his closing argument of the midterms.  Ohio could be the key for the Democrats in 2010 and for the president in 2012. 

Senator Sherrod Brown was with the president today.  He‘ll join me just ahead. 

Sharron Angle runs from another reporter in the airport.  Gosh, this is habit forming.  And I‘ll show you the tape and get rapid fire response on that. 

Plus, Sarah Palin calls the media corrupt bastards.  

Chris Christie stumps in Minnesota, and the Kentucky stumper might get kicked right into a jail cell. 

You‘re watching THE ED SHOW on MSNBC.  Here in MSNBC.  Stay with us. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 

SCHULTZ:  Welcome back to THE ED SHOW. 

“The Battleground” story tonight.  President Obama is making his final push to fire up Democratic voters across the country.  The president headline rallies in five states this weekend.  He was in Charlottesville, Virginia for Congressman Tom Periello on Friday night.  He rallied in Philadelphia, Connecticut, and Chicago, all places with close senate and gubernatorial races on Saturday.  He did that on Saturday.  And today, he finished with a rally in Cleveland for Governor Ted Strictland. 

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:  And we‘ll win (ph) in just two days.  In just two days you‘ve got the chance. 

CROWD:  Yes, we can!  Yes, we can! 

OBAMA:  In two days, you have the chance to set the direction of this country and this state for many years to come.  Just like you did in 2008.  You can defy the convention of wisdom.  The kind of conventional wisdom, the state of wisdom that says you can‘t overcome cynicism in our politics.  It says, no, you can‘t overcome all of the special interests and all the special interests money.  It says, no, you can‘t tackle the biggest challenges in this country.  In two days you‘ve got the chance to once again say, yes, we can. 

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ:  The president making a big pitch, but I have to say I don‘t see an enthusiasm gap.  An estimated 200,000 people have come out to see President Obama during his midterm campaign swing.  His efforts appear to be paying off in early voting.  Democrats have the edge in early voting in Nevada and other key states. 

Joining me now is Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio.  He was with the president today at that rally in Cleveland.  Senator, good to have you with us tonight. 

SENATOR SHERROD BROWN (D), OHIO:  Thanks, Ed. 

SCHULTZ:  What kind of reaction - what kind of reaction are Ohio voters going to have to President Obama and what kind of an affect is that going to have this close to the vote on Tuesday?  What are your - what‘s your anticipation?  What are your expectations? 

BROWN:  Well, thousands join the president today at Cleveland State University in Downtown Cleveland.  Thirty-five thousand have joined him in Ohio State two weeks ago.  Bill Clinton was in Northeast Ohio yesterday, saw a big turnout - enthusiastic turnouts there. 

And more important perhaps in any of that is some thousands of people left that rally and went across - went about three blocks away to vote today in early voting.  So I don‘t - I don‘t buy this enthusiasm gap at all. 

And I also said to this rally when I spoke before the president arrived that - that everybody in that - in that - in the Wallenstein Center should over the next three days think about five people whom they know that might be a niece or a next door neighbor or somebody at church or somebody from work or school - think of five people who don‘t - who may not be voting and talk to them and make them your project to get them to the polls and talk to them about Strictland, talk to them about Boccieri if they live in Canton or Driehaus if they live in Cincinnati, wherever.  And I - I can see that sort of infectious enthusiasm working its way across the state. 

SCHULTZ:  Senator, how important is it for Governor Strictland to win from the standpoint that we have seen Republican governors, in fact, one of them here in Minnesota, that has put the breaks on the stimulus package and getting the money out to where it has to go to have a real impact on the economy? 

Ohio, a crucial state when it comes to the presidential in 2012 as it has been every year, how important is it to have a governor that‘s going to be working with the Obama folks who were trying to jump-start the economy in an area that has been hit - hit hard in your state of Ohio? 

BROWN:  Yes.  Put the politics aside and just talk substances, as you‘re suggesting.  The recovery act has meant tens and thousands of jobs.  I could take you on a tour from Lawrence Town to Mansfield, the Circleville, to Dayton, to Cleveland, to Toledo, places I‘ve been and seen the results of investing in the auto industry, of the recovery act, of the 48C energy tax credit of the SPA loans, all of those things that have happened. 

