Ed Asner: 'Hannity's next ... just like we went after Limbaugh'

wnd.com/ ^ | October 10, 2003 | Kevin McCullough

[ThreePuttinDude]

Ed Asner: 'Hannity's next ... just like we went after Limbaugh'

---

Posted: October 10, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

In the news this week are several reports of an exchange between syndicated talk-show host Mike Gallagher and actor-turned-leftist-poster-child Edward Asner.

The account goes like this: Mike Gallagher approached Asner at a recent cocktail party promoting the new film "Elf" in which Asner stars as Santa Claus. As Gallagher introduced himself, Asner asked his profession. When Gallagher replied "radio talk-show host," Asner replied, "I love going toe-to-toe with you guys.''

''I know,'' Gallagher replied. ''I've heard you on Sean Hannity's show.''

''Hannity's next, you know,'' Asner responded.

''Huh?'' said Gallagher.

''Hannity's next,'' said Asner. ''We're going after him just like we went after Limbaugh. And you saw what happened to Rush this week, right?''

I can attest to these news reports because I was there. Standing not more than 10 feet from where the conversation was happening. Shortly afterward, as Mike and I were exiting the party, we were chatting on the elevator of the Empire State building.

"Kevin did you hear what he said?" Mike exclaimed, "That was a truly strange experience." And he then proceeded to relate the story to the rest of the folks riding with us in the elevator.

The following day, as a part of the same film junket, I found myself sitting in a room with Mike and several others waiting for Mr. Asner to field his questions from us regarding the release of "Elf" – a movie that I believe will be huge at the box office this holiday season.

As Mr. Asner walked in, he saw both Mike and me sitting at the end of the table closest to him and quickly quipped, "What is this? The Salem witch trials?" This, of course, being a play on words alluding to Mike being a syndicated talk-show host for Salem Radio Network (and heard on better than 200 stations), and that I had just taken over as the host on the legendary New York's WMCA 570 "Home of the Good Guys," also a Salem property.

Upon seating himself at the end of the table and making small talk about cookies and cupcakes – he did seem to be in a particularly jovial mood – he asked point blank: "Does anyone at this table hate me? Hate my work as an activist or in any other way?"

It was such an odd question that the room fell dead silent for a moment before breaking into the short amount of time he had for questions about the film.

As he answered questions about the film, he often broke into stories about his days gone by, and even his reasons for getting involved in left-wing politics. He even talked somewhat reflectively about one of his first acting gigs, playing Santa for the downtown Chicago Marshall Field's store.

"It was the worst job I ever had," said Asner. "All I could do was put these poor – extremely poor – kids on my lap and say to them, 'Well Johnny, well Susie, Santa's gonna see what he can do about getting that for you. Knowing full well that these kids' parents were so poor that more than half these kids had no chance of ever seeing the gifts they asked for. It was just awful.'"

By the end of his time with us, I had not asked him a specific question yet, and in my mind I could not get away from the scene from the party of the night previous.

"Mr. Asner, I do have a question – unrelated to the film," I said. "In your long and distinguished acting career, going back to your earliest days in Chicago all the way up to present days working with Will Farrell on 'Elf', you have had the chance to do almost anything you could ever wish to do. But if you had the chance to play the biographical story of a historical figure you respected most over your lifetime, who would it be?"

Remembering the sad story he had told about the poor kids in Chicago, I half expected him to come out with a political name of some sort.

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner. "And to this day, I don't think I have ever seen an adequate job done of telling the story of Joe Stalin, so I guess my answer would have to be Joe Stalin."

Suddenly the time had run out, and for the third time in less than 18 hours, Ed Asner had puzzled the room he was in, into a stunned and disbelieving silence.

Mr. Hannity ... I don't think you have anything to worry about.

---

[Sacajaweau]

Interesting.

[JesseHousman]

Who's Ed Assner?

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[backhoe]

I believe we need a new name for our "friends" on the 'rat side-- how about "Assassins?"

[Northern Yankee]

What an absolute disgrace this guy is.

Gee... he hates playing Santa Claus because he can't give a few moments of joy to boys and girls because they might not have Christmas toys on Christmas day, but he loves, admires, and wants to play Joe Stalin who brought death and destruction to millions of Russian famlilies.

What an odd, twisted guy.

