Media Training Tip: Don’t Call Someone a “Slut”

by PR Coach

MSNBC radio host Ed Schultz sorry for "slut" remark

Now a bit of Friday fun. Here’s a memorable, tongue-in-cheek media training moment courtesy of highly-rated MSNBC radio host Ed Schultz, host of the “The Ed Show.”

Schultz was sent to the penalty box for one week without pay for calling conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham a ‘right-wing slut’ on his evening program on May 23rd. Predictably, and appropriately, several women’s groups objected noisily.

The Daily Caller cited Schultz’s critique of Ingraham’s criticisms of President Barack Obama’s trip to Ireland:

“And what do the Republicans thinking about?” Schultz said. “They’re not thinking about their next-door neighbor. They’re just thinking about how much this is going to cost. President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Mo., on Sunday but you know what they’re talking about, like this right-wing slut, what’s her name – Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she’s a talk slut. You see, she was, back in the day, praising President Reagan when he was drinking a beer overseas. But now that Obama’s doing it, they’re working him over.”

You can listen to the clip here:

Schultz has been in trouble before for his hot temper and intemperate remarks but of course that’s what makes talk radio tick and ratings jump. Here are just a few more of his caustic comments and on-air targets:

Criticizing the size of the Washington DC rally of Fox’s Glenn Beck: “I could get every union head in this country. I could organize every progressive group in this country, the main bloggers,” Schultz said on his radio show Tuesday. “This could be The Ed March.”

Calling Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “ball-less” for his soft approach with Republicans.

Of former Vice President Dick Cheney, recovering from his fifth heart attack and reported by Radio Equalizer: “You’re damn right Dick Cheney’s heart’s a political football. We ought to rip it out and kick it around and stuff it back in him. I’m glad he didn’t tip over. He is the new poster child for health care in this country.”

On former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs: “Mr. Gibbs and I had quite the conversation off the air the other night. I’m gonna tell ya, I told him he was full of sh*t.”

As always, all’s fair in talk radio, politics, on-air rants and ratings. Schultz did offer an apology to Ingraham who accepted it and puckishly called him a “lost sheep” and invited him back to conservatism: “We’ll welcome you back with open arms,” she said.

My media training advice? Don’t try this at work or at home for that matter! Unless you’re an overpaid radio host looking desperately for ratings. 😉

We’ve got many more serious media training tips, Bad PR…Bad links and PR Humor in our PR Library. Remember to sign up for our newsletter or get our RSS feed directly to your favorite reader. We’re glad to have you along.

Photo credit: MSNBC.com

Author: Jeff Domansky is Editor, The PR Coach

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