And if Strictland loses, if John Casick wins, you‘re going to see major

cuts in education and healthcare spending.  We know that.  You‘re also

going to see - from what he‘s saying now, very little cooperation on - on

building the partnerships between government and businesses.  This isn‘t

government spending money to create jobs directly.  It‘s mostly government

and business cooperating to create jobs and business, invest a whole lot

more than the government tax credits are worth -

SCHULTZ:  Yes. 

BROWN:  -- to stimulate the economy and create job.  It‘s pretty simple. 

SCHULTZ:  And, Senator, what has been the response of Ohio voters to the attitude and the approach and the game plan of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, where he says the single most important thing is to defeat the president.  We want to achieve - what we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president, our single biggest political goal is to give our nominee, for president a maximum opportunity to be successful, we need to work smarter than we did in ‘95. 

But how are Ohio voters feeling about - I mean, they‘ve just advertised their obstructionist attitude.  How‘s that playing? 

BROWN:  Yes.  I‘ve been around the state in October, not so much campaigning is on part on the maiden Ohio tour, going to manufacturing plants and seeing the kind of cooperation coming out of the recovery act and, you know, enforcing trade - trade rules and other kinds of business government partnerships.  And it‘s - the response to things like that.  People don‘t think that - many people react against the obstructionism anyway.  You know, some, of course, blame the president too in this.  

But when the majority, the minority leader in the Senate, the Republican

leader in the Senate says things like, as you‘ve just said, that I‘m not -

that my number one goal is to make Barack Obama one-term president.  I

think that that bothers people -

SCHULTZ:  Yes. 

BROWN:  -- because they know it‘s a two-way street.  They want to see

compromise from both sides.  And when one guy says that and keeps his

people in line and then you got the Tea Party activists on their side also,

you know -

SCHULTZ:  Yes. 

BROWN:  -- threatening - threatening them if they work with this and it doesn‘t go that (ph) well.  I‘m hopeful that will change in the months ahead after this election.  I‘m going to work to make it change.  I don‘t know what will happen.  

SCHULTZ:  Senator Sherrod Brown, good to have you with us tonight on THE ED SHOW. 

BROWN:  (INAUDIBLE).  Thanks. 

SCHULTZ:  Thanks so much for joining us. 

BROWN:  It does (ph). 

SCHULTZ:  You bet. 

Now, let‘s get some “Rapid-Fire” response from our panel on these stories tonight.  I‘ll get their take on whether Tarryl Clark can unseat Tea Party queen Michele Bachmann and the massive cash haul this race has generated.   

What the heck is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie doing here in Minnesota?   Buddy, I told you earlier in the show, the state isn‘t big enough for both of us.  

And Sharron Angle got caught running from yet another reporter at a Las Vegas airport.  She said answering questions would pose a threat to airport security. 

I know that you‘ll like that one. 

Minnesota resident, attorney and talk show hose Jack Rice joins us tonight and also Nick Coleman, columnist for The Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Gentlemen, this has been one for the archives when it comes to money in the middle of the country.  It‘s going to cost millions of dollars to get a Congressional seat. 

Jack, the dynamics of this race, does Tarryl Clark have a chance? 

JACK RICE, MINNESOTA RADIO HOST:  Sure, she does.  She always had the chance. 

The biggest problem that anybody has now is with the amount of money that‘s coming into the state from outside of the state, the interest isn‘t Minnesota anymore.  What this is about is making sure that somebody like a Bachmann wins.  That‘s the sad part.  Because all she‘s doing is just sort of reiterating what we‘ve heard from the Republicans in 2001 and 2002, 2003 and 2004.  And if we look back and we realize how poorly it went, well, that‘s what‘s going to happen again if we get more of it. 

SCHULTZ:  Nick? 

NICK COLEMAN, COLUMNIST, “MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE”:  I think Tarryl Clark is a very qualified candidate with a lot of good hearted people working for her, a lot of cash at her command, and a very small chance to win an election, unfortunately. 

