Poll: Should MSNBC fire Ed Schultz?

Just weeks after being suspended for labeling conservative radio host Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut," MSNBC host Ed Schultz is in hot water again -- this time for selectively editing a video in an attempt to smear GOP presidential contender Rick Perry as a racist. This all leads me to wonder: Will Ed Schultz be fired?

There are truthers, deathers, birthers... and now the PJ Tatler examines the newest group of extremists, "the racers" -- those who see racism in everything conservatives say:

This meme, put forth by other key Racers like Janeane Garofalo, Al Sharpton and Keith Olbermann, is not based on reality or truth. Rather, Racers push the meme solely as an attack vehicle, designed to engage class warfare and intimidate the target. In this case, the target is the biggest threat to Obama’s re-election chances to date: Governor Rick Perry.

However, Schultz and his team at MSNBC lied. The video, when played in its entirety, clearly shows that the “Black Cloud” Perry is talking about is the debt, not Obama.

Schultz has since apologized for the slanted report, but knowing this, can he get get by with just an apology as he did after insulting Ingraham?  Tony Katz says not this time:

If this was part of a stream of consciousness rant, an ever escalating, heated tirade that led to an inappropriate statement or falsifying of facts, then perhaps an apology (as it were) would suffice.  But this was not the situation.  This was calculated.  This was discussed.  And, unless Schultz is truly adept with Final Cut Pro, sent all of his producers out of the room while the clip was rolling and ran the production room by himself while on camera, this is also conspiratorial.  Schultz, and his staff, knew they were lying, and actively participated in deceiving their viewers while engaging, together, in a vicious slander of Gov. Perry.

The amazing thing might not even be that Schultz's reporting was dishonest, but that he even felt that they needed to be. MSNBC is already so slanted to the left, did they really need to selectively edit video to make their broadcast even more biased?

What do you think?