Transcript
BOB GARFIELD: This is On the Media, from NPR. I'm Bob Garfield with some of your letters. Last week I spoke with radio talk show host Ed Schultz who describes himself as "a gun-totin, meat-eatin liberal." I asked Schultz in the interview whether he was "an opportunist or sincere liberal." N.C. Woods writes: "I can assure you that back in Fargo, the general assessment is that he is the former. He didn't move politically until a new conservative talk show host came to town, Scott Hennen at WDAY, and the congressional delegation wooed him." Woods also asks, quote, "If Democracy Radio is subsidized by fundraising sponsored by Senate Democrats, then obviously the financial support colors Schultz's statements...is this a way to circumvent McCain-Feingold? (I don't know.) Certainly it's a financial interest that bears disclosure." And finally, back to fact-checking. A listener kindly truth-squadded one of my favorite metaphors. You know the one, the frog that leaps out of the pot of boiling water, but when put in cool water and heated slowly doesn't realize he's boiled till it's too late. Alan Lewis from Iowa says "Frogs aren't that stupid. They don't just sit in hot water till they cook." And to prove it, he provides a link to the urban legend debunking site Snopes.com. If you don't believe me, do some fact-checking. We appreciate all your letters. Keep 'em coming, and don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name. [MUSIC]
copyright 2004 WNYC Radio