Perhaps for those who believe in her, Michele Bachmann is a mama grizzly. 

She‘s sort of Sarah Palin‘s sidekick and stalking horse here in Minnesota. 

She‘s the favorite of many people Tea Party types around the country.  She‘s courted them.  She‘s got their money.  She‘s carrying the ball for them.  And the experts - and I‘m just relying on the experts give Tarryl a small chance. 

But anything could happen.  You have to come out and vote.  

SCHULTZ:  Nick, have they oversold their ground game here or is it as

genuine as they say it is, that - that her ground strategy, her door to

door, her grassroots has been far superior than Michele Bachmann, because

Bachmann has all of the money and is just pouring ads on to the TV.   I

mean -

COLEMAN:   Well, unfortunately, we live - we live in a, you know, media hall of mirrors here and I do believe that Tarryl Clark‘s candidacy has been really good.  A solid campaign, good door to door, and all of the rest of it, but we‘re talking about knocking off one of the, you know, the big stars of the right wing Tea Party Movement and it‘s going to be - that‘s a huge challenge. 

SCHULTZ:  A star within four years, Jack? 

RICE:  Well, that‘s the extraordinary part, isn‘t it?  I mean, maybe what‘s

the saddest part about all these when it comes to Michele Bachmann, is that

if we look at what‘s going here in Minnesota and all around the country,

people are petrified.  I understand that.  We‘re afraid about losing our

jobs, afraid about losing our homes and all of that.  We‘re so busy trying

to get the kids to school -

SCHULTZ:  Right, right. 

RICE—and keep those jobs, that we‘re not looking around that much.  But then you‘re inundated by commercial after commercial from the likes of Bachmann saying the world is going to come to an end if you don‘t vote for me that this is what you get sometimes. 

SCHULTZ:  Right. 

COLEMAN:  I think, you know, people are ticked.  I agree with Jack.  I would say that they‘re angry.   The Democrats have been way too late to this party of recognizing that people are ticked off.  And that‘s -you know what, people should be ticked off. 

SCHULTZ:  Turnout, your call on it.  You‘ve seen a lot of elections.  What do you think?  Is there an enthusiasm gap?  That there‘s been so much made? 

COLEMAN:  There has been a huge enthusiasm gap.  I like that the president has been on the road.  There‘s been a lot of efforts, but it‘s sort of a little late in the game.  This election has been going on for a really long time. 

I expect in Minnesota we‘re going to look at about 60 percent, maybe 70 percent tops, but more likely 60 percent turnout and that‘s high by standards around the country, but it‘s not enough for Democrats to do as well as they want. 

RICE:  And it‘s always Minnesota.  Minnesota always turns out for votes when other states around the country don‘t. 

SCHULTZ:  And, Nick, you as a journalist know that it‘s pretty easy covering politics in Minnesota because politicians are accessible, but in Nevada it‘s a little different situation.  Here is Sharron Angle at the airport. 

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) 

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE:  He understands liberty.  He understands freedom.  He

is a true American -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  Thanks. 

SHARRON ANGLE ®, SENATE CANDIDATE, NEVADA:  I‘ll answer those questions when I‘m the senator. 

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  We have two wars that we‘re prosecuting right now, we haven‘t talked about how he would prosecute those wars.  No answer at all?  You are literally staying silent about the two wars that we are in right now. 

ANGLE:  You know, the two wars that we‘re in right now is exactly both we‘re in. 

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  You told Paul Cameron that you want the press to ask the questions that you want to be asked.  Are these not the questions that you want to be asked? 

ANGLE:  You know, what I would like from you is to help me get the vote out. 

(END VIDEOTAPE) 

SCHULTZ:  The two wars that were in right now is exactly what we‘re in. 

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  She got it right. 

SCHULTZ:  It doesn‘t get any deeper than that, does it? 

COLEMAN:  No.  And if I were, you know, if I were her, I would run from the cameras, too.  That‘s a reporter.  She‘s not ready for primetime.  I think that‘s well known and well understood.  She‘s doing talking points in a public campaign, but she doesn‘t want to have to explain anything because I don‘t think she‘s really ready to.  

