Ed Schultz and Rush Limbaugh are both popular radio talk show hosts. They are ideological adversaries with Limbaugh being a right-wing commentator and Schultz, in many ways, his left-wing counterpart. They are both considered extremists in their ideological positions.
Comparison chart
 | Ed Schultz | Rush Limbaugh |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Occupation | Talk radio and television host, political commentator/pundit, author | Radio host, political commentator, author, television personality |
| Place of birth | Norfolk, Virginia United States | Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States |
| Date of birth | January 27, 1954 | January 12, 1951 |
| Alma mater | Minnesota State University, Moorhead | Southeast Missouri State University (Dropped Out) |
| Full name | Edward Andrew Schultz | Rush Hudson Limbaugh III |
| Talk shows | The Ed Show (TV); The Ed Schultz Show (Radio) | The Rush Limbaugh Show (Radio) |
| Active years | 30 years in broadcasting | 1967–present |
| Career | Footballer, Sportscaster , News and Views radio show, The Ed Schultz Show, MSNBC’s The Ed Show | Music disc jockey, Radio talk show at KFBK, WABC 770 AM, Pro football commentator with ESPN, Premiere Radio Networks |
| Website | bigeddieradio.com | rushlimbaugh.com |
| Children | Six | None |
| Awards | Three Eric Sevareid Awards, and as leader of a broadcast team - two Marconi and one Peabody Award | 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award; 2007 Award for Media Excellence, by the Media Research 2009; CPAC's "Defender of the Constitution Award" |
| Books | Straight Talk from the Heartland (2004, autobiography) | The Way Things Ought to Be (1992); See, I Told You So (1993) |
Personal Lives of Limbaugh and Schultz
Ed Schultz a.k.a. Edward Andrew Schultz was born on January 27, 1954 in Norfolk, Virginia to George Schultz, an engineer, and Mary Schultz, an English teacher. He graduated from Maury High School, Norfolk in 1972 and earned a full scholarship to Moorhead State University Minnesota to play football. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) for sometime before he quit football.
Rush Limbaugh a.k.a. Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born on January 12, 1951 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Jr., a lawyer, and Mildred Carolyn "Millie" (née Armstrong). Limbaugh graduated from Cape Girardeau, Missouri Central High School, in 1969. Though he joined Southeast Missouri State University, he did not complete the course and moved to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. In the 1970’s he joined various radio stations in Pittsburgh and Kansas City.
Marriages
Ed Schultz first married Maureen Zimmerman who was his news co-anchor and producer at WDAY radio station. They got divorced in 1993. He re-married in 1998 to Wendy Schultz, a psychiatric nurse.
Rush Limbaugh has been married four times. His first wife was Roxy Maxine McNeely, a sales secretary at radio station WHB in Kansas City, Missouri. They got married in 1977 and got a divorce in 1980 on the grounds of incompatibility. His second wife was Michelle Sixta, a college student and usherette at the Kansas City Royals Stadium Club. They were married from 1983 to 1990. His third marriage was to Marta Fitzgerald, an aerobics instructor, from 1994 to 2004. Kathryn Rogers, a party planner from Florida is his current wife. They got married on 5th June 2010. He does not have any children.
Career highlights
Schultz began his career as a sports broadcaster. His career graph can be summarized as follows:
- For 15 years he worked as a sportscaster for WDAY-TV and the local ABC affiliate in Fargo, North Dakota
- In October 2005 The Ed Schultz Show was broadcast from the Fargo, North Dakota studios of KFGO, via the Jones Radio Network to over 100 radio stations. This show can still be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio's "Sirius Left" channel, and XM Radio's America Left channel and Armed Forces Radio.
- On November 30, 2006, he moved to the "prime" time slot from noon to 3 p.m. ET, to directly compete with Rush Limbaugh.
- He purchased an up-link so that he could broadcast live from the KFGO Studios in Fargo.
- June 27, 2007 he appeared on TV for Tucker on MSNBC.
- July 1, 2007, September 21, 2007, February 6, 2008 he was on Larry King Live on CNN
- January 23, 2008, Schultz was a guest on Hardball with Chris Matthews.
- March 2009 he hosted 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on MSNBC, three times.
- April 6, 2009 The Ed Show debuted at 6 pm on Monday.