[camle]

ping

[ThreePuttinDude]

How about Assnears HERO....nice choice /sarc>

AP 

TIME named Joseph Stalin Man of the Year in 1942

Joseph Stalin

On the death of Lenin in 1924, Joseph Stalin took control of the Soviet Union, instituting policies of nationalization and agricultural collectivization that fomented civil war and famine as well as cultivating a cult of personality. TIME described this public worship: "Joseph Stalin has gone a long way toward deifying himself while alive. No flattery is too transparent, no compliment too broad for him. He became the fountain of all Socialist wisdom" (1/1/40).

Stalin established a reign of terror that included mass arrests, executions and deportations. He also rallied his troops to beat back a German invasion in some of the bloodiest fighting of World War II. At his death on March 1, 1953, there was a mass outpouring of grief; at a 1956 Party Congress, successor Nikita Khrushchev denounced him as a murderer. Stalin was twice TIME's Man of the Year, for 1939 and 1942.

[visualops]

To call Joseph Stalin the informal "Joe" is always disconcerting and somewhat creepy to me. How can one speak kindly of an embodiment of evil and then sleep soundly?
I am reminded of the Millenium episodes where evil personified surfaces in various people and wreaks its influence. You see it in the grocery store aisles.. demon.. person.. demon..person... ::::shivers:::

[visualops]

Stalin was twice TIME's Man of the Year, for 1939 and 1942

Among all the people on earth, they actually named him twice? Argh.

[bullseye1911]

Hey ED! One word....prozac.

[Bluebird Singing]

Anybody else from Chicago here reading this? I question whether extremely poor children were actually visiting Santa in the downtown Marshall Field's store. What do you think?

[aardvark1]

I think Asner was giving himself far too much credit for the Rush situation. He sounds to me like these terrorist groups that all try to claim responsibility for bombings.

[Jason Kauppinen]

This article reads like it could have been ripped out of "Atlas Shrugged".

[ThreePuttinDude]

Being from Chicago, my parents took my sister and myself
downtown during the Christmas holidays. I never remember
seeing "poor poor children", all I ever saw were kid like
us. Wide eyed and excited about seeing Mr. Claus. Once we
even saw Mrs. Claus with him, obviously that was a big hit
with me seeing as how I can recall this after 40 years....LOL

[kattracks]

Asner is a has been who's trying to make people believe he's somehow relevant.

[GirlyGirl2003]

Hey Ed, I have another "S" you can add to your last name to make it far more fitting and descriptive. You are a threat to liberty in America. The day will come when it is your name in lights. I hope you're sitting in front of a Republican Congress and you're being investigated for "unAmerican Activities" along with many of your pals who have changed their "D" for democrat to a "C" for Karl Marx.

[badmrbunny]

i don't think the russian people misunderstood stalin. millions starved, murdered, imprisoned. all their land and property stolen... nope, i think russia understood stalin pretty well. as for "taking" out rush and hannity, i say let asner keep talking. give him another drink. i guess i'd be drinking as well if my party kept getting it's ass kicked
every election. have you noticed that asner's jowls resemble that of a prize-winning pig at the state fair? maybe that could be a fallback career when he sobers up...

[The_Media_never_lie]

Well, if Ed thinks Stalin is so great then Beria must have been a swell guy?

What is the matter with Ed Asner's brain? At least we know who the enemies of the United States are, and Ed's high on the list.

[SauronOfMordor]

To call Joseph Stalin the informal "Joe" is always disconcerting and somewhat creepy to me. How can one speak kindly of an embodiment of evil and then sleep soundly?

After reading "Harvest of Sorrow" (about Stalin's deliberate famine in the Ukraine, and other books about his period, I'm just aghast.

Stalin murdered far more people than Hitler did -- but because Stalin was a beloved Leftist, he got a pass from the Left in the US

[hotpotato]

You are a threat to liberty in America.

No, he's not. He's simply an actor full of himself (and hot air) who happens to be a communist (thinks it hasn't been done right but for some reason believes that the US, which "hasn't managed democracy" could handle communism). He's not particularly bright and is actually easily intimidated. I've heard Hannity make him stutter. Then he pouts and says something very petty and hangs up the phone.

Nope, he's too small a mouse to be a threat to our liberty.

[hotpotato]

I can't imagine sitting through a Christmas movie with Ed Asner as Santa Clause. That would be just too sad.

[tkathy]

Asner's boiled up in the false idiology that terrorism is created by poverty, all the ailments of the world are created by a lack of money, all our minority problems are created by a lack of money and this is all America's (and white people's) fault. He's loves to wallow in the same liberal guilt that all my liberal friends enjoy.

It's never about money. It's about chaotic, disasterous social problems and the politics of victimhood. It's about a total lack of leadership and never accepting personal responsibility.

[bullseye1911]

Asner is a has been...

