Politics

‘I Don’t Think Any Country Just Hands Out Work Permits’: MSNBC’s Ed Schultz Blasts Obama’s Amnesty AGAIN

Brendan Bordelon Contributor
Font Size:

Ed Schultz isn’t exactly known for being an independent thinker. But the MSNBC host bucked all other voices on his ultra-liberal cable network this week by opposing President Obama’s planned amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants, declaring on Tuesday that “I don’t think any country just hands out work permits to solve an immigration problem” and calling it “a real tough sell.”

The union-friendly cable host already declared his opposition to the impending move on Monday (RELATED: MSNBC Host: Obama’s Amnesty Could Doom Democrats). And during a debate with progressive radio host Mike Papantonio, Schultz doubled down.

“I get a little bit nervous when I even hear the thought, the possibility that undocumented workers — immigrants — would be granted work permits in the numbers of millions,” he said. “Wouldn’t this create more problems that it solves? And legally what does it mean for the president? Can we just pass out work permits to anybody who crosses our border?”

Papantonio sidestepped the question, blaming Republicans for failing to agree to the White House’s demand for comprehensive immigration reform.

“It’s uncomfortable, obviously, for him to make a decision on immigration by himself,” the radio host said. “But that’s the position that Republicans have put him in.”

“I don’t think any country just hands out work permits to solve an immigration problem,” Schultz shot back. “I think this would be a ground-sweeping move by the president to do that, and I think a lot of Democrats would have a hard time with it.”

“It would be a real tough sell to independents,” he continued, “and it would also all of a sudden start competing with American workers who are abiding by the laws.”

Schultz also broke with the Obama administration earlier this year over their obstruction of the Keystone Pipeline.(RELATED: Off the reservation: MSNBC’s Ed Schultz clashes with greenies over his SUPPORT of Keystone Pipeline) But pressure from his liberal audience (and maybe elsewhere?) eventually pushed him to reverse that opinion.

Follow Brendan on Twitter