SCHULTZ:  There used to be days when, you know, we‘re doing “Talk Radio” and, of course, “Talk Television” that candidates would just call and just would do anything to get on TV.   What a reversal this is. 

RICE:  Yes.  One of the -

SCHULTZ:  And you‘ve got someone that‘s letting the money do all the talking and she‘s running from reporters. 

RICE:  Yes.  It‘s amazing when you actually hear a candidate say, I‘ll tell you what I think after I‘m a senator.  That‘s what we want now.  That‘s actually going to be the gold standard?  That‘s fabulous (ph). 

COLEMAN:  And Palin - was it Palin - what was the quote that she said that the media were bastards? 

SCHULTZ:  Is that what you are? 

COLEMAN:  Well, you‘d have to ask my parents.  I‘ve seen the certificate but you never know.  

SCHULTZ:  All right.  And finally, one more thing on Angle, she said, you know, airport security is pretty tight.  It‘s not really a good place to have an interview - whatever that means. 

COLEMAN:  That would be a good place to have an interview.  There‘s a lot of gigs (ph). 

SCHULTZ:  Mr. Rice, Mr. Coleman, good to have you with us tonight.  Thanks so much. 

Coming up, the Rand Paul stomper might be getting kicked into a jail cell. 

Yes, I love this story. 

And the Tea Party hatred and racism hits a boiling point.  The leader of the Tea Party Nation wants a Muslim-free Congress.  Congressman Keith Ellison was called out by name by this funk.  He sounds off on the voter intimidation, coming up next here on THE ED SHOW.  Stay with us. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 

SCHULTZ:  And it‘s not too late to let us know what you think.  Tonight‘s text survey question is - get your cell phones out now.  Do you think the Tea Party is bad for America?  Text A for yes and B for no to 622639.  Results coming up.  Stay with us. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ:  And in my “Playbook” tonight, unnecessary Tea Party roughness is hammering the first Muslim ever elected to Congress. 

Down in Tennessee, Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips is sticking his nose in the Minnesota Congressional race in an ugly and racist way.  Phillips has posted on his blog, he said this.  “There are a lot of liberals who need to be retired this year.  But there are few I can think of more deserving than Keith Ellison.  Ellison is one of the most radical members of Congress.  He has a zero rating in the American Conservative Union.  He is the only Muslim member of Congress.” 

Well, Phillips‘ racist post was absolutely wrong.  Indiana Congressman Andre Carlson is also a Muslim and Phillips also spread more lies about Ellison on his blog saying, quote” “He supports the Council for American Islamic Relations, Hamas and has helped send - and helped Congress send congressional tax dollars and tax dollars to terrorists in Gaza. 

Judson Phillips and the rest of the Tea Party has been one of the most racist political movements in American history.  Ellison is one of their biggest targets because of his faith and the color of his skin and his progressive ideas. 

Joining me now is the congressman from Minnesota, Congressman Keith Ellison.  Great to have you. 

REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA:  Ed, how are you doing? 

SCHULTZ:  It‘s - it‘s embarrassing - I‘ve known you for a long time. 

ELLISON:  Sure. 

SCHULTZ:  It‘s embarrassing for me to ask you this question, but your response to this garbage? 

ELLISON:  Well, my response is that these are - this guy is one of the puppet masters here.  He‘s the one pulling the strings of people who want to be in power.  So people who are progressive, people who are independent, they need to be involved.  They need to get active because if we don‘t get active, if we don‘t get fired up about great candidates like Tarryl Clark, then we‘re going to be dealing with these folks who actually have gavels in their hands and actually have some say so about the direction of our country. 

SCHULTZ:  How do you feel about your faith being targeted? 

ELLISON:  You know, I‘ve got a little used to it, Ed.  I got tough skin and these people do not scare me under any circumstances. 

SCHULTZ:  Tax money to Hamas? 

ELLISON:  Ridiculous, absurd, crazy.  But that‘s what I‘m going to expect from these folks.  They don‘t operate in the realm of reality.  They operate in the realm of fear.  And they‘re trying to turn Americans on other Americans. 