Asner is a never was IMHO!!

[kattracks]

You're absolutely right! What was I thinking???

[SunnyUsa]

What a disgrace he is....

How old is Assner anyway - shouldn't he be in a home?

[sirchtruth]

Rush caved...end of story!

[jonefab]

This guys a real commi, I'm just ashamed to say he grew up in Kansas City, KS. Maybe I should move, even though I'm 400 miles west of KC. Go Bronco's

Over time, he became widely known for his socialist leanings. He’s a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and can be found calling for donations in their literature. He believes in the cause. "Socialist means a thing that will curb the excesses of capitalism: the increasing wealth of the rich and decreasing wealth of the poor," he said.

He recently volunteered his time to film a public service announcement for The HSUS's free kit, "Providing for Your Pet's Future Without You." The kit includes forms and advice to help you design a will and other estate plans for your pet's care should your animal survive you.

[laredo44]

I question whether extremely poor children were actually visiting Santa in the downtown Marshall Field's store.

I was thinking the same thing myself. It just sounds like so many liberal fabrications. If a real life example to back up your "feelings" about something is unavailable, just make one up.

And what did he mean by this?

Knowing full well that these kids' parents were so poor that more than half these kids had no chance of ever seeing the gifts they asked for.

Was Asner saying that not only were there extremely poor kids in the Santa line but that more than half were? Or is he pulling an extra-slimy liberal trick juxtaposing two non-related elements in the same sentence hoping to dupe readers? That is, what the kids were asking for, e.g., a pony, they wouldn't get and implying it was the parents poverty not the impracticality of the request that was the cause?

[bimbo]

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner.

It is long past time for conservatives to hang the "Joseph Stalin" albatross around the neck of these Marxists like Asner and Hillary - force them to explain their support for the execution of 30 million Russians and Ukranians.

[demkicker]

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner. "And to this day, I don't think I have ever seen an adequate job done of telling the story of Joe Stalin, so I guess my answer would have to be Joe Stalin."

The sad and really scarry part is that the left is constantly revising history and with the help of their pinko takeover of public education, the next generation will probably swallow Asner's assertions about Stalin.

[sharkhawk]

I remember reading the book of lists when I was around 12 or 13 years old. There was a section, that had a list what people would do if they were the leader of the world. Ed Asner had as his first choice, he would make work strictly voluntary, everyone would work based on enjoyment. Even back then I thought, what an idiot. Who would be a janitor or garbage man clean bed pans? He is a typical left wing moron.

[PigRigger]

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner.

I believe the millions put to death by him might disagree. Asner is a pompous, demented ass.

He's proud they destroyed a man by smearing his character rather than by challenging and defeating his views. Yeah, that deserves a pat on the back.

Once again I should not be surprised. It is their way.

[SpookBrat]

I think he was (is) a member of the Communist Party. I remember my mother not letting us watch Mary Tyler Moore because it would be supporting Ed Asner, the Pinko Commie. LOL

My Mother was a FReeper back in the 70's.

[lonestar]

It's never about money. It's about chaotic, disasterous social problems and the politics of victimhood. It's about a total lack of leadership and never accepting personal responsibility.

It's about "social programs" that reward undesirable, self-destructive behaviors.

[proud American in Canada]

"Anybody else from Chicago here reading this? I question whether extremely poor children were actually visiting Santa in the downtown Marshall Field's store. What do you think?"

I agree. I went there many times as a child. I seriously doubt people from the ghetto made Christmas expeditions to that Marshall Field's store, or any other Marshall Field's store.

In any case, I will definitely not be taking my kids to see "Elf."

[Senator Goldwater]

"I guess my answer would have to be Joe Stalin"

That's the problem, Ed. He's your answer to everything.

I'll bet "Joe" had an answer for talk radio hosts with whom he disagreed.

[handk]

When I think of Ed Asner, the grotesque image (below) always comes to mind, Bill Paxton as the "Blob" in the movie "Weird Science".

Hey Ed, eat any flies lately, you fat slug toad of a man?

[jonefab]

Recently, at the 72nd Annual Couchiching Conference in Canada, Asner brought his lack of wisdom to a panel discussion on national cultural identity. He complained about the loss of jobs in the Los Angeles area and placed the blame for a myriad of society's tribulations on the Left's whipping boy: evil corporations.

''It's to your credit that you do that for your country,'' he said. ''We don't do a damned thing in our country, because we are pigs.''

“I think that the idea of Iraq being a nuclear threat is poppyc*ck, and if they are a nuclear threat then they'd have to borrow atomic bombs from Israel.”