- Schultz's radio show moved to New York City in May 2009 because of his TV show.
Limbaugh’s career graph
- In 1979, he left radio and accepted a position as director of promotions with the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
- 1984, Limbaugh returned to radio as a talk show host at KFBK in Sacramento, California.
- On August 1, 1988, he moved to New York City and began his national radio show ‘The Rush Limbaugh Show’ with station WABC, 770 AM.
- December 1990 his show was broadcast on over 650 radio stations nationwide.
- March 30, 1990, first television hosting experience as a guest host on Pat Sajak's CBS late-night talk show, The Pat Sajak Show.
- 1992 – 1996 he syndicated half-hour television show produced by Roger Ailes.
- On December 17, 1993, Limbaugh appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
- 1994 He also guest-starred (as himself) on an episode of Hearts Afire.
- 1995 He appeared in Billy Crystal film Forget Paris.
- 1998 He appeared on an episode of The Drew Carey Show
- In 2003, Limbaugh had a brief stint as a pro football commentator with ESPN.
- Today, Limbaugh owns a majority of the show, which is syndicated by the Premiere Radio Networks.
In News for other reasons
Ed Schultz
- In 1988 while doing the radio show for North Dakota State University in Fargo, Schultz came out of the broadcast booth and confronted several fans whom he believed had thrown an empty whiskey bottle into the booth.
- In a 2003 Sports Illustrated article on North Dakota said that ‘Schultz was too loud and opinionated.’
- In politics- he switched from being a conservative to a liberal. The conservatives feel that he is a traitor while leftist don’t trust him completely.
Rush Limbaugh
- He was investigated for illegally obtaining the prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone on October 3, 2003 by the National Enquirer.
- He has been accused of inaccuracies and distortions in his commentary by Environmental Defense Fund and FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
- In 2001, he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). He got a cochlear implant surgery done to restore his hearing.
- On December 30, 2009 he developed a heart ailment angina pectoris.
- On January 30, 2010, Limbaugh was a judge for the 2010 Miss America pageant in Las Vegas.
Controversial statements
Ed Schultz
(a) ‘I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts I'd try to vote 10 times. I don't know if they'd let me or not, but I'd try to. Yeah, that's right. I'd cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. Cause that's exactly what they are’ ‘I misspoke on Friday. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I meant to say, "If I could vote 20 times, that's what I'd do.’ (b) ‘I think it's a travesty he's (Glenn Beck) not going to see the country he's trying to destroy.’
Rush Limbaugh
- "Fox is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act ... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."
- “Barack Obama was filling the role of the "magic negro", and that this explained his appeal to voters.”
- Media Matters on their website suggested that Limbaugh was saying that all soldiers who disagree with the Iraq War were "phony soldiers".
- "The dream end of Operation Chaos is that this keeps up to the convention, and that we have a recreation of Chicago 1968 with burning cars, protests, fire, and literal riots and all of that, that is the objective here."
- “I want to see Obama's policies fail, not the man himself.”
- In March 2012, he called Sandra Fluke a prostitute and drew heavy flak, not just from critics but also from several advertisers who withdrew their sponsorship of his show.
Videos about the Rivalry
Ed Schultz Calls Out Rush Limbaugh Over "Mr. Ed" Crack
Charity
Ed Schultz
- In 2002, he began to hold benefit programs to raise money for people in the heartland who were going through tough times.
- He has fought for 99ers, laid-off United States workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits.
Rush Limbaugh
- Limbaugh holds an annual fundraising telethon called the "EIB Cure-a-Thon" for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
- Limbaugh's website maintains a page where US soldiers can register for a free subscription to Limbaugh's online premium service
- Limbaugh conducts an annual drive to help the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation collect contributions to provide scholarships for children of Marines and law enforcement officers/agents who have died in the line of duty.
Awards
Ed Schultz got 3 Eric Sevareid Awards, and as leader of a broadcast team - two Marconi and one Peabody Award. Rush Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award. He was also awarded for Media Excellence, by the Media Research in 2007. In 2009 he bagged the CPAC's "Defender of the Constitution Award".
Conan O'Brien 
The Colbert Report 
Liberal 
Democrat
Comments: Ed Schultz vs Rush Limbaugh
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