And we demand our unity and solidarity as Americans.  It‘s OK to argue over different issues.  We want to have people with differences of opinion.  But when you start saying that these people because of their color, because of their religion, because of their sex, because of their orientation, it can‘t be part of our body politic, that is a foul, that‘s out of line. 

And I just - and I think the best thing we can do is stand together and make - and just make them angry because of how unified we are as Americans and how much we feel that our diversity is important and valued, and how much all of us matter and how much all of us count.  

SCHULTZ:  Are Minnesotans - when you run into them, are they offended by this kind of stuff? 

ELLISON:  Yes, they are offended.  But I just tell people, don‘t be offended.  Get organized, you know? 

SCHULTZ:  Will there be a good turnout? 

ELLISON:  There will be an overwhelming turnout.  We are going to turn the people out.  We are knocking on doors.  We are making calls.  We had 27,000 calls from my office in South Minneapolis yesterday.  We are getting the vote out.  

SCHULTZ:  Will President Obama have a very positive effect? 

ELLISON:  I think he will.  Because I think that he has done a lot in the last two years.  He‘s not given credit for the positive work that he‘s done. 

Look, historic health care, 32 million Americans are going to have healthcare that they‘ve never had before.  We‘re filling in the donut hole. 

We‘re getting rid of -

SCHULTZ:  You haven‘t run from that? 

ELLISON:  No, no.  I‘m proud of it.  I think it‘s great.  I mean, I‘m proud that we‘ve passed the Credit Card Holder Bill of Rights. 

Do you really want these folks jacking up your interest rates without even telling you?  We are doing something about it.  And so the Lilly Ledbetter Equal pay, I am proud to have voted for women to have equal pay in America.  I‘m proud of it.  I‘m proud of it. 

SCHULTZ:  You - you need to hold a clinic for some other Democrats around the country. 

ELLISON:  Well, let me tell you, man.  You know, we all run every two years so there‘s never a term that‘s guaranteed. 

SCHULTZ:  Yes. 

ELLISON:  So do the best you can in the term you‘ve got and then let the rest of it deal with itself.

SCHULTZ:  Minnesota‘s Keith Ellison here on THE ED SHOW. 

Some final pages in the “Playbook” tonight, the Rand Paul supporting goon who stomped on a woman‘s head last week has been charged with fourth degree assault.  The Lexington Herald leader reports the 30-year-old fug Tim Prophet was charged for intentionally placing his foot and shoulder in the head ridge of the victim.  He could spend a year in jail - and I hope he does. 

And finally, after stomping, all weekend across the country, President Obama is back in the White House just in time for trick or treaters.  Local children and military families are in their costumes.  Sasha is apparently a turkey.  No word on Malia‘s costume. 

Coming up, politics is all about people, and I‘m getting the straight talk from these Americans here in Minnesota, next on THE ED SHOW.  Stay with us. 

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ:  THE ED SHOW will be on the road tomorrow night, live from Las Vegas and we will be there also on election night covering the Harry Reid/Sharron Angle tight race - the Senate Majority leader on the ropes in Nevada.  We‘ll be reporting from there tomorrow night. 

And we want to thank the folks here at the American Burger Emporium here in Minnesota - Woodbury, Minnesota to give you a flavor - Thank you.  As a voter, what‘s on your mind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE:  As a voter and as a volunteer for Tarryl Clark, I‘ll tell you what I say at every door I knock on, I know Tarryl Clark will represent me and not the interest of corporations or the interests of Michele Bachmann. 

SCHULTZ:  And you, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  She‘ll be here in our district.  She‘ll work to solve our problems and not just be in (INAUDIBLE) promoting her political agendas. 

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:  I think in these tough times our message is, you know, we‘ve got your back and the Republican‘s message is, you‘re on your own. 

SCHULTZ:  OK.  From Minnesota, that‘s THE ED SHOW.  Thanks for joining us tonight, a special edition here in Woodbury, Minnesota. 

We‘ll see you tomorrow night on The ED SHOW from Las Vegas, Nevada.  Have a great one. 

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