The above link contains many more outrageous quotes, for example:

On the May 7, 2003 Buchanan & Press on MSNBC, when Pat Buchanan noted that Castro “has denied” Cubans “free elections for 40 years,” Asner fired back:

“We didn’t have a free election in 2002.”

[wita]

Poor ed. He's blind and dumb. The world has been pouring money into his social issues for decades and it hasn't solved anything. Even the Bible tells us the poor will always be with us, but ed can't see the forest for Joe Stalin, and speaking of joe stalin, who knows but what it took a joe stalin to save mother Russia from the likes of Adolph. If I remember most of his murderous policies came after WWII. He became murdereously paranoid when the enemy was perceived to be in country.

[Bluebird Singing]

My liberal high school sociology teacher back in '71, went around our class one day asking us where we worked if we had jobs. This was in a south suburb of Chicago, and I worked at another Marshall Fields and I worked the Chrismas season. He questioned me on the economic class of people making up the typical Fields Shopper, and whether I noticed if lower class individuals where among them. He found it unlikely.

[steveegg]

What is the matter with Ed Asner's brain?

Stupid question; it doesn't exist.

[xp38]

That's odd. If he was living under Stalin he would have been sent off to the Gulag if he espoused those views. I have read that not working was illegal in the Soviet Union of Stalin. I don't know what the charge would have been but maybe it would fall under the almost all encompasing Anti Soviet Agitation law. Then it would be off to learn the joys of building the White Sea canal or some other project under good old misunderstood Joe.

[theDentist]

What is the matter with Ed Asner's brain?

It was evacuated during an ealier trip to the men's room.

[gulfcoast6]

So now we know. Hannity NEXT?

[kattracks]

I think Hannity can handle anything these losers throw at him.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Communisti comrade Ed Assner is a slobbering jerk.

Having said that, Hannity had better get his own act in order.

Why is it that whenever I randomly scan the dial and come across that program, I usually hear patent self-aggrandizement, G.O.P. Über Conservatism, self-promotion of the show, and groupies in orgasmic fits throwing verbal flowers at Sean's feet.

This is not what talk shows should be nor is it anything instructive nor inspiring.

I have a ranking of 'conservative' radio shows that indicate that, after one hour of listening, I have truly learned something NEW or invigorating or am inspired to deeper thought and action.

Near the top are: Glenn Beck, Dennis Prager, Bob Dornan, Michael Savage. In the middle (near the top) is Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy.

And down near the bottom is Sean Hannity for sure. Along with Drudge and maybe Michael Reagan.

Their own worst enemies.

[el_texicano]

"Hey ED! One word....prozac."

I might suggest a cyanide capsule in his case. At least a huge dose of laxitive in his case 'cause he is full of it.

To even give these people a face time and a quoted place in print is beyond too good for them. They hate this country and everything good it stands for.

[Polybius]

Stalin was twice TIME's Man of the Year, for 1939 and 1942............. Among all the people on earth, they actually named him twice? Argh.

TIME's Man of the Year title is given to the person that "for better or worse, has most influenced events in the preceding year."

Adolph Hitler was Man of the Year for 1938. The issue announcing the selection pictured Hitler playing "a hymn of hate".

Stalin's Man of the Year for 1939 was "awarded" to Stalin for making it possible for Hitler to unleash World War II:

"Whether Europe's new era will end in nationalist chaos, good or bad internationalism, or what not, the era will be new--and the end of the old era will have been finally precipitated by a man whose domain lies mostly outside Europe. This Joseph Stalin did by dramatically switching the power balance of Europe one August night. It made Joseph Stalin man of 1939. History may not like him but history cannot forget him........The signing in Moscow's Kremlin on the night of August 23-24 of the Nazi-Communist "Non-Aggression" Pact was a diplomatic demarche literally world-shattering. The actual signers were German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Premier-Foreign Commissar Molotov, but Comrade Stalin was there in person to give it his smiling benediction, and no one doubted that it was primarily his doing. By it Germany broke through British-French "encirclement," freed herself from the necessity of fighting on two fronts at the same time. Without the Russian pact, German generals would certainly have been loath to go into military action. With it, World War II began."........Time, Jan. 1, 1940

[metesky]

If I remember most of his murderous policies came after WWII.

You couldn't be more wrong. A good place to get a handle on the Stalin-Hitler mutual admiration fest is Paul Johnson's Modern Times.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 8, The Devils (Hitler and Stalin

Asner's hero killed 10/20 million of his own people long before WWII.